Verbal Aspect in New Testament Greek (Oxford Theological Monographs)

Preface......Page 5
Contents......Page 9
Abbreviations......Page 10
Introduction......Page 15
I General Matters......Page 21
1.1 Aspect and Tense......Page 22
1.1.1 Origin of the distinction......Page 23
1.1.2 Early consensus and its results......Page 26
1.1.3 Evaluation of the distinction......Page 29
1.2 Aspect and Procedural Characteristics of Verbs, Verb-Phrases, and Actual Situations......Page 43
1.2.1 Aspect and Aktionsart......Page 44
1.2.2 Aspect and lexical classes of verbs......Page 56
1.2.3 Aspect and compositional elements......Page 60
1.2.4 Summary of the relationship of aspect and procedural characteristics......Page 63
1.3 Structural Relations between Aspects......Page 64
1.3.1 The need to define the aspects in terms of their mutual relationships......Page 65
1.3.2 The types of aspectual relationships......Page 68
1.3.3 Summary of the relationships of the aspects to each other......Page 85
1.4 Aspect and Discourse-Functions......Page 86
1.4.1 To show the nature of the speech-situation......Page 87
1.4.2 To show prominence in narrative......Page 88
1.4.3 To show temporal sequence in narrative......Page 90
1.4.4 Summary of the relationship of aspect- and discourse-functions......Page 91
1.5.1 Levels of complexity in defining aspect......Page 92
1.5.2 Problems in defining aspect......Page 93
1.6 Summary Definition of Aspect......Page 98
2.1 The Significance of the Aorist Aspect......Page 100
2.1.1 Instantaneous or momentary aspect......Page 101
2.1.2 Completed or accomplished aspect......Page 103
2.1.3 Constative or summary aspect......Page 106
2.1.4 Unmarked or undefined aspect......Page 108
2.1.5 Summary of the aspectual meaning of the aorist......Page 111
2.2.1 Durative or extended aspect......Page 112
2.2.2 Incompleted or unaccomplished aspect......Page 114
2.2.3 Cursive or progressive aspect......Page 115
2.3.1 The traditional view of the Greek perfect......Page 117
2.3.2 Objections to the traditional view......Page 120
2.3.3 Recent views of the English perfect......Page 121
2.3.4 Re-analysis of the New Testament Greek perfect......Page 126
2.3.5 Summary of the meaning of the perfect forms......Page 133
2.4.1 Dual significance: future tense and punctiliniar aspect......Page 134
2.4.2 An aspect expressing 'intention'......Page 135
2.4.3 A tense expressing future time......Page 136
2.4.4 Summary of the meaning of the future forms......Page 137
2.5 Conclusion: The Relationship of the Aspects to Each Other......Page 138
3. The Effect of Inherent Meaning and Other Elements on Aspectual Function......Page 140
3.1 The Effect of the Procedural Characteristics of Verbs on Aspectual Function......Page 141
3.1.1 Overview: a hierarchy of distinctions based on actional features of verbs in propositions......Page 142
3.1.2.1 STATES versus actions......Page 143
3.1.2.2 ACTIVITIES versus performances......Page 154
3.1.2.3 ACCOMPLISHMENTS versus achievements......Page 163
3.1.2.4 CLIMAXES versus PUNCTUALS......Page 168
3.1.3 Summary of verb-classes based on procedural character......Page 176
3.2.1 Noun- or pronoun-phrases as subject or object......Page 177
3.2.1.1 Singular versus plural reference......Page 178
3.2.1.3 'Count'- versus 'mass'-nouns......Page 183
3.2.2 Adverbial Phrases......Page 184
3.2.2.1 Directional and extent-phrases with movement-verbs......Page 185
3.2.2.2 Durational temporal phrases......Page 186
3.2.2.3 Phrases denoting repetition and habituality......Page 187
3.2.2.4 Negatives......Page 188
3.2.3 'Aspectual' verbs......Page 192
3.3 The Effect of General versus Specific Reference on Aspectual Function......Page 193
3.3.1 Specific reference in propositions......Page 194
3.3.2 General or non-specific reference in propositions......Page 195
3.4 The Effect of Tense-Reference on Aspectual Function......Page 199
3.4.1 Relative time-values......Page 200
3.4.2 Performative use of present indicative......Page 201
3.5 The Effect of Discourse Features on Aspectual Function......Page 204
3.5.2 Inceptive use of aspects......Page 205
3.5.3 Conjunction reduction......Page 206
