Rijksbaron and the Greek New Testament

[Jonathan Robie]

Thanks, Louis!

[Stephen Carlson]

Perhaps we should continue/restart this. What's next?

[mwpalmer]

I would like to see the discussion continue. I have been unable to contribute so far because of other obligations, but I do want to read along and comment when I can.

[Stephen Carlson]

OK, I added a summary of the next section and briefly identified the salient issues. Jonathan and others can propound questions to get a discussion going.

[Eeli Kaikkonen]

Is this project dead?

[Jonathan Robie]

Is this project dead?

I could sure use help figuring out the right way to keep the discussion going on this. I'm interested in the topic.

How should we proceed?

[Stephen Carlson]

The last two posts were initiated by me and each has only one reply, also by me. If people want a discussion they have to participate.

[Gumboocho]

Has anyone ever written an Introduction to Classical (or Attic) Greek for those who know the language of the NT, having mastered it in Bible College or Seminary, but now want to learn Classical?

[Jason Hare]

Has anyone ever written an Introduction to Classical (or Attic) Greek for those who know the language of the NT, having mastered it in Bible College or Seminary, but now want to learn Classical?

Someone who has studied only NT Greek should prepare for an overhaul of his Greek when he goes to study classical. I always recommend using Athenaze (Ἀθήναζε) as an introduction to classical Greek. It includes NT Greek passages in almost every chapter (a chapter is two sections of the book). As you go along and do the nT Greek passages, you notice how much easier it is to read NT Greek as you learn the classical forms and vocabulary.

[Jonathan Robie]

GPT has made it much easier to adapt Rijksbaron for NT Greek.

Here's some sample output using an approach I am playing with:

Rijksbaron’s interpretation of non-finite verbs, particularly participles and infinitives, focuses on how these verb forms relate temporally to the main verb in a sentence. Here's a brief summary based on his framework:

1. Present Participles:
- Simultaneity: The action of a present participle is generally understood to be happening at the same time as the main verb.
- Example: λέγων (saying) – This action occurs at the same time as the main action of the sentence.

2. Aorist Participles:
- Anteriority: The action of an aorist participle is typically completed before the action of the main verb.
- Example: ποιήσας (having done) – The action of “doing” happens first, and then the main verb follows.

3. Future Participles:
- Subsequent Action: Future participles indicate an action that will occur after the main verb.
- Example: ποιήσων (about to do) – The action will happen after the event described by the main verb.

4. Present Infinitives:
- Contemporaneity: Like the present participle, the action of a present infinitive typically occurs at the same time as the main verb.
- Example: λέγειν (to say) – The action of “saying” happens simultaneously with the main action.

5. Aorist Infinitives:
- Anteriority: Similar to aorist participles, aorist infinitives generally describe an action that is completed before the main verb.
- Example: ποιῆσαι (to have done) – The action of "doing" happens before the main verb.

6. Future Infinitives:
- Posteriority: This form is used to indicate actions that will occur after the action of the main verb.
- Example: ποιήσειν (to be about to do) – The action will take place in the future relative to the main verb.

Summary of Time Relationships:
- Present forms (participles or infinitives) generally indicate actions happening at the same time as the main verb.
- Aorist forms suggest actions completed before the main verb.
- Future forms express actions that will take place after the main verb’s action.

Here are five examples from the New Testament for each type of non-finite verb form as outlined by Rijksbaron, illustrating how time is expressed in relation to the main verb:

1. Present Infinitive: Action contemporaneous with the main verb

• Matthew 16:13:
  λέγουσιν αὐτῷ οἱ μαθηταί, λέγειν τινας ...
  "The disciples say to him, that some say ..."
  (The saying by others is happening at the same time as the disciples’ report.)
• Mark 10:14:
  Ἀφῆτε τὰ παιδία ἔρχεσθαι πρός με
  "Allow the children to come to me."
  (The coming of the children is simultaneous with the disciples allowing them.)
• John 9:25:
  ἕν οἶδα, ὅτι τυφλὸς ὢν ἄρτι βλέπω
  "One thing I know, that though I was blind, now I see."
  (The seeing occurs at the same time as the present knowing.)
• Matthew 12:2:
  Οἱ δὲ Φαρισαῖοι ἰδόντες εἶπαν αὐτῷ, Ἴδε οἱ μαθηταί σου ποιοῦσιν
  "But the Pharisees, seeing it, said to him, ‘Look, your disciples are doing...’"
  (The disciples' actions happen at the same time as the seeing and reporting.)
• Luke 2:49:
  οὐκ ᾔδειτε ὅτι ἐν τοῖς τοῦ πατρός μου δεῖ με εἶναι;
  "Did you not know that I must be about my Father's business?"
  (The being in the Father’s business is contemporaneous with Jesus’ statement.)

