[B-Greek] Present Imperative

Mark Spitsbergen awakesd at mac.com
Tue Dec 22 23:14:26 EST 2009


> I could use some help on the present imperative. First year Greek  
> taught us that thee present imperative denotes continual action and  
> thus something that is continuously happening. Therefore, the  
> present imperative in Ephesians 5:18 for example PLHROUSQE, would  
> mean to "be continually filled."  I started sorting through the 1013  
> occurrences in the New Testament of the present imperative verbs and  
> in some cases it is is not very clear if a continual action would  
> make sense. In some cases like Matthew 6:1 and 6:9 the idea of  
> "continually pay attention" or "continually pray" does makes sense.  
> Yet, in other instances such as Matthew 3:2 it is a little harder to  
> make the continual process of the present imperative fit-  
> "continually repent." Are there instances then that one should not  
> regard the present imperative as an on-going action with no  
> assessment of completion?  Or am I simply over extending the meaning  
> of the present imperative? K.S. Wuest says of Ephesians 5:18-  The  
> verb is in the present imperative; “Be constantly being filled with  
> the Spirit.” (Wuest's word studies from the Greek New Testament).

Thanks and Merry Christmas,

MArk Spitsbergen





More information about the B-Greek mailing list