| 3. Fundamental Integration -> New Testament Greek -> Tenses & Aspects - Actionsarts |
Greek Grammar
With the above considerations stated, it is our hope that you can now understand the relevance of getting a basic understanding of Greek to aid our own personal Bible study. There are so many computer helps today with Interlinears and the Englishman Concordance and even Interlinears with casing and parsing of each word that most of us have no excuse for not doing the inductive study described in the previous article on Hermeneutics. One can now do in seconds what previously took hours and days.
We have tried to condense and organize all the grammar as needed for a good and accurate understanding of most Koine Greek, so that a common person may be able to clearly understand the Greek scriptures. One does not have to memorize Greek vocabulary words or any Greek inflections or forms. Only learn to understand the names and meanings of verbal parsing and case forms of substantives and other Greek grammar forms and syntactical meanings. So be encouraged.
You have only about 12 pages of Greek grammar forms to learn. After that we shall together apply our accurate Greek understanding to the scriptures in the rest of this article and throughout this website. You and your children may use this understanding the rest of your lives to search the scriptures for yourselves, as the Bereans (Acts 17:11). Anyone who takes the word of another for his eternal destiny is a fool.
Do not be intimidated by Greek grammar books. We have here summarized all the essential aspects of all Greek grammar here for you accurately and specifically, without all the pedantic details of linguistics that would only confuse. We encourage you to read Greek grammar books for yourself, and you will see what an accurate and precise treasure house you are given here. Here is a clear accurate and concise detailing of most all Greek grammar within about 12 pages, if one removes the explanatory applications relating to doctrines.
ANYONE that wants to know TRUTH has no excuse now. It is only given to us in Greek in NT. All translations of men are dictated by their traditions of men's doctrines. Can get a computer software for Interlinears to give you all you need in (1) Strong's Numbers, (2) Englishman's Concordance, and (3) Interlinear with parsings of Greek words to learn Truth of what Bible says, (4) in Textus Receptus Greek and KJV English, (5) altogether in one Interlinear. One hundred years ago before computers, what took several minutes to hours; now takes only seconds to minutes. We recommend www.Biblesoft.com software for easiest comprehensive start in a complete single computerized full referencing Interlinear as outlined. Must read Doffun.com's Section, Hermeneutics, and Appendices E, G, and H of eBook, Our Creator God, for finding clear understanding of scripture . Start out by reading chapter 5, and appendix D, in eBook.
This is our endeavor here to make the Koine Greek language understood enough by the readers that they will be able to discern the scriptures with enough discernment to be able to "Approve things that are excellent" (Phil 1:10) and refuse all else in Bible doctrines without giving them erroneous or inadequate understandings. Today, if you don't do your own studying for what the Bible actually says to you, you are guaranteed to be mislead by the doctrines of men, teachings the doctrines of men and not what the Bible truly says in Greek. Beware, let no man deceive you, our Lord said.
We have made an effort to summarize and condense as much as possible in Greek grammar, yet comprehensive enough to make understanding all Bible doctrines easy for the average person with only two reference books: an Interlinear giving parsings and case endings and Strongs root word number, as well as an Englishman's Concordance giving all contextual occurrences of each single Greek root word by Strg's Number. At present, easy to use computer software does all our searches within seconds instead of hours, as we did 75-100 years ago.
We apologize to the few expert Greek grammarians left in the world, for endeavoring to simplify their great and appreciated labors, but we endeavor to do this without causing violence to the understanding of the meanings of the Koine Greek scriptures and yet to make them comprehensively accurate in order to understand the necessary forms so that anyone will be able "to search the scriptures to see if what they are being told is true" (Act 17:11).
Without this Greek background (comparing scripture to scripture, 1 Cor 2:13) available to every person today, this Berean standard which we are all held to, simple people are subjected to modern apostate translators and pompous Nicolaitan lord-pastors or teachers who only learn lies from Bible Schools and Cemeteries in this apostate time. They won't name names or names of bad doctrines being widely taught today, because they would not make money then from anyone they might attract otherwise. This is a sign of a bad teacher today, for the love of money and fame (lust of eyes and pride of life). Despite their broad smiling faces, they have no Love of Truth, but only love of themselves (pride) and how many they can get into their congregations.
