[B-Greek] 2 Peter 1:10 Aorist with Present

Carl W. Conrad cwconrad at artsci.wustl.edu
Mon Mar 13 04:33:33 EST 2006


On Mar 12, 2006, at 10:31 PM, Mitch Larramore wrote:

> DIO MALLON, ADELFOI, SPOUDASATE BEBAIAN hUMWN THN
> KLHSIN KAI EKLOGHN POIEISQAI...
>
> Dr. Conrad:
>
> What I am trying to understand is how an Aorist finite
> and a Present infinitive might work together (assuming
> in this context they do somehow). Would the Aorist
> SPOUDASATE represent getting the action
> completed/accomplished? Would the Present POIEISQAI
> represent getting the process started or underway?
>
> Resulting in something like: complete the action of
> being diligent (become completely diligent; or get
> into a fully diligent state), and (then) begin making
> (in an ever-increasing fashion) your calling and
> election firm.

I think you're trying to conflate and so to make contradictory the  
aspectual functions of SPOUDASATE and POIEISQAI.  My own sense is  
that the aorist here underscores the urgency to make an earnest  
resolve, while the present infinitive may indicate that what one  
resolves to do requires ongoing effort.

I'm reminded of one of my favorite texts, Phil. 2:12-13: hWSTE,  
AGAPHTOI MOU, KAQWS PANTOTE hUPHKOUSATE, MH hWS EN THi PAROUSIAi MOU  
MONON ALLA NUN POLLWi MALLON EN THi APOUSIAi MOU, META FOBOU KAI  
TROMOU THN hEAUTWN SWTHRIAN KATERGAZESQE; 13 QEOS GAR ESTIN hO  
ENERGWN EN hUMIN KAI TO QELEIN KAI TO ENERGEIN hUPER THS EUDOKIAS.  
Here the imperative is directly in the verb KATERGAZESQE: "...  
continue to make your salvation efficacious with fear and  
trembling ..." It seems to me that in 2 Peter 1:10 something very  
similar is being said, but SPOUDASATE underscores the earnest  
character of the resolve to act and keep on acting.

I don't know if that's satisfactory, but that's my take on it, at any  
rate.

Carl W. Conrad
Department of Classics, Washington University (Emeritus)
1989 Grindstaff Road/Burnsville, NC 28714/(828) 675-4243
cwconrad2 at mac.com
WWW: http://www.ioa.com/~cwconrad/




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