Posted on 06/10/2015 7:16:05 PM PDT by Bigtigermike
PRESENT TENSE: CONTINUOUS ACTION, HABITUAL ACTION, OFTEN REFLECTS A LIFESTYLE
EXAMPLE OF PRESENT TENSE:
1Peter 1:5 who are protected (word study) (PPPMPA) (5746) by the power of God through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time
PPPMPA: Present Tense, Passive Voice, Participle, Masculine, Plural, Accusative
From Peter's use of Present tense one can see that in context. He is referring to born again ones, describing them as those who are "continually being protected by the power (dunamis) of God". God's protection of His children isn't fickle, present one day and absent the next. You can see how even the most basic understanding of verb tense can add so much to the meaning.
Knowledge of the tense of a verb can sometimes be critical for accurate interpretation. For example read the following verse.
1John 3:9: "No one who is born of God practices (present tense) sin (noun), because His seed abides in him and he cannot sin (verb), because he is born of God."
Look at the verb sin. At first glance the verse seems to imply that one who is "born of God" can never commit a sin and yet all genuine believers know that this is not a reality (1John 1:8, 2Chr 6:36, Ec 7:20, James 3:2).
When you understand that the verb sin is in the present tense, it becomes clear that John is saying that one who is born of God cannot habitually commit sins as their general pattern of life. The verb "practices" is also present tense and conveys the same thought. All believers commit sins but not habitually or as their lifestyle.
Application: if one's lifestyle is that of continual sinning in conjunction with no desire for holiness ( Hebrews 12:14), these individuals need to examine whether they are genuinely new creatures in Christ (2Cor 5:17-note) born from above (Jn 3:3, 5, 2Co 13:5-note).
And so one can see that in 1John 3:9 (as in most of chapter 3 of first John) the accurate interpretation of the passage is aided by a proper understanding of the verb tense.
Depending on the context, the following adverbs may be useful to "amplify" the meaning of a verb in the present tense:
"Continuously, constantly, habitually".
Present Tense with the indicative mood represents contemporaneous action, as opposed to action in the past or future. In moods other than in the indicative mood, it refers only to continuous or repeated action.
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AORIST TENSE: EFFECTIVE ACTION, SUCCESSFUL ACTION, SINGLE ACTION, ONE-TIME ACTION
States that an action occurs without regard to its duration. It is analogous to a snapshot which captures an action at specific point in time.
In indicative mood, aorist can indicate punctiliar action (happens at a specific point in time) in past
EXAMPLE OF AORIST TENSE
1Peter 1:3-note Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ who according to His great mercy has caused us to be born again (AAPMSN) (5660) to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,
AAPMSN: Aorist Tense, Active Voice, Participle, Masculine, Sing., Nominative
The Aorist tense conveys the truth that the believer's new birth (indicative mood is mood of reality) has occurred at a point in the past without specifying when this event occurred. The passive voice indicates this new birth was produced by a Source outside of the recipient and in context that Source is "the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ".
Depending on the context the following adverbs may be useful to "amplify" the meaning of the action portrayed by the aorist tense:
"Effectively, successfully, completely, even once, actually, really".
Aorist tense is somewhat difficult to grasp, so don't be frustrated if you don't receive any glowing practical insights initially. If you continue to perform Word Studies (including verb tense, voice and mood) as an integral part of your Bible study, you will begin to appreciate the meaning of the aorist tense and you will begin to receive insights from this understanding.
One writer adds "strictly speaking, the aorist denotes past time only in the indicative; in the other moods the aorist is not confined exclusively to action in the past. Unlike the imperfect, the aorist is used to express an action that is not continuous or habitual." (Learning the Basics of New Testament Greek. AMG Publishers)
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PERFECT TENSE: ACTION COMPLETED at a SPECIFIC POINT of TIME in PAST with results CONTINUING into the PRESENT. In certain contexts the results are PERMANENT.
Schematically illustrated by a "dot" (●) denoting a definite action in the past followed by a line (▬►) indicating effect of that action continuing into present
EXAMPLE OF PERFECT TENSE
1Peter 1:4-note to obtain an inheritance which is imperishable and undefiled and will not fade away, reserved (word study) (RPPFSA) (5772) in heaven for you
RPPFSA: Perfect Tense, Passive Voice, Participle, Fem, Sing, Accusative
In this verse Peter uses the Perfect Tense to convey the truth of the "living hope" (not "hope so" but a certain expectation of future good) that believers have an inheritance that has been reserved for us at a point of time in the past (when we were born again) and remains in a state of being "reserved". What a great picture. When taking a long road trip we have all had the misfortune of arriving at our motel late at night, only to discover that our reservation has been given away! Peter says that this "mistake" will not happen to believers when we reach our final destination in heaven, for our future home (and inheritance) have been reserved for us in the past and that reservation is valid for all eternity because the "reservation price" has been "paid in full" when Jesus' cried out "It is finished" (Jn 19:30).