They quote Titus 3:2, "Speak evil of no man," which in Greek actually says, "To blaspheme (unjustly speak evil) no man." Additionally, it says in John 7:24, "Judge not according to appearance, but judge righteous judgment." And 1 Cor 2:14-16 says, " But the natural sensual soulish man receives definitely not the things of the Spirit of God, because it is mindless foolishness to him, and he is not able to know for they are Spiritually being made examined for judgment. But he that is Spiritual is actually examining for judgment of all things, yet he is made examined for judgment by none. Because who has known the Mind of the Lord, who shall be united together with Him? But we are actually having the Mind of Christ." And many more scriptures could be given to these blinded smiling Nicolaitan compromisers.
Perhaps, as many as 15-20 or more Greek Grammars have been referred to as documentation and reference in writing these 12 pages of grammar, if doctrinal applications are not considered. May our Lord receive richly your devotion to study, He has earned.
Greek grammar is the study of three subjects:
1. Semantics, the science of word meaning. See article Hermeneutics.
2. Morphology, the way words are formed as in:
Aspect: Kind of action in relation to the speaker or writer.
Tense: Time of action in relation to the speaker or writer.
Voice: Subject's relation to the action
Mood: Subject's perception of verb action to reality.
3. Syntax, the arrangement of words into sentences.
Fourteen word forms: Inflections indicating the position of the words
in the translation of the sentence.
We shall limit scriptural quotations to those as relating to salvation. since we are interested in the salvational implications in relation to kind of action (aspect) and time (tense) of the action.
We shall classify verbs in relation to the kind of action, aspect, regardless of time of action. tense. This more frequently and specifically explains the action in relation to the speaker or writer at the time. Within the Three Aspects Classification we shall explain applicable tenses as they relate to time, and, therefore, to the writer or speaker. Time of action is not as regarded in Greek as Kind of action, aspect. Remember this!! This is not often emphasized by Greek grammarians. Our English language verbs are most entirely focused on time of action, tense.
ASPECT51 is the speaker or writer's view toward the kind of the action itself (at time of speaking or writing): only Three Aspects: These will be better understood as explained with Tenses later.
| continuous present tense |
-- |
present continuous KIND of action, internal aspect, no beginning or end regarded |
| imperfect tense |
-- |
past continuing action, but not knowing whether continuous KIND of action or repeated; internal aspect |
| undefined aorist tense |
-- |
punctiliar only, an occurrence in summary only, only external aspect, undefined as to tense or aspect, no regard for internal make-up of action nor even time of action; a totally undefined action |
| future tense |
-- |
says future time only, only external aspect; aspect undefined in future verbal form itself |
| perfective perfect tense |
-- |
past completed action perceived in external aspect with a continuous aspect, KIND of action, in time of speaking or writing only as internal aspect, no continuous future or any future stated |
| pluperfect tense |
-- |
past completed action perceived in external aspect with a past aspect, KIND of action, posssibly in time of speaking or writing only as internal aspect, no continuous future or any future stated |
IMPORTANT TO UNDERSTAND THIS !!
***TENSE refers to the time of the action: past, present, or future; in only six different specific tenses as listed above in green. ASPECT is actually more correlative to understanding and application in translation within the Six Tense Classificatiion, as you can see in above table. In fact, "ASPECT IS THE PRIMARY VALUE OF TENSE in Greek, and time is secondary, if involved at all. In other words, Tense is that feature of the verb that indicates the speaker's presentation of the verbal action (or state) WITH REFERENCE TO THE ASPECT and, under certain conditions, its time."52 *** IMPORTANT TO UNDERSTAND THIS !! ONLY under certain conditions, its time. Aspect is always most important.
For instance, the Tense (time of action) in Participles, Infinitives, and Subjunctive mood is not regarded, only Aspect. The time of any main verb, if present in the sentence determines the Time. In itself, a present participle, for example, would indicate a continuous kind of action (Aspect) as would a present perfect participle, without reference to any time of action (Tense) in itself. It is of interest that in these instances of present Aspect, a continuous kind of action would apply also, action occurring in the time of the speaker or writer.
ACTIONSARTS51 and Aspects of action in verbs are often confusing when learning. Tenses and Aspects as well as the Voices, and Moods refer to concrete basic definitions of the purest form of verb classifications of expression, but Actionsarts refer to ALL the multitude of nuances of a verb as found among all the human expressions in languages.
For instance, we will never see a pure tense in language. We may see a verb with the stem (lexical tag), plus as many as seven different morphological tags (suffixes and prefixes--inflections of forms, voices, and moods) including the tense, plus all the the effects of all the contextual usages of the certain forms as historical, gnomic, perfective, etc. So, in our effort to learn Greek meanings, we essentially may ignore the term Actionsarts, but not to be confused with Aspects, which are most important, since we fullfull all the essentials of Actionsarts by simply learning the forms and meanings of the 6 tenses, 3 voices, 5 Moods, and the few essential peculiar contextual usages of certain verbs forms which may affect doctrinal meanings, out of the many 30-50 contextual nuances pointed out in Greek Grammars.
