The Perfect active indicative means a completed action with a continuing result (ASPECT) at the time of the speaker or writer (not reader). The perfect tense does not specify anything about the future. The perfect tense is not a past action as in English. However, it is a completed action, therefore called the perfective ASPECT. ¹⁴

 DESCRIPTIVE       Perfect tense (1) a PRESENT TIME (TENSE--TIME OF ACTION) at time of writer or speaker of it (with CONTINUOUS ASPECT--KIND OF ACTION) .......ALSO from 
                                                (2) a past time (tense) of completed (aspect) action. 

No future implied beyond time of writer or speaker.   AGAIN, NO future is ever implied by the perfect tense or aspect. 

It must be emphased that regardless of Tense or Aspect, or Voice or Mood, the Perfect tense must be always understood as at time of writer or speaker !! 

Its best translation can include "NOW" in most parsings in translations to clearly imply Perfect Tense as time (Present, AT TIME OF WRITER OR SPEAKER) and/or as Aspect, (Kind, CONTINUOUS) of action in any translation, as ALWAYS at time of writer or speaker.  This peculiarity of the Perfect form (whether a Descriptive form or a Participle) is often overlooked.

The perfect tense is "the most important, exegetically, of all the Greek tenses." ⁴⁹

The perfect is used less frequently than the present, aorist, future, or imperfect tenses. When it is used, there is usually a deliberate choice on the part of the writer.  It occurs 1571 times; 835 indicative, 673 participles, 49 infinitives, 10 subjunctives, and 4 imperatives.  The perfect optative does not occur in the NT.⁵⁰

There is NO English equivalent for the Greek Perfect tense. The perfect tense describes an action as present at the time of writing or speaking. While dealing with the past to some extent, the perfect tense is primarily concerned with present time.¹⁸ "The force of the perfect indicative is simply that it describes an event that, completed in the past, has results existing in the present time (i.e., in relation to the time of the speaker)."¹⁹ "The Greek perfect describes an action that was brought to completion and whose effects are felt in the present, in the time frame of the speaker, not the reader." ²⁰

Illustrations may be expressed as perfect tense of grapho, "I wrote here on paper"; or of aposthnesko, "I am now dead"; or of gennao, he is now born of God; or may be translated as in narrative, "God sent" or "loves his neighbor has fulfulled the law."  BDF suggest that the perfect tense "combines in itself, so to speak, the present and the aorist in that it denotes the continuance of the completed action..."⁴¹ 

The emphasis is on the present (TIME OF WRITER) aspect (CONTINUOUS), kind of action, at time of writer or speaker of it, whenever the perfect tense is used.

Listen to what Daniel B. Wallace says: "Chamberlain goes too far when he suggests that the perfect is sometimes used to "describe and act that has abiding results."¹⁵ The implication that 'the perfect tells you that the event occurred and still has significant results'¹⁶ goes beyond grammar and is therefore misleading. Even more misleading is the notion, frequently found in commentaries, that the perfect tense denotes permanent or eternal results. Such a statement is akin to saying the aorist tense means 'once,for,all.' Implications of this sort are to be drawn from considerations that are other than grammatical in nature. One must be careful not to read his or her theology into the syntax whenever it is convenient." ¹⁷

[[[  Because present time must always be understood in all Perfect Tenses regardless of translatable Aspect, since the essence of the Perfect tense is alway referring at the time of the writer or speaker, and since aspect is always continuous, in effect it always occurs in presence of writer or speaker, regardless of a participle without Tense, when only having Aspect.   This must always be emphasized if possible to be properly translated as Perfect Tense, it may be translated with 'NOW' added to its translated aspect, unless in Consummative or Gnomic form use, to tell the reader it is a Perfect tense form, a helpful understanding to understand the scirptural teachings. We are aware of no translation that does this at present time. ]]]


There are Four forms of the Perfect tense that must be described as of specific impact upon scriptural doctrines, besides the General Descriptive of the Perfect tense given.  These Four Forms are the most important and frequent forms of the Perfect Tense, besides the Descriptive.

