[B-Greek] An Accessible Brief Introduction to Greek

Bryant J. Williams III bjwvmw at com-pair.net
Sun May 15 02:01:45 EDT 2011


Dear Con,

Since I do not have a "horse in this race," would you please lay out what your
views are concerning the Aspect-Tense Debate especially concerning the
"perfective" and "imperfective" and the relationship of the perfect?

En Xristwi,

Rev. Bryant J. Williams III
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Con Campbell" <concampbell at mac.com>
To: <b-greek at lists.ibiblio.org>
Sent: Saturday, May 14, 2011 6:42 PM
Subject: Re: [B-Greek] An Accessible Brief Introduction to Greek


> Dear All,
>
> I feel that I have been misrepresented in this thread and would like to
clarify a few things.
>
> First, it is hardly "shameful" for a publishing company to publish positive
reviews of its product. Can you think of any publisher who publishes negative
reviews? To James Spinti: would Eisenbrauns do so? Why is a higher standard
expected here?
>
> Second, in any other field of inquiry, a primer would NOT be expected to be
written only once there is 100% consensus on a topic. Otherwise, no primers
would exist. In the last year, there were several primers on Paul's theology
published, and that is hardly a field in which there is a high level of
consensus.
>
> Third, using the word "Basics" in the title does not imply academic consensus;
it implies "introduction".
>
> Fourth, I go to lengths in the book to point out the areas in which there is
not consensus, and flag the points at which my own views are not mainstream. As
such, it is hardly fair to say that the book claims to represent consensus views
at all points; the book rather admits that this is not the case at several
points.
>
> Fifth, I do NOT hold to "aspect only" for anything, and differ to Porter on
this quite dramatically. The habit of some to lump me and others together as the
"aspect only" group, and then dismiss our views without careful consideration,
is quite frustrating.
>
> Sixth, I am very happy for disagreement about my views on the perfect---which
I admit are far from mainstream---but would prefer a meaningful discussion based
on evidence rather than blanket statements.
>
> Thanks
>
> Con Campbell
> ______________________________
>
> Dr Constantine R. Campbell
> Lecturer in New Testament
>
>


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------


>
>
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: b-greek-bounces at lists.ibiblio.org
> [mailto:b-greek-bounces at lists.ibiblio.org] On Behalf Of Carl Conrad
> Sent: Friday, May 13, 2011 9:10 AM
> To: Louis Sorenson
> Cc: B-Greek List mail to all; Randall Buth
> Subject: Re: [B-Greek] An Accessible Brief Introduction to Greek
> VerbalAspect
>
>
> On May 13, 2011, at 8:48 AM, Louis Sorenson wrote:
>
> > Does anyone know how this recent book by Zondervan lines up with the
> current Porter / Fanning debate
> > and modern linguistics? There are blurbs on the back by Porter and
> Rodney Decker. Even exercises.
> > It sounds like Porter disagrees with the author.
> >
> > Basics of Verbal Aspect in Biblical Greek by Constantine R. Campbell.
> (Oct 2008. ISBN:9780310290834)
> >
> http://www.amazon.com/Basics-Verbal-Aspect-Biblical-Greek/dp/031029083X/
> ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1305289471&sr=8-1
>
> Zondervan did an almost shameless publicity drive on this book,
> sponsoring a spate of reviews by people at every level of the spectrum.
> I think it's a useful introduction to the issues involved, but my
> fundamental complaint about the book is the title: it has no right to be
> called a "primer" on the subject as if the dust had already settled and
> the perspective here presented were a matter of common consensus.
> There is no common consensus but rather a variety of perspectives, some
> of the issues being reasonably resolved while others remain
> disputed. I personally think Campbell's treatment of the Perfect tense
> is inadequate, and many, I think, would question his acceptance of
> the "aspect-only" notion of the Aorist (Porter's view) as if it were a
> matter of consensus. My own brief review of the work is still accessible
> as a 2008 guest blog post at James Spinti's "Idle Musings of a
> Bookseller":
>
> http://anebooks.blogspot.com/2008/11/review-of-campbells-basics-of-verba
> l.html
>
> A simple Google search will net you lots of reviews from a variety of
> perspectives.
>
> Carl W. Conrad
> Department of Classics, Washington University (Retired)
>
>
>
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>
>
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>


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