[B-Greek] Mk 10:13 Force of Imperfect + Aorist
Carl Conrad
cwconrad2 at mac.com
Mon Apr 28 21:27:41 EDT 2008
I think this was intended for the list rather than for me alone.
Begin forwarded message:
> From: "Amis, Benjamin" <Benjamin.Amis at asbury.edu>
> Date: April 28, 2008 5:57:54 PM EDT
> To: Carl Conrad <cwconrad2 at mac.com>
> Subject: RE: [B-Greek] Mk 10:13 Force of Imperfect + Aorist
>
>
> > Mk 10:13
> >
> > KAI PROSEFERON AUTWi PAIDIA hINA AUTWN hAYHTAI,
> >
> > hOI DE MAQHTAI EPETIMHSAN AUTOIS.
> >
> >
> >
> > Question: which of these renderings best captures the sense of the
> > imperfect
> > PROSEFERON and the aorist EPETIMHSAN?
> >
> >
> >
> > People started bringing Jesus children to touch, but his followers
> > scolded
> > them.
> >
> >
> >
> > They were bringing him children to touch, but his followers were
> > scolding
> > them.
> >
> >
> >
> > People were trying to bring him children to touch, but his followers
> > scolded
> > them.
> >
> >
> >
> > As English, I like the second of these. Is it possible that the
> > imperfect
> > PROSEFERON sets an imperfect tone to the statement that the
> > "vanilla" (i.e.
> > unmarked) aorist does nothing to shift? Because if you render
> > EPETIMHSAN as
> > a preterit in English, it feels like a "clunk", a disjunction in the
> > time
> > sense, has happened. Has it indeed? If so, what is conveyed in that
> > disjunction, and how can it be conveyed most naturally into English?
>
> I think that the sense of PROSEFERON is indeed tentative, that of
> EPETIMHSAN decisive. My sense: "People were intent on bringing him
> children to take in his arms, but his disciples would have none of
> that."
>
>
> Carl W. Conrad
> Department of Classics, Washington University (Retired)
>
>
>
> ---
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>
>
> I'd say that EPETIMHSAN should be rendered as preterit, since the
> continuing action of the subject is being stopped. When I read this,
> I picture the people continuing to bring their children to Christ,
> and then the disciples stopping them, once, simply stated. It's like
> saying, "Harry was running until Steve stepped in his way." This
> sentence shows that the subject's action is continuing, and would
> continue, if it were not for the intervention. I believe this
> Scripture means to paint a very similar picture, and so I would
> render it something like:
>
> "And (they) were bringing children to him so that he might hold
> them, but the disciples rebuked them."
>
> Benjamin Amis
> Biblical Languages Student
> Asbury College
>
Carl W. Conrad
Department of Classics, Washington University (Retired)
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