(1) Consummative Perfect      A completed past action -causing- a PRESENT state with continuous Aspect sometimes only implied.
(Translated as a Past Tense)

Context IMPLIES a resulting present tense ASPECT  caused by a past Kind of actiion.    A minimum kind of Perfect Tense, it seems. because of no emphasis on Aspect of resulting present tense state.

Illustrations are:  (perfect tense bolded)
John 1:34, And I saw, and bare record that this is the Son of God.
Acts 5:28, Behold, you have filled Jerusalem with your doctrine.
Rom 5:5, the Love of God has been poured out in our hearts.

(2) Resultative Perfect   (Common occurrence)  A present aspect (kind of action) being emphasized.
(Translated as Present Tense)

This is a Perfect tense used with verbs that convey very little distinction between the act and the results, such as, born, die, know, perceive, convince, give, take, see, etc. Thus, this use of the verb is when "the act slides over into the results. They are resultative perfects to the point that the act itself has virtually died; the results have become the act."⁴⁰

Perhaps, this Resultative Perfect tense would best be translated not as "he died" or "he gave" but as "he is now dead" or "he has now given."²⁷ This suggestion gives a lot of help in passages to better convey the Perfect tense meaning as something having to do with a past action (aspect), but now as regarded "at the time of the writer or speaker of it", as truly existing, in fact, in the present (tense).  Sometimes, however, this would not be helpful with Comsummative Perfects or other forms of Perfect at times, depending upon context.  

Illustrations are:  1 John 3:6  Whosoever is abiding (present actice participle) in Him is not sinning (present active indicative): whosoever is sinning (present active participle) is now seeing (perfect active) Him not, neither is now knowing (perfect active) Him ......... ..................................................................................... 1 John 3:9  Whosoever is now made born (perfect passive) of God is not continuously doing (present--continuously, active--deliberately) sin (noun, singular, feminine, accustive = refering to the singular flesh nature sin); for His seed³² is abiding (present active) in him: and he cannot (present passive) be sinning (present active), because he is now made born (perfect passive) of God.

(Note: Sin and in Christ are mutually exclusive concepts throughout scripture !! )

(3) Gnomic Perfect   (Important)   A principle of Kind of action as a timeless Truth. 
(Translated as past tense or present tense.)

 "The perfect tense may be used with a Gnomic force, to speak of a generic or proverbial occurrence. The aspectual force of the perfect [past completed action] is usually intact, but now it has a distributive value, viz., something that is envisioned on many occasions or for many individuals,"⁴¹  Not having any aspect to time of speaker or writer also, but as a timeless truth for everyone universally, saved and unsaved.

Illustrations are:
John 3:18, and he not committing is now made (passive) judged already, because he is not now committing .
Rom 7:2  "For the married woman is now made (passive) bound by law to [her] husband while he is alive.  But if the husband dies, she is now made (passive) loosed from the law of the husband.
1 John 1:10  "If we say that we have not sinned (Gnomic Perfect with negative), we make Him a liar, and His Word is not in us."

(4) Lastly.  Periphrastic verbal forms   A Note must be inserted here concerning Periphrastic Verbal Forms.  These existed in ancient (attic) pre-Koine Greek.  Periphrastic means "round about" way to say something.  These forms consisted of " eimi (a verb of being) + an anarthrous participle" to form a finite verbal idea.   Originally, a periphrastic construction was used to emphasize the continuous force of the participle, but by the time of Koine Greek, this emphasis is often totally lost (Mounce).²⁸

According to Daniel B. Wallace²⁹ and William D. Mounce²⁸ whenever the finite verb of eimi is combined with a present participle, the finite tense equivalent in translation is according to the tense of eimi.  However, if it is a perfect participle and the eimi is in present tense, the finite tense translation is according to the perfect tense.  If eimi is in the imperfect tense with the perfect participle, the finite tense translation is according to the pluperfect tense (completed action in past time).