"Finished" (teleo - word study) in John 19:30 is also in the perfect tense and refers to Messiah's work of having obtained "once for all eternal redemption" (Hebrews 9:12-note), making possible "so great a salvation" (Hebrews 2:3-note) (eternal life) through the payment of His precious blood (1Pe 1:18, 19-note) on Calvary, so that all the sinful sons of Adam (Ro 5:12-note) who justly deserved their wages for sin (eternal death) might receive "the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord" (Ro 6:23-note) by grace through faith (Ep 2:8-note, 1Peter 1:3-note, 1Peter 1:21-note, Johnn 5:24, 8:24, Act 16:31).
The entire sense of Jesus' poignant cry is “It was finished and as a result it is forever done!” “It stands finished!”. The priests in the tabernacle always stood when ministering the sacrifices. But Jesus Christ our great High Priest is seated because His work is forever finished. He need never arise and offer another sacrifice because full payment for our sins has been paid in the past with His sacrificial blood and the effect of that payment will endure throughout eternity! This is indeed good news, beloved of the Lord!
In short, the perfect tense is very expressive for it speaks of an action that took place in the past, which was completed in past time, and existence of its finished results. For instance one might say “I have closed the door" which speaks of a past completed action. But the implication is that as a result the door is still closed. Thus, the entire meaning is, “I have closed the door and it is closed at present.” You can see how a simple understanding of the perfect tense can often amplify the meaning which may not be readily apparent in the English translation, because the perfect tense has no exact equivalent in English.
In Matthew 4:4, our Lord answers Satan, “It is written” and "written" is in the perfect tense. Here Jesus quoted from Deuteronomy which had been written by Moses 1500 years before, but is still on record. David said, “Forever, O Lord, thy word is settled in heaven.” A good paraphrase would be “It stands written forever.” It is the eternal word of God and you can stake your life on it yesterday, today and tomorrow! (cf He 13:8, Mt 24:35, Ps 89:34, Is 40:8, 55:11, 1Pe 1:25)
In Ephesians 2:8-note we read, “For by grace you have been saved through faith” where "have been saved" (sozo-word study) is in the perfect tense. The picture therefore for every believer is that we were given the gift of salvation at a specific time in the past when we believed, and as a result of that past completed work of Jesus Christ on the Cross and our past acceptance of the same, we at present are eternally "safe" (saved) and continue in that state forever in Christ. Amen. A believer's present possession of salvation therefore is based upon one thing only -- what Jesus did on the Cross for us and our acceptance of His finished work which means that the works of an individual, past or present, good or bad, do not enter into our acceptance or retention of salvation (Titus 3:5-note; 2 Timothy 1:9-note). Salvation is the work of Christ alone and our reception of that salvation is by faith alone in Christ alone. The believer is the recipient which means that the believer is saved and saved forever, for the present results of the perfect tense are always present with the reader.
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IMPERFECT TENSE: REPEATED or CONTINUAL ACTION IN THE PAST
EXAMPLE OF IMPERFECT TENSE
Acts 16:7 and after they came to Mysia, they were trying (3PIAI) (5707) to go into Bithynia, and the Spirit of Jesus did not permit them
3PIAI: 3rd Person, Plural, Imperfect Tense, Active Voice, Indicative Mood
The Imperfect tense denotes continuous, ongoing or repeated action in past. Thus the imperfect tense often "paints" a vivid picture of an action ("motion picture") as one which happens over and over. E.g., in Acts 16:7 Luke uses the imperfect tense to portray Paul attempting to enter Bithynia, being hindered in some way by the Holy Spirit and yet trying again and again to enter! Interesting! This dramatic picture gives us an intriguing insight into the heart of Paul that cannot be gleaned without a basic understanding of the imperfect tense. Doesn't the added insight help make this verse literally "come alive"? This is often the effect of the imperfect tense. Look at some other examples of the picture painted by the imperfect tense...
Mark 4:37 And there arose a fierce gale of wind, and the waves were breaking over (imperfect tense) the boat so much that the boat was already filling up.
Comment: Can't you picture yourself in the boat with the waves pounding again and again (imperfect tense conveys this picture) against the side and even beginning to fill the boat with water.
Luke 9:16 Then He took (aorist) the five loaves and the two fish, and looking up (aorist) to heaven, He blessed (aorist) them, and broke (aorist) them, and kept giving (imperfect) them to the disciples to set before (aorist) the people.
