Wallace The Basics of New Testament Syntax
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(2) ILLUSTRATIONS
Gal 5:4 oi{tineß ejnnovmw/
ddiikkaaiioouuççssqqee
[you] who are attempting to be justified by the Law
If this were a durative present of some sort, the translation
would be, “you who are being justified by the Law”! Obviously,
such a meaning for this text would contradict the whole point
of Galatians. Paul is not declaring that they are being justified
by the Law, but that they think they are (or they are trying to
be), though their attempt can only end in failure.
b. Not Begun, but About/Desired to be Attempted (Voluntative/Tendential)
(1) D
EFINITION AND KEY TO IDENTIFICATION. The present tense is used to
indicate that an attempt is about to be made or one that is desired to be made in the
present time (or very near future time). The action may or may not be carried
out. The key to identification is about to.
The Present Tense 229
(2) ILLUSTRATIONS
John 10:32 dia© poiçon aujtwçne[rgon ejme©
lliiqqaavvzzeettee
;
For which of these works are you about to stone me?
➡10. Futuristic Present
ExSyn 535–37
The present tense may be used to describe a future event, though (unlike the
conative present) it typically adds the connotations of immediacy and certainty.
Most instances involve verbs whose lexical meaning involves anticipation (such as
e[rcomai, -baivnw, poreuvomai, etc.). This usage is relatively common.
a. Completely Futuristic
(1) D
EFINITION AND KEY TO IDENTIFICATION. The present tense may describe
an event that is wholly subsequent to the time of speaking, as though it were pres-
ent. It focuses on either the immediacy or the certainty of the event; the context
needs to be examined to determine which notion is being emphasized. As a key to
identification one can use is soon going to, is certainly going to, will.
Diagram 56
The Force of the Tendential Present
Past Present Future
O
Diagram 57
The Force of the Completely Futuristic Present
Past Present Future
.
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(2) ILLUSTRATIONS
Rom 6:9 Cristo©ß ... oujkevti
aajjppooqqnnhhvv//sskkeeii
Christ . . . is not going to die
Obviously, the stress here is on certainty, as evidenced by
oujkevti.
Rev 22:20 naiv,
ee[[rrccoommaaii
tacuv Yes, I am coming quickly.
This is a difficult text to assess. It may be that the stress is on
the certainty of the coming or on the immediacy of the coming.
But one’s view does not hinge on the futuristic present, but on
the adverb tacuv. The force of the sentence may then mean,
“Whenever I come, I will come quickly,” in which case the stress
is on the certainty of the coming (cf. Matt 28:8). Or it may mean,
“I am on my way and I intend to be there very soon.” If so, then
the stress is on the immediacy of the coming.
b. Mostly Futuristic (Ingressive-Futuristic?)
(1) D
EFINITION AND KEY TO IDENTIFICATION. The present tense may describe
an event begun in the present time, but completed in the future. This is especially
used with verbs of coming, going, etc., though it is rarer than the wholly futuris-
tic present. As for the key to identification, often the verb can be translated as a
present tense (e.g., is coming).
The Basics of New Testament Syntax230
22
For a general discussion of the indicative mood in declarative o{ti clauses, see “Indica-
tive Mood.”
(2) ILLUSTRATIONS
Mark 10:33
aajjnnaabbaaiivvnnoommeenn
eijß ÔIerosovluma
We are going up to Jerusalem
➡11. Present Retained in Indirect Discourse
ExSyn 537–39
a. Definition. Generally speaking, the tense of the Greek verb in indirect dis-
course is retained from the direct discourse. (Indirect discourse occurs after a verb of
perception [e.g., verbs of saying, thinking, believing, knowing, seeing, hearing]. It
may be introduced by a declarative o{ti, levgwn, ei\pen, etc.
22
) This is unlike English:
In indirect discourse we usually push the tense back “one slot” from what it would
have been in the direct discourse (especially if the introductory verb is past tense)—
that is, we render a simple past as a past perfect, a present as a past tense, etc.
Diagram 58
The Force of the Mostly Futuristic Present
Past Present Future
.
———
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In Greek, however, the tenses of the original utterance are retained in the
indirect discourse. The present tense is one of these. This usage is common, espe-
cially in the Gospels and Acts.