2. Aorist Infinitive: Action completed before the action of the main verb

• Luke 9:51:
  Καὶ ἐγένετο ἐν τῷ συμπληροῦσθαι τὰς ἡμέρας τῆς ἀναλήμψεως αὐτοῦ, καὶ αὐτὸς τὸ πρόσωπον ἐστήρισεν τοῦ πορεύεσθαι
  "When the days were completed for him to be taken up, he set his face to go to Jerusalem."
  (The completion of the days happens before Jesus sets his face.)
• Mark 9:9:
  καὶ καταβαινόντων αὐτῶν ἐκ τοῦ ὄρους, διεστείλατο αὐτοῖς ἵνα μηδενὶ ἃ εἶδον διηγήσωνται, εἰ μὴ ὅταν ὁ υἱὸς τοῦ ἀνθρώπου ἐκ νεκρῶν ἀναστῇ
  "As they were coming down from the mountain, He charged them to tell no one what they had seen until the Son of Man had risen from the dead."
  (The rising from the dead is understood to occur before they can tell what they have seen.)
• Matthew 26:32:
  μετὰ τὸ ἐγερθῆναί με, προάξω ὑμᾶς εἰς τὴν Γαλιλαίαν
  "But after I have been raised, I will go ahead of you to Galilee."
  (Jesus' resurrection precedes his going ahead.)
• Luke 24:34:
  λέγοντας ὅτι ἠγέρθη ὁ Κύριος ὄντως, καὶ ὤφθη Σίμωνι
  "Saying, ‘The Lord is risen indeed, and has appeared to Simon!’"
  (The appearance to Simon occurred before the speaking.)
• Acts 5:28:
  λέγων· Παραγγελίᾳ παρηγγείλαμεν ὑμῖν μὴ διδάσκειν ἐπὶ τῷ ὀνόματι τούτῳ
  "Saying, ‘Did we not strictly command you not to teach in this name?’"
  (The command not to teach was issued before the speaking.)

3. Future Infinitive: Action subsequent to the action of the main verb

• Acts 26:32:
  ἀπεφθάνατο ἄφεσιν εἶναι τοῦ ἔθνους εἰς τὸν θεὸν ἀγαπήσειν τὸν κύριον
  "Agrippa said to Festus, ‘This man could have been set free if he had not appealed to Caesar.’"
  (Being set free would have occurred after the appeal.)
• Acts 25:12:
  Ἐπὶ Καίσαρα ἐπικαλεῖσθαι, ἐπὶ Καίσαρα πορεύσῃ
  "You have appealed to Caesar, to Caesar you will go."
  (The going to Caesar follows the appeal.)
• Acts 22:30:
  Βουλόμενος δὲ γνῶναι τὸ ἀκριβὲς τοῦτο
  "He wanted to know the exact reason why he was accused."
  (The knowing will happen after the request to know.)
• Romans 15:28:
  ἀποθέσας αὐτὰ σφραγίσας αὐτοῖς τὸν καρπὸν
  "When I have completed this and have sealed to them this fruit, I will go to Spain."
  (Paul's going to Spain would happen after sealing the fruit.)
• Acts 3:3:
  Τὸ ἔχειν διδάσκοντος καὶ παραγγελεῖν
  "He asked for alms from those entering the temple."
  (The action of giving alms would come after the request.)

4. Present Participle: Action simultaneous with the action of the main verb

• Luke 3:21:
  καὶ Ἰησοῦ βαπτισθέντος καὶ προσευχομένου ἀνεῳχθῆναι τὸν οὐρανόν
  "And when Jesus was baptized and was praying, the heavens were opened."
  (Jesus' praying happens simultaneously with the opening of the heavens.)
• Matthew 7:29:
  ἐδίδασκεν αὐτοὺς ὡς ἐξουσίαν ἔχων
  "He was teaching them as one having authority."
  (The having authority occurs at the same time as the teaching.)
• Matthew 13:3:
  καὶ λέγων αὐτοῖς ἐν παραβολαῖς λέγειν
  "And he spoke to them in parables."
  (The speaking happens at the same time as the speaking in parables.)
• Mark 8:31:
  καὶ ἤρξατο διδάσκειν αὐτοὺς
  "He began teaching them."
  (The teaching starts at the same time as the beginning.)
• Acts 9:43:
  ἔμεινεν αὐτὸν λέγων
  "He stayed many days with Simon."
  (Staying happens during his time with Simon.)

5. Aorist Participle: Action completed before the action of the main verb

• Matthew 28:19:
  βαπτίσαντες αὐτοὺς
  "Having baptized them."
  (Baptizing happens before they are sent out.)
• Mark 5:4:
  διαρρήξαντες τοὺς σιδήρους
  "Having torn the chains."
  (The tearing of the chains happens before the demon is cast out.)
• Luke 9:33:
  Ἐγένετο λέγειν...
  "It came to pass while he was saying..."
  (His saying happens before the action of the main verb.)
• Luke 5:12:
  καὶ προσπεσὼν εἰς τὰ πόδια Ἰησοῦ
  "And having fallen at Jesus' feet."
  (The falling happens before the appeal.)
• John 9:6:
  ποιήσας πηλὸν ἐπέχρισεν
  "Having made clay, he anointed."
  (The making of clay happens before the anointing.)