Comment: The blessing and breaking of the loaves and fish happened in a moment of time, while the "giving" of the bread and fish occurred over and over, which paints a vivid picture of the miraculous nature of the event. Try to place yourselves in the disciples' "sandals" for a moment!
These examples should help you see the wonderful added insights that are possible with just a simple understanding of the verb tenses. If you are intrigued, take some time and practice applying your new understanding to a few other NT verses that use the imperfect tense and see if you do not glean some added insights which help make the texts "come alive" as you envision the action suggested by the imperfect tense (this exercise will be most beneficial if you read verses in context)...
Mt 2:4 "he began to inquire" (imperfect)
Mt 26:59 "kept trying to obtain (imperfect) false testimony"
Mt 27:23 "they kept shouting (imperfect) all the more"
Mk 7:26 Now the woman was a Gentile, of the Syrophoenician race. And she kept asking (imperfect) Him to cast the demon out of her daughter." (what a vivid scene!).
If you have meditated on the pictures portrayed by the over and over (imperfect tense) actions in each of the preceding verses, you are beginning to see the incredible value of a simple understanding of this tense. You were probably familiar with each of the scenes depicted, but heretofore you had viewed them only as "black and white stills", whereas now illumined by your understanding of the imperfect tense, you can see them as vividly "colorized motion pictures".
Is it difficult for a faithful English translation to render these distinctions? I use the NASB for the most part.
Language can be dicey in a fallen world. Different semantics attach in speech merely by placing spoken emphasis on a single word.
Matthew 26:59
New Living Translation
Inside, the leading priests and the entire high council were trying to find witnesses who would lie about Jesus, so they could put him to death.
English Standard Version
Now the chief priests and the whole council were seeking false testimony against Jesus that they might put him to death,
New American Standard Bible
Now the chief priests and the whole Council kept trying to obtain false testimony against Jesus, so that they might put Him to death.
King James Bible
Now the chief priests, and elders, and all the council, sought false witness against Jesus, to put him to death;
In each case, the gist is at least evident, leaving the reader in no doubt as to what took place.
Good site-I will be using it.
Thanks!
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BM
Thank you for posting this. Very insightful.
I use the Amplified Bible. It’s purported to be the most literal Greek translation.
It’s very flowery like the Greek .. but to me, the Amplified Bible translation makes the Word come alive. I don’t know how else to describe it.
Try Young’s Translation.
The greek reference here is not to be received as being better translation compared to others but as a complement (add-on) to one’s bible study. I like the amplified too but I also like to see what the original Greek says about a particular verse so that I can get a even better understanding of what I have read. I think a few posters think I’m trying to make it a a competition when we all should add more to our study
That is an excellent recommendation, and one I have not used for a long time, making use more of Strong’s Concordance. But even this literal translation does not, with Matthew 26:59, bring out the more intensive use (”kept trying”) the author of this piece and the NASB evoke.
BKMK
Of course it would be best if all readers of Sacred Scripture were immersed in Greek idiom and such. Few are trained to recognize the Greek forms in the first place, even when the Greek text is in front of them.
There is certainly a great deal of competition when it comes to English translations. At some point, one must either settle on a preferred version, or be eclectic. I reckon the King James Version still carries the most weight among Christians in the USA.
From what I’ve discovered so far, most English translations do well in rendering the original languages, although a few would like to neuter God the Father in obeisance to current trends. Since God has taught us to pray that His Name be kept holy, it follows that He leads us to be on guard against innovations that would destroy faith in Christ Jesus as our sure and certain Hope in the final judgment, since He has taken our place, in or flesh, to satisfy the demands of God’s perfect holiness and righteousness.
** I reckon the King James Version still carries the most weight among Christians in the USA.**
But there are a lot more Catholics — doesn’t necessarily mean they have more Bibles, but some do.
I have three different translations. And none of them is the KJV.
Often in the brevity of some scriptures they dont show reflection or tone in the writer or the person speaking in the account and often I can get a glimpse of it through the greek translation like a present imperative where it’s an adamant urgent command to do something instead of just teaching one to do this and this, I don’t try to get into a fight over Translations but study, study and study all the more to show myself approve rightly.
Study Aramaic, the language of Jesus.
The Bible has been riddled with transcription errors, deliberate additions and omissions, changes via translation, and many other issues. It’s like a centuries-long game of telephone. What comes out at our end isn’t quite what went in at the beginning.
Is there an English translation most Catholics subscribe to? I do not necessarily find it a bad thing for a Christian to be subject to hearing, and resting in what is taught and preached. Which versions do you have? These days I only use KJV as placed into memory from childhood, especially texts more commonly spoken among Christians.
True enough, there have been some problems, but nothing like the “game of telephone.”
Are you at all acquainted with the Book of Concord of 1580?
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