3.6 Conclusion: The Use of these Features in Interpretation of Aspectual Function......Page 208
II Specific Areas of Aspect-Usage......Page 211
4.1. Uses of the Present Indicative......Page 212
4.1.1 Progressive or descriptive or specific present......Page 213
4.1.2 Instantaneous present......Page 216
4.1.3 Customary or iterative present......Page 219
4.1.4 Gnomic present......Page 222
4.1.5 Present of Past Action still in Progress......Page 231
4.1.6 Conative present......Page 233
4.1.7 Futuristic present......Page 235
4.1.8 Historical present......Page 240
4.1.9 Perfective present......Page 253
4.2 Uses of Imperfect Indicative......Page 254
4.2.1 Progressive or descriptive imperfect......Page 255
4.2.2 Customary or iterative imperfect......Page 258
4.2.3 Conative imperfect......Page 263
4.2.4 Inceptive imperfect......Page 266
4.2.5 Excursus: frequency of the imperfect in the New Testament......Page 267
4.3.1 Constative or complexivee aorist......Page 269
4.3.2 Ingressive aorist......Page 275
4.3.3 Consummative or effective aorist......Page 277
4.3.4 Gnomic aorist......Page 279
4.3.5 Proleptic or futuristic aorist......Page 283
4.3.6 Dramatic aorist or aorist of present state......Page 289
4.3.7 Epistolary aorist......Page 295
4.4 Excursus: Aorist and Imperfect Indicative with Verbs of Sending, Commanding, Asking, and Speaking......Page 296
4.5 Uses of the Perfect Indicative......Page 304
4.5.1 Perfect of resulting state......Page 305
4.5.2 Perfect of completed action......Page 311
4.5.4 Perfect with aoristic sense......Page 313
4.5.5 Other uses of the perfect......Page 318
4.6 Uses of the Pluperfect Indicative......Page 319
4.6.1 Pluperfect of resulting state......Page 320
4.6.2 Pluperfect of completed action......Page 321
4.6.3 Pluperfect with past stative meaning......Page 322
4.7 Excursus: Periphrastic Constructions......Page 323
4.7.1 Periphrasis using present participles......Page 325
4.7.1.1 Present periphrastic......Page 326
4.7.1.2 Imperfect periphrastic......Page 327
4.7.1.3 Future Periphrastic......Page 331
4.7.2.1 Perfect periphrastic......Page 332
4.7.2.2 Pluperfect periphrastic......Page 334
4.7.2.3 Future perfect periphrastic......Page 336
4.8 Conclusion......Page 337
5.1 General Principle for the Meaning of the Aspects in Commands and Prohibitions......Page 339
5.2.1 Explanation and general validation of this distinction......Page 341
5.2.2 Illustrations of this distinction in positive commands......Page 346
5.2.3 Illustrations of this distinction in prohibitions......Page 349
5.3.1 Individual verbs which are exceptional......Page 354
5.3.1.1 Verbs which idiomatically appear in the present aspect in specific commands......Page 355
5.3.1.2 Verbs which idiomatically appear in the aorist aspect in general precepts......Page 368
5.3.2 Instances where the aspect distinction supersedes......Page 378
5.3.2.1 Present aspect in specific commands......Page 379
5.3.2.2 Aorist aspect in general precepts......Page 380
5.3.3 Individual books which are exceptional......Page 384
5.4.1 Relative forcefulness of the aspects in commands and the predominance of the aorist in prayers......Page 394
5.4.2 Use of the aspects in indirect commands......Page 396
5.4.3 Use of the aspects in imperatival infinitives and participles......Page 399
5.5 Conclusion......Page 402
6. The Aspects in Other Non-Indicative Forms of the Verb......Page 403
6.1.2.1 Normal functions of the present aspect......Page 404
6.1.2.2 Normal functions of the aorist aspect......Page 407
6.1.2.3 Normal functions of the perfect forms......Page 410
6.1.3.1 Unusual aspect-usage in the infinitive......Page 411
6.1.3.2 Unusual aspect-usage in the subjunctive......Page 416
6.1.3.3 Unusual aspect-usage in the optative......Page 418
6.2.1 General principle for the meaning of the aspects in the participle......Page 420
6.2.2 Normal functions of the present aspect in the participle......Page 422
6.2.3 Normal functions of the aorist aspect in the participle......Page 427
6.2.4 Normal functions of the perfect aspect in the participle......Page 430
6.3 Conclusion......Page 433
Conclusion......Page 434
Bibliography......Page 437
Index of Biblical Passages......Page 463
Subject Index......Page 477