GREEK VERBS QUICK REFERENCE (Studying the Bible)

http://www.preceptaustin.org/new_page_40.htm#present imperative ^

[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".

[Elsie]

...then it will no longer be required to reply in kind.

Your chosen church's REQUIREMENTS are odious!

[Elsie]

I cited the sources and quoted the Bible verses with a simple cut and paste. Your disagreement is with the Bible.

HMMMmmm...

 

 

 

 

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Micah 6:8

He has shown you, O mortal, what is good. And what does the LORD require of you?
To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God.

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John 6:28-29
Then they asked him, "What must we do to do the works God requires?

 Jesus answered, "The work of God is this: to believe in the one he has sent."

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1 John 3:21-23
Dear friends, if our hearts do not condemn us, we have confidence before God and receive from him anything we ask, because we keep his commands and do what pleases him.
And this is his command: to believe in the name of his Son, Jesus Christ, and to love one another as he commanded us.

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James 1:27

Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world.

 

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[verga]

OOOO goody I was wondering how long it would take you to post more asinine comments and irrelevant cartoons.

[Elsie]

The Bible, I quoted chapter and verse. Did you read what I posted twice?

Call no man Father??

[Elsie]

RM does intentionally misquoting someone to make it appear they are saying something different count as "making it personal"

GOD; does intentionally stating things the BIBLE does NOT say; to make it appear they are saying something SPIRITUAL; count as "making it straight from GOD's mouth to your ear"?

[Elsie]

/it

[Elsie]

I post from a Catholic translation a LOT!

[Elsie]

It requires thick skin.

But a half brain is apparently sufficient.

[Elsie]

Constantly making anti-Catholic comments does make them anti-Catholic bigots.

Constantly making anti-Protestant comments does make them seem like rabid Catholics.

[Elsie]

I did not ping the RM because I rarely do that.

Most ALL of my many pings to the RM is to get one of my hastily posted, incorrectly worded, non-proofread, typofilled replies pulled so I can correct it.

Hardly ever do I complain about what others have posted.

I'm an adult (yeah: hard to believe; ain't it!) and can fend for myself.

[Elsie]

Please discontinue broadbrushing all Protestants as bullies.

I can still be called one.

[Elsie]

If the current address (URL) begins with http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-religion/ then you are on the Religion Forum.

THIS page says: http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/religion/3299023/posts?page=175#175

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Are there TWO of them??

[Elsie]

So bottom line, whether it is 3,13, or 30 verses Verga is correct that there is not a single Documented verse of “This is my...” being used in a metaphorical sense.

You brood of vipers

[Elsie]

PS you know back in the day members of the cult known as Latter Day Saints, or Mormons, used to call Christians anti-Mormon when they were actually anti-MormonISM.

What ever happened to all of them folk?

We used to have such fun on FR!

Now all we get is Storm Prepper occasionally popping up to say something or the other; hardly ever about MormonISM though.

[Elsie]

I’ve heard his game is for the birds.

[Elsie]

Catholics, like Mormons, HAVE to toe the line or they can get in big trouble.

HMMMmmm...

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"Any Latter-day Saint who denounces or opposes, whether actively or otherwise, any plan or doctrine advocated by the 'prophets, seers, and revelators' of the Church is cultivating the spirit of apostacy..."

(Improvement Era, June 1945, p. 354)

 

 

 

Reinforced here......

 

MP3 File

This is the audio clip of Dallin H. Oaks, current Mormon Apostle leader, from the PBS documentary, "The Mormons", declaring unequivocally:

"IT'S WRONG TO CRITICIZE LEADERS OF THE (MORMON) CHURCH, EVEN IF THE CRITICISM IS TRUE."

 

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Don't criticize?