Periphrastic Forms Eimi + Anarthous participle = Periphrastic Form-translated As simple Finite tense
      eimi (future tense)     +     present participle   =  future tense
      eimi (present tense)   +     present participle   =  present tense  
      eimi (imperfect tense) +    present participle    =  imperfect tense
      eimi (present tense)    +    perfect participle    =  perfect  tense
      eimi (imperfect tense) +     perfect participle   =   pluperfect tense              

Illustration:  Eph 2:8, este (present tense) sesosmenoi (perfect passive participle), "ye are now continuously being saved", the perfect participle has no Tense and no Mood, only aspect, Kind of action, is emphasized as continuous, a past completed action continuous (Kind of action, Aspect) by default at present time (now, being continuous) of speaker or writer of statement.  NO future is ever implied by the perfect tense or aspect, or the pluperfect tense or aspect.

Calvinists, who pretend to be Greek experts and even teach Greek (amazing !!), MUST (by any means) make the perfect tense imply something guaranteeing a past action perfected forever.  And they proudly boast a knowledge in using this perfect participle form (form of present  eimi + perfect participle = perfect tense. PERIOD) giving the pluperfect tense, to say the verb continues forever.  The plain Perfect tense plainly doesn't imply any future mentioned, nor does the pluperfect.  One cannot find their teachings in any Greek Grammar.  Indeed, we wish a full Calvinist (holds all 5 TULIP doctrines) would write a Greek grammar, it would be most humorous.

In Acts 13:48, where eesan tetagmenoi is "were assigned" (not ordained) as a periphrastic pluperfect tense, the pluperfect construction resulting from the imperfect eimi and the perfect participle of tasso, means the tasso is a past completed action, and completed in the past, having results that existed in the past.  It has no future significance at all.

We are taking this verse because we believe this verse alone, is the strongest verse that the Calvinists can use, as weak as it is.  All other verses in the new testament completely make Calvinistic arguments purely fraudulent, when seen in Greek scriptures and even in KJV English scriptures.  And they say they are such great scholars, too.  It is a shame they take themselves so seriously.

This form tetagmenoi represents 
(1) can indicate either a middle or passive voice perfect participle, so, first (1),  any position regarding a "predestined" assignment, as asserted by Calvinists, can have no determinative credibility or application, since Pluperfect forms have no distinctive passive or middle voice forms.  There are six more reasons.  
(2) Jerome (340-420 AD) started this false assertion by wickedly inserting "pre" in his Latin translation of the old Latin scripture rendering of ordinati to preordinati.  
(3) The Greek word itself, 5021 tasso--to assign,  in its 8 occurences in the NT gives no Latin rendering justification for a definite eternal "ordination" by God for anything;
(4) so even ordinati is not a good Latin translation for this Greek word.

[[  Jerome was brought up with a dislike of the common (popular) Koine Greek text, and with a preference for the invented Greek Text of Origen and Eusebius.  He, therefore, used the Greek Alexandrian Egypt texts composed by Origen and Eusebius (Aleph and B Vaticanus type) as his Greek manuscripts.^{42  43  44}   He also rejected the old Latin scripture texts which differed from Eusebius.  It is enlightening to learn that Jerome set the church on the awful predestinarian course with his corrupted Latin Vulgate (completed between 383 and 405 AD).  Also, he was Roman Catholic, a contemporary of Augustine, and commissioned by Damascus, the Bishop of Rome, who was already exalting himself as "the pope".  Jerome advocated predestination to Heaven of the "sinning Christian" along with Augustine.  It is little wonder that the Roman Catholic Church has esteemed the Latin Vulgate and Augustine so highly. And the Dispensationalists today, teach that Augustine is the original teacher of modern day "grace" regrdless of there being a carnal sinning so-called Christian. ]]

(5)   In actuality,  we believe the understanding of Acts 13:48 is clearly given by the use of the preposition eis, in eesan tetagmenoi eis zooeen aioonion.  Eis, used 1793 times in NT, clearly means "for the purpose or result of," and is never used in a causative sense, only telic (already existing substantive being addressed) in its meaning, not as a causal result of action.  So to say were assigned "for the purpose or result of" eternal life does not imply a past completed action of any type (passive or middle) as causing or effecting eternal Life to people.  If this causal meaning were intended the preposition pros may have been used, or simply the dative of "eternal life" used.    This is the same sense in which eis is used in Acts 2:38, "be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the (actually, eis, "for the purpose or result of"--already existing) remission (859, aphesis = removal) of sins.  It does not imply that the removal of sins is caused by the baptism, just as is does not mean the "had been assigned" means that their future Eternal Life was caused by their commmitting or being appointed.

