Series: The Abused Present Indicative and Churches of Christ

A Look at the Text

A detailed study in the Gospel of Matthew reveals the varied uses of the present indicative mood, challenging the notion that it always signifies continuous action, prompting a closer examination of the verb forms in the text.

Sources

1. Robertson, Grammar, PP.879-82. James A. Brooks and Carlton L Winberry, Syntax of New Testament Greek. (Washington D. C.: University Press of America, 1979) p. 77.

2. Connally - Hicks Debate, p. 365, question #4.

3. Robertson, Grammar, p. 865.

4. The corresponding English word is underlined.

5. Bauer, Lexicon, p. 514.

6. Brooks and Winberry, Syntax, p.79.

7. Frits Rienecker, A Linguistic Key to the New Testament, Vol. 1, trans. & rev. by Cleon L. Rogers Jr. (Grand Rapids, Mich.: Zondervan Publishing House, 1977) p 38

8. Robertson, Grammar, p.865-6

9. Ibid. p.869

10. Ibid. pg. 866 See also Brooks & Winberry, p.77, 79, where it is pointed out that statements of universal truth, called gnomic, express "punctiliar action."

11. Robertson, Grammar, p. 866

12. G. Mussies, The Morphology of Koine Greek as Used in the Apocalypse of St. John. (Leiden: E. J. Brill, 1971) p.250

13. Robertson, Grammar, p.864

14. Goodwin, Syntax. p.47

15. Harding Graduate School of Religion, Preachers' Forum, April 25, 1978. The question was asked whether "committeth adultery" in Mat. 19:9 is a continuous act or a one time sin. Raymond Kelcy, who was a Greek teacher at Oklahoma Christian College, answered first, saying, "The question is, what kind of present is that? A single act? Is it punctiliar or durative - linear? Now, I'll say, before I answer the question, that in my way of thinking, a person who enters an illegal marriage, an unscriptural marriage, does continue to commit adultery. But there is nothing in the verb, present tense verb, to give anybody an consolation on either side of that question. If it gives anybody any support it would be the punctiliar. It's like I say, Whosoever shall aim the gun and pull the trigger, commits murder.' That doesn't mean keeps on committing murder, does it? It just means commits murder by doing that." Floyd said, "I would agree with brother Kelcy. I think that is right."

16. Stephen M. Reynolds, "The Zero Tense in Greek, A Critical Note.

17. The Westminster Theological Journal, 32, (Nov. 1969) p.68-72.

18. John C. Hawkins - Horae Synopticae, p. 148-9 In this paper Hawkin's word order is changed to alphabetical order.

19. Bauer, Lexicon, p. 140 19. Blass & DeBrunner, Grammar, p. 172

20. Robertson, Grammar, p.864

21. Ibid. p.879