[B-Greek] Vantage Point - conditional Jn 11:12

Elizabeth Kline kline_dekooning at earthlink.net
Wed Sep 20 13:15:51 EDT 2006


JOHN 11:11 TAUTA EIPEN, KAI META TOUTO LEGEI AUTOIS: LAZAROS hO FILOS  
hHMWN KEKOIMHTAI: ALLA POREUOMAI hINA EXUPNISW AUTON.  12 EIPAN OUN  
hOI MAQHTAI AUTWi: KURIE, EI KEKOIMHTAI SWQHSETAI.

In the disciples response to Jesus  KURIE, EI KEKOIMHTAI SWQHSETAI  
what is the temporal vantage point?

EI KEKOIMHTAI - if he has fallen asleep, undergone a change of state  
from wakefulness to sleep and is currently in the state of sleeping.  
The change of state is view as in the past but the current state is  
viewed as present.

SWQHSETAI future

The vantage point of hOI MAQHTAI is after he has fallen asleep and  
before SWQHSETAI.
The fact that LAZAROS is dead and not in a state of sleep is  
irrelevant to the question of temporal vantage point. The vantage  
point is a temporal framework imposed by hOI MAQHTAI.

My question. Why do we need a special set of rules for conditionals?
This really is a question. It seems self evident to some that  
conditionals are a special case. I don't understand this. If the  
vantage point is understood as a temporal framework imposed by the  
speaker with no necessary connection to reality or unreality then I  
don't see why conditional statements require a different treatment  
from historical narative.


Elizabeth Kline







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