Likewise, in all the 17 scriptures saying , "be believing on (eis, for the purpose or result of) Him."   This does not mean to effect or cause "Him."   Likewise, it does not mean to effect "eternal Life" in these people.   It means, "Be committing to Lord Jesus Christ eis, for purpose or result of, eternal Life; or in this case, "as many as believed  (committed) were assigned (pluperfect) for the  purpose or result of (eis) eternal Life."  No causal relationship between the "assign" and the "eternal life" because of the specific preposition used by the Holy Spirit.  No guaranteed eternal life at all is stated in this regard.  Child simple. 

(6) The verse, actually may be more accurately and better translated as, QUOTE   Acts 13:48  "When the Gentiles heard (present active participle) they were rejoicing (Imperfect acitive indicative) and were attributing Spiritual Perfection (Imperfect active indicative) by their choice to the Word of the Lord, and they have by their choice committed (aorist active indicative), as many as [[ were (imperfect --indicative, of eimi), assigned (perfect passive participle)  =  prephrastic pluperfect tense ]] had been assigned, for the result or purpose of (eis, not causal) Life Eternal.  UNQUOTE

Even if the pluperfect construction could better posssibly be designating a past completed action occuring to the time of when they "committed" (aorist active indicative, past volitional action of the Gentiles).  As explained by the preposition, eis, this then does not lend itself to a predestination decree (not found in scripture) before the foundation of the world, as these Calvinist translators would like to make it.  Nor would it give license to the contrived translation of "ordained," implying a "pre-ordination."  Nor does the aorist active indicative of "committed" imply a passive voice effect upon the Gentiles as the Calvinists insist.   The active voice says, "BY the subjects (his, her, it, etc) choice and volitioin."  Middle voice, means, FOR subject choosing the action on behalf of self (himself, herself, etc)," and passive voice means, "MADE subject by another, regardles of subjects choice."

Finally, (7)  the Pluperfect tense describes an action that was completed and whose effects are felt at a time after the completion but before the time of the speaker.  (The effects of an action described by the pluperfect is felt at the time of the speaker.)"⁵¹ 


In substance. the Calvinists have based their whole Theology, not by any means upon the Greek scriptures throughout for all their TULIP doctrines.  There can be no other explanation.  Indeed, Calvin even said hundreds of times, that everything he ever wrote was only what Augustine (400 AD) taught.  And Augustine knew no Greek or Hebrew whatsoever.  His only background was of pagan Persian Manichean Gnosticism for 8 years before getting Baptized as a Christian.

Unfortunately, Calvinists' contrived terms, such as believe (for committed, in our day), redeemed, justified, remission, ordained, bishops, pastors, rule, believe instead of obey, and so forth, in the only first English translations we have, have instigated many false understandings of scripture persisting in all translations today.  And this false carry-down (by more modern idiomatics in languages) from earliest translations as mandated by King James in translating the KJV in order to preserve the Anglican (Calvinist) Ecclesiology in England.

All Greek Tenses (time of action) and Apects (kind of action) and the subjunctive and imperative moods and the active and middle voice and prepositions are the plain innocent child's grammar book answer to all the Calvinist TULIP lies.  Indeed, all syntax of Greek grammar totally makes a lie of all Tulip doctrines.  Concerning Greek grammar and syntax, whenever one sees Calvinists' lips moving, you know they MUST lie.

Calvinists as the Dispensationalists must insist that the Perfect tense means a one-time past perfected event and lasting forever in the future, to which, of course, no Greek grammarian can agree or support.  What is the speed of darkness?  Remember, redefinitions are the tall tail of the devil appearing in the high grass of false doctrines.