The Perfect Introduction to the Perfect Tense Debate

Last updated on: January 5, 2014 at 4:39 pm by Michael F. Bird

The Perfect Introduction to the Perfect Tense Debate 2014-01-05T16:39:46-04:00 Michael F. Bird

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

Those of us who learned Greek were told that the perfect tense form denotes a past event with an on-going effect.

However, these days, leading grammarians and linguists have successfully shown that in the Greek language verbs were not so much concerned with the time of action but with the type of action, called “aspect.”

At the most recent SBL meeting in Baltimore, there was a great session on “The Perfect Storm” featuring Buist Fanning, Stan Porter, and Con Campbell.

In a nutshell, Buist Fanning argues for a modified form of the traditional view with a past event leading to an on going state. Stan Porter claims that the perfect tense form is stative and denotes a state of affairs of some kind. Con Campbell believes that the perfect tense form is imperfective and signifies a heightened sense of proximity.

Now this can seem very academic and something that only Greek Bible nerds would haggle over. That said, in the latest issue of New Testament Studies, Madison Pierce and Ben Reynolds have a great article illustrating how this debate about the perfect tense form impacts exegetical discussion. Their article is called “The Perfect Tense-Form and the Son of Man in John 3.13: Developments in Greek Grammar as a Viable Solution to the Timng of the Ascent and Descent,” NTS 60.1 (2014): 149-55. Here’s for info

Abstract:

The perfect tense-form verb ἀναβέβηκεν in John 3.13 is usually interpreted in light of traditional verb theory, as a ‘past action with present results’. This interpretation introduces an apparent problematic chronology in that the Son of Man ascends before descending; however, recent developments in Greek grammar, particularly verbal aspect theory, provide a viable solution to this grammatical ‘problem’ and indicate that the Son of Man’s descent precedes his ascent.

If you want an entree into a complex debate about Greek verbs, grammar, and how it shapes biblical interpretation, please read this article!

Uncategorized

Previous Post

January 4, 2014

Nijay Gupta's Top Books for 2013

Next Post

January 5, 2014 DJG Edition Comparison: Gospel of Matthew

Browse Our Archives

Select a Category Bible Lands Blogosphere Book Review Calvinism Colleges & Universities Ecclesiology Emerging Adulthood Evangelicalism Foreign Affairs Gospel of John Greco-Roman World Humor Just War N. T. Wright Old Testament Resurrection Terrorism Theological Education Travel Uncategorized Writing

Select a Month September 2021 July 2021 June 2021 May 2021 April 2021 March 2021 February 2021 January 2021 December 2020 November 2020 October 2020 September 2020 August 2020 July 2020 June 2020 May 2020 April 2020 March 2020 February 2020 January 2020 December 2019 November 2019 October 2019 September 2019 August 2019 July 2019 June 2019 May 2019 April 2019 March 2019 February 2019 January 2019 December 2018 November 2018 October 2018 September 2018 August 2018 July 2018 June 2018 May 2018 April 2018 March 2018 February 2018 January 2018 December 2017 November 2017 October 2017 September 2017 August 2017 July 2017 June 2017 May 2017 April 2017 March 2017 February 2017 January 2017 December 2016 November 2016 October 2016 September 2016 August 2016 July 2016 June 2016 May 2016 April 2016 March 2016 February 2016 January 2016 December 2015 November 2015 October 2015 September 2015 August 2015 July 2015 June 2015 May 2015 April 2015 March 2015 February 2015 January 2015 December 2014 November 2014 October 2014 September 2014 August 2014 July 2014 June 2014 May 2014 April 2014 March 2014 February 2014 January 2014 December 2013 November 2013 October 2013 September 2013 August 2013 July 2013 June 2013 May 2013 April 2013 March 2013 February 2013 January 2013 December 2012 November 2012 October 2012 September 2012 August 2012 July 2012 June 2012 May 2012 April 2012 March 2012 February 2012 January 2012 December 2011 November 2011 October 2011 September 2011 August 2011 July 2011 June 2011 May 2011 January 2011

TAKE THE

Religious Wisdom Quiz

Three friends refused to bow to a golden image and were thrown into a furnace heated seven times hotter than usual. Who were they?

Select your answer to see how you score.

Azariah, Michael, and Gabriel Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego Daniel, Hananiah, and Mishael Belteshazzar, Hananiah, and Mishael

Books by This Author Books by Mike Bird

See All Titles »