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Present Tense

The Present Tense Verb

The Kind of Action of the Present Tense:

The present tense primarily expresses linear action; however, depending on context can focus on a point in time.  With the Greek verb the time is secondary to the type of action; therefore, the present tense is not restricted to only expressing action going on in the present time. The time element is expressed by the mode more than the tense; however, the progressive force of the present tense needs to be considered regardless of what mode it is used with, especially the Subjunctive and Optative modes.

The Aoristic  Present

Denotes point-in-time action in the present time; taking place at the moment of speaking or writing without reference to its progress.

And Peter said to him, “Aenea, Jesus the Christ heals you, stand up furnish for yourself and he immediately rose. Acts 9:34

The Gnomic Present

Represents that which is assumed to be true at all times; simply affirming that something does happen under given circumstances.

The Historical Present

Portrays a past action as though it were going on at the moment it was written. It expresses vividness in dramatic narration where the writer can still picture the events in his mind as though they were still happening and he is still involved in them.

The next day John seeing Jesus coming towards him and said, “Look with discernment, the Lamb of God, the One taking away the sin of the world. John 1:29

The Futuristic Present

Pictures a future event, which is so certain to the writer that he writes of it as though it was already taking place.

The Descriptive Present

Represents an […]

Present Tense2023-12-11T12:19:13-08:00

Aorist Tense

The Aorist Tense Verb

The Kind of Action of the Aorist Tense:

The Aorist tense expresses punctiliar action. It states the deed is occurring without indicating continued action. The time element is basically non-existence within the tense, except for in the Indicative mode, and therefore relies upon the context.

The Constative Aorist

The action is seen as a single whole, without any emphasis on its progress. It may last but a moment, or it may last for a long time. It may have been one act, or it may have been a series of acts. The action is gathered together and presented as a point. The writer sees the whole action in a glance. This use occurs frequently in the New Testament.

The Ingressive  Aorist

The action is denoted as having occurred, but the emphasis is placed on the beginning of the action, emphasizing the entrance into a state or a condition.

The Culminative  Aorist

(Also may be known as the Consummative Aorist or the Effective Aorist)

This use conveys the results of an event, viewing it in its entirety. The event has occurred, but the emphasis is placed on the end of the action or on the state resulting from the action. It is often used with verbs which signify effort or process.

The Aorist of Historical Narrative

This use denotes past events in narration. It answers the question “what happened next?” This is the normal tense for narratives, unless there was a reason to use some other tense. It occurs frequently in the Gospels and Acts.

The Gnomic Aorist

This use denotes a generally accepted fact or truth which is so fixed in its certainty or axiomatic character that it is […]

Aorist Tense2023-12-11T12:20:51-08:00
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