[[[ Special Attention: In this presentation of tense and actionsarts of verbs, it is well to remember that the little child reading the sacred scriptures has far less trouble in understanding than worldly sophisticated adults who critically and prejudicially examine every nuance of meaning to excuse their previously learned self-preferences. This causes all kinds of confusion from verbs. The Greek verbs are very precise and exact in constant and specific use and meaning. Our problem is in grasping this. Their meanings are not relevant or equivocal. They are set in the Rock. But all translators are confronted by their flesh self-serving, self justifying natures which the most uniformally, it seems, they ALL esteem more than the Rock.
Each of us have a personal task, Love God above all else. Commit all our ways in obedience to His HOLY Spirit ONLY. Beware, let no man deceive you; that includes not even deceiving yourself.
For instance, Greek verbs are so precise that in referring to one occurrence, such as the incarnation of Christ while on earth that in John 6, three different tenses are found describing it. The present tense is used, when referring to Christ being on earth as bread coming down from Heaven, the aorist tense stating he is the living bread, the perfect tense saying he came down from Heaven and was with them then. Also, for example, in the scriptures concerning salvation, the aorist tense and aspect may be used concerning the moment of salvation, the present or perfect tense or aspect concerning daily experience, or the future tense concerning our final restoration to perfect bodies in Heaven. All these uses make complete sense when seen as portraying different aspects of the same subject, as with any language usage. It is a serious misuse of Greek grammar to use an isolated use of a tense or aspect to support a global doctrine on any subject. But unfortunately, this simple understanding is completely ignored by those wishing to justify their heretical (self-guided) wishes by also falsely defining the tenses preferred for their pet heresies as the Calvinists and Dispensationalists do. We have found no translation that resists this, as far back as 1500's.
Instead of letting the pure Word direct and be the judge of our beliefs and previously learned biases, many are led to twist the exacting and specific usage of Greek verbs to support their preferred Theology.
For instance, Zane Hodges, a Greek professor for 27 years at Dallas Theological Cemetery, insisted that the present participle of believe, does not include the plain aspect of the participle, as every Greek Grammarian in their books state he should. He and all his "grace" regardless apostates insist that the participle is "only descriptive" without any aspectual verbal meaning (kind of action. continuous) since this would destroy their "one-time believe in a Savior-only (which denies Lordship in their living) that insures a worldly sinning carnal-'"c"hristian eternal unconditional salvation," which they prefer to teach against any Greek scriptures.
Therefore, please understand that the following explanations of verbs, as included, is intended to present exact and explicit explanations of Greek verb meanings used in the New Testament in such a manner as to leave no doubt as to usage in child-simple interpretation. ]]]
Three Aspects (views) of Verbs, BY AN ACTIONSART CLASSIFICATION
I. Continuous Aspect. (a progressive internal view) The continuous internal view of an action includes two verb tenses: present and imperfect.
1. PRESENT TENSE. The meaning of Greek verb tenses and actionsarts is very important. "Is believing, " which in the KJV is usually "believeth" is in the Present active indicative, which means an action continuously in the present (present tense) of the speaker or writer, being done by the subject (active voice) given as a statement of fact (indicative mood). "It describes an action that usually occurs in the present. It can be either a continuous ("I am studying") or undefined ("I study") action. We recommend using a continuous translation by default, and if it does not fit the context switch to the undefined." 1
Present tense = continuous action (aspect) .............in present time (tense)
"The present tense in any of its moods (or participles) means linear or continuous action (aspect)."33
Many times "is believing" is a present active participle, meaning the one or ones who are continuously acting. The Greek participle corresponds for the most part to the English participle, reflecting "-ing" or "-ed" being suffixed to the basic verb form. The participle can be used either like a verb or a noun, as in English, and thus is often termed a verbal adjective. "There is no significance to a participle. The present participle is built on the present tense stem of the verb and indicates a continuous action (aspect).... To translate you must first discover the participle's aspect, voice, and meaning. You usually translate it with the "ing" form of the verb, sometimes with the key word "while."3 A participle is, therefore, simply a descriptive vehicle of the verb form. The particpal has no tense or mood, only gender, number, and case as any adjective, and Aspect and voice only as a verb.
