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NASB | 1 John 1:8 If we say that we have no sin, we are deceiving ourselves and the truth is not in us. |
AMPLIFIED 2015 | 1 John 1:8 If we say we have no sin [refusing to admit that we are sinners], we delude ourselves and the truth is not in us. [His word does not live in our hearts.] |
Subject: Is sinless perfection possible on earth? |
Bible Note: Greetings Biblicalman! Thanks for the response! Allow me to address the present and the aorist. 1) Historical Present: We both agree that the historical present only occurs in narratives. Hence, it is usually found in the gospels. I have readily admitted that there is disagreement, even among Greek scholars about whether or not Rom. 7:14-25 is an historical present or not. My position is that it is and that this violates no rule of Greek grammar. We will just have to disagree on this point. :-) 2) Aorist: The aorist is probably the most difficult tense to understand, especially from an English perspective. In the indicative mood, it is generally used in much the same way as we would use a past tense. But, in Greek, the time of the action is not the primary focus. The kind of action is the focus. The aorist looks at the action as a whole. In the examples that you cite, there is no evidence that the aorist can be used of the present, if by present you mean present tense. Allow me to explain what I mean. The last five of your examples, all involve aorist imperatives, not aorist indicatives. (With the possible exception of John 14:15, most modern texts have future active, not an aorist imperative) There are differences between aorist imperatives and present imperatives, but that is for another post. However, aorist imperatives are in no way present tense. The first example is a little different. It is an Aorist Active Indicative verb, which is rather unusual. A. T. Robertson calls it a 'timeless aorist', while others refer to it as a gnomic aorist. The gist of it is that the Aorist here indicates something that is 'timeless' in nature. In other words, the Father has always been, and always will be, pleased with His Son. Thus, I would disagree with your statement: "These are clear examples and make plain that the aorist can be used of the present, and can be used of continual action." Your Brother in Christ, Tim Moran |