Hello everyone,
I'm new to the forum and to the study of Biblical Greek, and I’m very glad to join this community. I’ve been working through some passages in the Gospel of Mark, and I encountered something in Mark 1:15 that I would appreciate some clarification on.
The verb πιστεύετε is straightforward, but I’m particularly curious about the use of μετανοεῖτε and how it relates syntactically and semantically to the proclamation “πεπλήρωται ὁ καιρὸς.”
My question is mainly this:
Is there any nuance in the present imperative forms here (μετανοεῖτε, πιστεύετε) that might suggest an ongoing attitude rather than a decisive initial act?
I’ve read differing opinions in some grammars, but I’d love to hear how more experienced readers of the Greek NT understand the force of the present imperative in this context.
Thank you in advance for any insight, and I look forward to learning from you all!
Question about the aorist middle in Mark 1:15
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alicesphere
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Jonathan Robie
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Re: Question about the aorist middle in Mark 1:15
Welcome to B-Greek, Alice!alicesphere wrote: ↑November 14th, 2025, 5:01 am Is there any nuance in the present imperative forms here (μετανοεῖτε, πιστεύετε) that might suggest an ongoing attitude rather than a decisive initial act?
I’ve read differing opinions in some grammars, but I’d love to hear how more experienced readers of the Greek NT understand the force of the present imperative in this context.
The present imperatives μετανοεῖτε and πιστεύετε in Mark 1:15 do carry a nuance that aligns well with an ongoing attitude, stance, or orientation, rather than a single decisive act.
Sometimes I find this analogy useful: the aorist often shows the action step by step, while the imperfective forms (present and imperfect) let you look around inside the action and “see the scenery.” This is true in both narrative and imperatives. But I don’t think we can safely say that aorist imperatives are a “one-time thing” and present imperatives are “ongoing action.” The contrast is more nuanced.
It’s helpful to look at places where both kinds of imperatives occur together. Consider 2 Tim 4:2. All the bolded words here are aorist imperatives:
κήρυξον τὸν λόγον,
ἐπίστηθι εὐκαίρως ἀκαίρως,
ἔλεγξον,
ἐπιτίμησον,
παρακάλεσον
ἐν πάσῃ μακροθυμίᾳ καὶ διδαχῇ.
These are certainly not things Timothy is to do “only once.” The aorist simply views each action as a whole — the task itself is in view — rather than its internal unfolding. The aspect is perfective, not punctiliar.
English has only one imperative form, but English can express commands that correspond either to Greek aorist imperatives or to Greek present imperatives. The following commands resemble the Greek aorist:
Preach the word;
correct,
rebuke,
encourage
—with great patience and careful instruction.
By contrast, be prepared (which translates an aorist imperative in Greek) functions more like a present (imperfective) imperative in meaning. It draws attention to a state of readiness, which is inherently unbounded and durative.
In English, the closest functional equivalents to Greek present imperatives are periphrastic or lexical devices that highlight a state, stance, habit, or ongoing mode of life. For example:
- Be + adjective: be ready, be patient, be faithful, be alert
- Be + participle: be praying, be watching
- Keep + -ing: keep speaking the truth, keep loving one another, keep seeking the Lord
- Continue to: continue in prayer, continue doing good, continue listening
- Imperatives with adverbs of habit/duration: always forgive, see your dentist regularly
- Imperatives with act/live: live in peace, act with humility, walk in love
Trust in the Lord. Hope in him. Fear not. Love your enemies.
These capture much of the imperfective force that Greek expresses through the present imperative.
So back to the verse you asked about: I think you can reasonably understand μετανοεῖτε καὶ πιστεύετε ἐν τῷ εὐαγγελίῳ like this:
μετανοεῖτε
→ “be repenting,” i.e.
“adopt repentance as your stance / your orientation toward God.”
This portrays repentance as an ongoing turning toward God.
πιστεύετε
→ “be believing,” i.e.
“embrace faith as your posture toward the good news.”
This portrays faith as an ongoing trust and allegiance to the good news.
ἐξίσταντο δὲ πάντες καὶ διηποροῦντο, ἄλλος πρὸς ἄλλον λέγοντες, τί θέλει τοῦτο εἶναι;
http://jonathanrobie.biblicalhumanities.org/
http://jonathanrobie.biblicalhumanities.org/