Participles have no tense (time) significance, but they do carry an aspect (kind of action) significance and voice. A present participle, for example, would indicate a continuous type of action without reference to any time. This very important to understand to discern the very false translations of the Calvinists particularly (even supposed Greek teachers) that like to make all verbal forms relating to salvation in "past once and for all" meaning, even the aorist tense. Beware, of the doctines of men going by traditions of men.
"With reference to aspect, the present tense is internal (that is, it portrays the action from the inside of the event, without special regard for beginning or end, that is, Time, tense), but it makes no comment as to fulfillment (or completion)."4 The present tense's portrayal of an event "focuses on its development or progress and sees the occurrence in regard to its internal make-up, without beginning or end in view."5 It is sometimes called progressive: It "basically represents an activity as in process (or progress)."6 The present tense normally expresses action as being in process, continuing, in present time, at the time of speaking ....the Greek present tense generally corresponds more clearly to the English continuous present ("I am teaching") than to the simple present ("I teach")." 7
Special Note. These are as many as 9-10 present tenses classified by some Greek grammarians. Be sure to study this footnote for brief complete summary of all present tense classifications with explanations.38 For our purposes of understanding doctrines, besides the Descriptive common present tense described above there are two types of present tense we need to be very aware.
(1) First, there is a frequent present tense that indicates a past event but applies only to stating past "vivid" historical events in narrative. This is called the "Historical Present" of recording a past historical event in the present tense,35 as Greek historians did (Xenophon's Anabasis, says, "of Darius and Parysatis are born (paraginetae, present tense verb) two sons..Artaxerxes and ....Cyrus." This was written when Artaxerxes and Cyrus were already adults. Greek Grammarians of NT call this the "historical present", citing usage as "when a long past event is viewed with the vividness of a present occurrence."30 The Apostles Matthew, Mark, John, and Luke also used the "historical present" for recording vivid past historical events (see Matt 3:1, 26:40; Mark 1:21 and 30, 4:36, 14:17; John 1:29; many more). See footnote for specifics concerning the Historical Present.36
Use of this "historical present" is found in several instances of the New Testament referring to past vivid events.. Look at: Matthew 2:20, "those who sought (article + present participle)..are dead." Mark 5:16, "those who saw it told them how it happened "to him who had been demon possessed" (article +present participle) Mark 6:14, "John the Baptist (article +present participle) is risen from the dead" John 9:8, "Is not this he who sat and begged?" (article + two present participles) Galatians 1:23, "He who formerly persecuted us" (article + present participle) 2 Peter 1:21, "prophecy in old time...spake as they were moved (present passive participle) by Holy Spirit"
(2) Second, there is what is called a "Gnomic Present" of making a statement of a general, timeless fact, saying something does happen all the time as a timeless principle.45 It is atemporal. Unlike the customary present tense, this present tense refers to a general timeless principle fact. It refers to a verbal expression of does happen, not the customary is happening of continual aspect. This Gnomic verb typically takes a generic subject or object and may even imply a timeless principle in its contextual statement. Further, the present participle, specially in such formulaic expressions as pas, ho + present participle and the like, routinely belong with this Gnomic present class.
Romans 7:14-21 is just such a statement of "Gnomic Present" tense. "The apostle is speaking as universal man and is describing the experience of anyone who attempts to please God by living according to their flesh nature thoughts and motives. By application, this could be true of any unbeliever or a believer, whenever they live according to their flesh nature.45 The present tense then would be gnomic, not historical, for they refer to anyone and describe something that is universally true. This view sees no shift in the person in the "I" of vv7-13 and 14-25 (which is the basic problem for other views) and is able to handle vv 9, 14 and 25 under one umbrella." 37 The "I" then becomes a universal "I" that is figurative for all men who are walking according to their flesh natures, before their new-birth ability to walk according to the Spirit (Rom 7:25 and chapter 8).
This, of course, is supported by the start of the string of "gnomic presents" in these verses, which says, "but I am (present active, Gnomic) carnal sold under sin." This, of course, anyone who is Biblically literate knows, is not a description of Paul's life after his conversion, by all the scriptures of Paul's statements, who says take me for an example of Holy and righteous living (Phil 3:17). And he follows this section of present tenses with Rom 7:25 through Rom 8:10 stating the replacement of this natural flesh man in what Christ did to restore him to a Spiritual man in fellowship with God by putting away the "old man" of flesh (Eph 4:22) , by "putting on the 'new man', which after God is created in righteousness and true Holiness" (Eph 4:24).