 

Dallin H. Oaks, Mormon Apostle 

 

 

 

And here:

 

Temple Recommend Questions:

 1 Do you have faith in and a testimony of God the Eternal Father, His Son Jesus Christ, and the Holy Ghost?

 2 Do you have a testimony of the Atonement of Christ and of His role as Savior and Redeemer?

 3 Do you have a testimony of the restoration of the gospel in these the latter days?

 4 Do you sustain the President of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints as the Prophet, Seer, and Revelator and as the only person on the earth who possesses and is authorized to exercise all priesthood keys? Do you sustain members of the First Presidency and the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles as prophets, seers, and revelators? Do you sustain the other General Authorities and local authorities of the Church?

 5 Do you live the law of chastity?

 6 Is there anything in your conduct relating to members of your family that is not in harmony with the teachings of the Church?

 7 Do you support, affiliate with, or agree with any group or individual whose teachings or practices are contrary to or oppose those accepted by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints?

 8 Do you strive to keep the covenants you have made, to attend your sacrament and other meetings, and to keep your life in harmony with the laws and commandments of the gospel?

 9 Are you honest in your dealings with your fellowmen?

10 Are you a full-tithe payer?

11 Do your keep the Word of Wisdom?

12 Do you have financial or other oblgations to a former spouse or children? If yes, are you current in meeting those obligations?

13 If you have previously received your temple endowment:

     Do you keep the covenants that you made in the temple?

     Do you wear the garment both night and day as instructed in the endowment and in accordance with the covenant you made in the temple?

14 Have there been any sins or misdeeds in your life that should have been resolved with priesthood authorities but have not been?

15 Do you consider yourself worthy to enter the Lord's house and participate in temple ordinances?

 

 

 

 

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Oh, they can say that their leaders were NOT speaking for GOD when they said    WHATEVER    but that's NOT the same as criticizing!

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( Remember fellow Christians:  the Mormon's criticize US because they've been taught that they CAN'T criticize ANY of their leaders; so they HAVE to vent somehow! )

[Elsie]

Catholics, like Mormons, HAVE to toe the line or they can get in big trouble.

HMMMmmm...

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In conclusion let us summarize this grand key, these “Fourteen Fundamentals in Following the Prophet”, for our salvation depends on them.

1. The prophet is the only man who speaks for the Lord in everything.
2. The living prophet is more vital to us than the standard works.
3. The living prophet is more important to us than a dead prophet.
4. The prophet will never lead the church astray.
5. The prophet is not required to have any particular earthly training or credentials to speak on any subject or act on any matter at any time.
6. The prophet does not have to say “Thus Saith the Lord,” to give us scripture.
7. The prophet tells us what we need to know, not always what we want to know.
8. The prophet is not limited by men’s reasoning.
9. The prophet can receive revelation on any matter, temporal or spiritual.
10. The prophet may advise on civic matters.
11. The two groups who have the greatest difficulty in following the prophet are the proud who are learned and the proud who are rich.
12. The prophet will not necessarily be popular with the world or the worldly.
13. The prophet and his counselors make up the First Presidency—the highest quorum in the Church.
14. The prophet and the presidency—the living prophet and the First Presidency—follow them and be blessed—reject them and suffer.

I testify that these fourteen fundamentals in following the living prophet are true. If we want to know how well we stand with the Lord then let us ask ourselves how well we stand with His mortal captain—how close do our lives harmonize with the Lord’s anointed—the living Prophet—President of the Church, and with the Quorum of the First Presidency.

Ezra Taft Benson

(Address given Tuesday, February 26, 1980 at Brigham Young University)     http://www.lds.org/liahona/1981/06/fourteen-fundamentals-in-following-the-prophet?lang=eng

[Elsie]

I’ll just hop right along then...

[Elsie]

I don't know why he pinged me to the word game he continues to beat like a dead horse,

I do!

 

'When I use a word,' Humpty Dumpty said, in a rather scornful tone,

' it means just what I choose it to mean, neither more nor less.'

'The question is,' said Alice, 'whether you can make words mean so many different things.'

'The question is,' said Humpty Dumpty, 'which is to be master - that's all.'  

[Elsie]

I was called a mackerel snapper and fish eater. I didn't really care, but deep inside, I was jealous, because I wanted to eat meat on Friday also.