"BUT ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit , IF so be that the Spirit of God is dwelling in you. Now if any man is not having the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his. And IF Christ be in you, the body is dead because of sin; but the Spirit is Life because of righteousness" (Rom 8:9-10)
The verses of Romans 7:14-21 are mistakenly and deceptively used by the Calvinist and Dispensational "grace" regardless today, and now nearly the entire evil world of "sinning" Christians, to justify their living according to the lusts of their flesh natures. This modern acceptance of a "sinning" (carnal) Christian today, is not scriptural by any means. It is ancient Gnosticism re-introduced in 1918 for the first time by Louis Sperry Chafer, co-founder of Dallas Theological "C"emetery. These Dispensationalist "grace" regardless apostates (they deny Christ's Lordshiip in salvation, making them a cult) as well as the Calvinists, who deny that Christ's death effectively accomplished any real present tense deliverance from our sinning, must ignore the imperfect verb tenses (particularly in Rom 6:17, 20, 21; and 7:5 and 6), the prohibitions of the aorist subjunctives with imperatives, the present verbal aspects, the gnomic present aspect, and most all Greek grammar and syntax to defend this license to sin as they wish.
***
Continuing, however, with a clear understanding of the grammar of the continuous aspect, the present aspect, and also its participle being a continuous aspect (without tense, time relation), we may not be misled by the evil "grace" regardless redefinition of Greek grammar, who imply that the continuous aspect of the present tense or participle cannot mean continuous "in the sense of never ending". They add this non-existent strawman of "cannot mean continuous 'in the sense of never ending'" to deny the clear actionsart aspect (continuous) of the the present aspect of verbs such as "believing". They want to believe in a one-moment believe only for eteranl salvation, despite what one may believe later. This strawman argument is a manifest "lie" by noting that the aspect of the present is always a continuous action as noted above, even for participles.
They want the customary continuous present tense to NOT say "continuous" when referring to "believing" for salvation, and at the same time also insist in the continuous present aspect to say "continuous" when referring to their own sinning flesh natures, which (by their false Calvinist Gnostic Atonement doctrines) they deny is effectively replaced by Christ's Atonement in this life for the obedient renewing "in the Spirit of your mind, and that ye put on (aorist MIDDLE infinitive) the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true Holiness (Eph 4:23-24), without which no man will see God (Heb 12 14). Consequently, a totally worldly "sinning" person until death is an acceptable standard for God to take to Heaven, they say. Isn't "grace" wonderful, they say. No wonder we have world wide apostasy worshipping the antichrist spirit even now.
These "grace" regardless doctorates even boldly teach, against every Greek grammar written (even against their own Dr. Daniel B. Wallace of Dallas Theological Cemetery),26 that the present participles "say nothing as to whether the action is continuous or not". Must see footnote.25 What is the speed of darkness? Remember, redefinitions are the tail tail of the devil seen above the tall grass of false doctrines. To start a cult, all one needs do is start teaching whatever one wants and justify it all with supporting lies. This is what comes out of Dallas Theological Cemetery. "Grass, Grass, Grass, saved by the Grass." They call it "Grace," to hid themselves.
However, they haven't a clue as to what "grace" is, in which they constantly hid themselves. Nor do they understand salvation or prophecy doctrines in any aspect. These modern Dispensationalists and the Calvinists are the Pharisee scholars of today.
2. IMPERFECT TENSE. An "imperfective" aspect in that completion of the action is unknown. The Greek Imperfect tense is a past tense of continual or repeated (a process or habitual) action in the past with completion unknown or incomplete.
Imperfect tense = a "movie clip" of continuous action (aspect).....in the past (tense). It says nothing about completion of action or repetition in the past, nor anything about the future. Therefore, it has an imperfective aspect. It may best be expressed, as illustration: I "used" to write, or I "used" to ride my bicycle, or I "used" to be held captive to sin.
"Strictly speaking, the imperfect tense views the action as in progress. It is represented by the English past continuous forms ("I was teaching, I used to go"). But a simple past tense ("I taught,"I went") may sometimes be a sufficient translation for a Greek imperfect tense."31
Illustrations:
Rom 6:17-20 17 But God be thanked, that ye used to be (imperfect tense) the servants of sin, but ye have obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine which was delivered you. 18 Being then made free from sin, ye became the servants of righteousness. 19 I speak after the manner of men because of the infirmity of your flesh: for as ye have yielded your members servants to uncleanness and to iniquity unto iniquity; even so now yield your members servants to righteousness unto holiness. 20 For when ye used to be (imperfect tense) the servants of sin, ye used to be (imperfect tense) free from righteousness.
Rom 7:5-6 5 For when we used to be (imperfect tense) in the flesh, the motions of sins, which used to be (imperfect tense) by the law, did work in our members to bring forth fruit unto death. [[ "Ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God is dwelling in you." Rom 8:9. A new kind of creature exists after new-birth-from above, not a "carnal" sinning helpless as we are taught today. ]] 6 But now we are delivered from the law, that being dead wherein we used to be held (imperfect tense); that we are serving (present active) in newness (new of a different kind) of Spirit, and not in the oldness of the letter.
This is the "Imperfective" tense and aspect, a continuous or repeated action, in the past, but a completion is not known. It is like watching a short clip of a motion picture, but you don't see or know the ending. "Like the present tense, the imperfect displays an internal aspect. That is, it portrays the action from within the event, without regard for beginning or end." 8
It is usually translated as an English past tense, but certainly has no implications as to the future.
II. Undefined Aspect (a static external view only) AORIST TENSE.
The Imperfect and Aorist tenses are the only past tenses in Greek. Because of the different aspects (action) of the only two past tenses in Greek, the Imperfect and the Aorist, they are not given exclusive classification in the Actionsarts. The Imperfect is with the Continuous aspect, the Aorist is with the Undefined aspect.
Aorist tense = a flash bulb "snap shot" of undefined action (aspect)...in the past (tense). "The aorist tense in any of its moods (or participles) means punctiliar action (aspect), the converse of the present aspect of linear and continuous."34
The specific meaning of the Aorist tense is that it has no special meaning, simply an event without regard to time or length of time, during which action may have occurred, or completion of the action. It could be any amount of action, complete, incomplete, or instantaneous; with no duration specified, and may be at beginning, during, or end. It is just a snapshot as contrasted to the motion picture of the imperfect tense. 9
Although the Aorist means "undefined" to the grammarians, with the indicative mood, it means the event occurred in the past. The indicative mood with the aorist makes the event in the past, not the aorist tense. The aorist indicative becomes the most equivalent to the English past tense, as "I believed, I heard, I was saved," (but actually is not equivalent) Any aorist tense form may have any one of three points of emphasis: it may accent the beginning of the action (called ingressive aorist), the end of the action (effective aorist), or the whole action (constantive aorist). These emphases, it must be noted, are concessions to the English point of view. The aorist itself simply regards the action as an event only, without any regard to time at all. 10
In Acts 16:31, where Paul commanded the obviously repentant Philippian jailor, "Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ...," the word "believe" is in the aorist active imperative. Aorist; meaning, just do it (without respect to time); active, meaning you are the one to do it; and imperative, meaning a command to do it. In other words, Paul was saying, "For Heaven's sake, just believe (whenever) upon the Lord Jesus Christ!"
The aorist tense is characterized by its emphasis on punctiliar action; that is, the concept of the verb is considered without regard for past, present, or future time. It just is an event, nothing else known. There is no direct or clear English equivalent for this tense, though it is generally rendered as a simple past tense in most translations. 11
Robertson states: "The Greek aorist is translatable into almost every English tense except the imperfect."12 Perhaps, context is the best way to determine the time or kind of action intended.
"Notice that aorist aspect is the least distinctive in terms of kind of action. Nevertheless, many preachers and commentators view it as special in some quasi-esoteric way and therefore greatly exaggerate its significance. Doubtless you have heard, at one time or another, someone wax eloquent about the virtues of the aorist tense: 'Paul's use of the aorist in Romans 12:1 means that we are to present our bodies once and for all to God as a living sacrifice!' Actually, aorist aspect is about as mundane a category as you can find. And it never means "once and for all," no matter who tells you that it does. As someone has put it, 'Its special meaning is that is does not have a special meaning.' Period.'"13 Italics and underlines are mine for emphasis.
[[[ Special note. Again, the entire Greek grammar of the aorist tense, by clearly grasping the underlined statements by several grammarians concerning the Greek aorist tense, completely destroys the false teachings of the evil "grace" regardless teachings today, that the aorist tense means that unconditional eternal salvation is accomplished only by a one-time mental affirmation of Christ as Savior only, not Lord. They deny the clear meaning of the aorist and teach that it means a one-moment-past-completed action forever. What is the speed of darkness? Remember, redefinitions are the tall tail of the devil appearing in the high grass of false doctrines. ]]]
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