Then be VERY glad you are NOT a 'worthy'; Temple Recommended® Mormon!

Can you IMAGINE the TORTURE that living next to a GENTILE must be?

In the summer when they are grillin' stuff on the Barbie; and you have to veg out??

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12 & 13

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THE
DOCTRINE AND COVENANTS
OF THE CHURCH OF JESUS CHRIST OF LATTER-DAY SAINTS

SECTION 89

 

Revelation given through Joseph Smith the Prophet, at Kirtland, Ohio, February 27, 1833. HC 1: 327–329. As a consequence of the early brethren using tobacco in their meetings, the Prophet was led to ponder upon the matter; consequently he inquired of the Lord concerning it. This revelation, known as the Word of Wisdom, was the result. The first three verses were originally written as an inspired introduction and description by the Prophet.

 

1–9, Use of wine, strong drinks, tobacco, and hot drinks proscribed; 10–17, Herbs, fruits, flesh, and grain are ordained for the use of man and of animals; 18–21, Obedience to gospel law, including the Word of Wisdom, brings temporal and spiritual blessings.

 

  1 A ^aWord OF Wisdom, for the benefit of the council of high priests, assembled in Kirtland, and the church, and also the saints in Zion—

  2 To be sent greeting; not by commandment or constraint, but by revelation and the ^aword of wisdom, showing forth the order and ^bwill of God in the temporal salvation of all saints in the last days—

  3 Given for a principle with ^apromise, adapted to the capacity of the ^bweak and the weakest of all ^csaints, who are or can be called saints.

  4 Behold, verily, thus saith the Lord unto you: In consequence of ^aevils and designs which do and will exist in the hearts of ^bconspiring men in the last days, I have ^cwarned you, and forewarn you, by giving unto you this word of wisdom by revelation—

  5 That inasmuch as any man ^adrinketh ^bwine or strong drink among you, behold it is not good, neither meet in the sight of your Father, only in assembling yourselves together to offer up your sacraments before him.

  6 And, behold, this should be wine, yea, ^apure wine of the grape of the vine, of your own make.

  7 And, again, ^astrong drinks are not for the belly, but for the washing of your bodies.

  8 And again, tobacco is not for the ^abody, neither for the belly, and is not good for man, but is an herb for bruises and all sick cattle, to be used with judgment and skill.

  9 And again, hot drinks are not for the body or belly.

  10 And again, verily I say unto you, all wholesome ^aherbs God hath ordained for the constitution, nature, and use of man—

  11 Every herb in the season thereof, and every fruit in the season thereof; all these to be used with ^aprudence and ^bthanksgiving.

  12 Yea, ^aflesh also of ^bbeasts and of the fowls of the air, I, the Lord, have ordained for the use of man with thanksgiving; nevertheless they are to be used ^csparingly;

  13 And it is pleasing unto me that they should not be ^aused, only in times of winter, or of cold, or ^bfamine.

  14 All ^agrain is ordained for the use of man and of beasts, to be the staff of life, not only for man but for the beasts of the field, and the fowls of heaven, and all wild animals that run or creep on the earth;

  15 And ^athese hath God made for the use of man only in times of famine and excess of hunger.

  16 All grain is good for the ^afood of man; as also the ^bfruit of the vine; that which yieldeth fruit, whether in the ground or above the ground—

  17 Nevertheless, wheat for man, and corn for the ox, and oats for the horse, and rye for the fowls and for swine, and for all beasts of the field, and barley for all useful animals, and for mild drinks, as also other grain.

  18 And all saints who remember to keep and do these sayings, walking in obedience to the commandments, ^ashall receive ^bhealth in their navel and marrow to their bones;

  19 And shall ^afind ^bwisdom and great ^ctreasures of ^dknowledge, even hidden treasures;

  20 And shall ^arun and not be ^bweary, and shall walk and not faint.

  21 And I, the Lord, give unto them a promise, that the ^adestroying angel shall ^bpass by them, as the children of Israel, and not slay them. Amen.

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