This use of the present tense is not, technically, a syntactical category. That
is to say, the present tense also belongs to some other present tense usage. The
retained present is a translational category, not a syntactical one.
b. Clarification. A retained present is usually progressive, but not in the pres-
ent time (that is, according to English). Do not confuse this with the historical
present, however. Equative verbs are frequently used in indirect discourse (and
thus are to be translated as a past tense, though present in Greek); such verbs do
not occur as historical presents, however (see above).
c. Illustrations
Mark 2:1 hjkouvsqh o{ti ejnoi[kw/
eejjssttiivvnn
It was heard that he was at home
Note that although the equative verb ejstivn is here translated as
a past tense, it is not a historical present. The semantics of his-
torical presents are quite different from the present tense
retained in indirect discourse.
John 4:1 wJße[gnw oJ ∆Ihsouçßo{ti
hh[[kkoouussaann
oiJ Farisaiçoi o{ti ∆Ihsouçß
pleivonaß maqhta©ß
ppooiieeiiçç
kai©
bbaappttiivvzzeeii
h] ∆Iwavnnhß
when Jesus knew that the Pharisees had heard that Jesus was
making and baptizing more disciples than John
This text involves indirect discourse embedded within another
indirect discourse. It affords a good illustration of the differ-
ences between English and Greek. The Greek retains the tenses
from the direct discourse, while English moves them back one
slot. Thus, h[kousan is translated had heard even though it is
aorist (the original statement would have been aorist: “the Phar-
isees heard . . . ”). And both poieiç and baptivzei, although pres-
ent tenses, are translated as though they were imperfects (the
original statement would have been, “Jesus is making and bap-
tizing more disciples than John”).
The Present Tense 231
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ExSyn 541
The Imperfect Tense
1
Overview of Uses
Narrow-Band Imperfects . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 233
➡ 1. Progressive (Descriptive) Imperfect . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 233
➡ 2. Ingressive (Inchoative, Inceptive) Imperfect . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 233
Broad-Band Imperfects . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 234
➡ 3. Iterative Imperfect. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 234
➡ 4. Customary (Habitual or General) Imperfect . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 235
Special Uses of the Imperfect. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 236
5. Conative (Voluntative, Tendential) Imperfect . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 236
a. In Progress, but not Complete (True Conative) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 236
b. Not Begun, but About/Desired to be Attempted
(Voluntative/Tendential) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 237
➡ 6. Imperfect Retained in Indirect Discourse . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 237
INTRODUCTION
As a tense of the first principal part, the imperfect mirrors the present tense
both in its general aspect and its specific uses (the only difference being, for the
most part, that the imperfect is used for past time).
Like the present tense, the imperfect displays an internal aspect.
2
That is, it
portrays the action from within the event, without regard for beginning or end.
This contrasts with the aorist, which portrays the action in summary fashion. For
the most part, the aorist takes a snapshot of the action while the imperfect (like the
present) takes a motion picture, portraying the action as it unfolds. As such, the
imperfect is often incomplete and focuses on the process of the action.
3
With reference to time, the imperfect is almost always past. (Note that since
the imperfect only occurs in the indicative mood, this tense always grammatical-
izes time.) However, occasionally it portrays time other than the past (e.g., the
conative imperfect may have this force to it sometimes; also the imperfect in sec-
ond class conditions connotes present time—but such is due more to the aspect
than the time element of the tense). In general, the imperfect may be diagrammed
as follows:
232
1
See ExSyn 540–53. The instantaneous imperfect (see 542–43) and the “pluperfective”
imperfect (see 549) are sufficiently rare that the average intermediate Greek student may
ignore them.
2
For a discussion on the difference between unaffected meaning and specific uses, see the
introduction to the present tense.
3
On the different aspectual forces of the aorist and imperfect, see “Portrayal Vs. Reality
of Aspect” in “The Tenses: An Introduction.”
02_Basics.Part 2 4/16/04 1:32 PM Page 232
ExSyn 541–53
SPECIFIC USES
Narrow-Band Imperfects
ExSyn 541–45
The action is portrayed as being in progress or as occurring in the past time
(since all imperfects are in the indicative). This involves two specific types of
imperfect: progressive and ingressive.
➡1. Progressive (Descriptive) Imperfect
ExSyn 543–44
a. Definition and key to identification. The imperfect is often used to
describe an action or state that is in progress in past time from the viewpoint (or,
more accurately, portrayal) of the speaker. The action (or state) is more narrowly
focused than that of the customary imperfect. It speaks either of vividness or simul-
taneity with another action.
For its key to identification, use was (continually) doing, was (right then) happening.
The Imperfect Tense 233
Diagram 59
The Basic Force of the Imperfect
Past Present Future
———
b. Illustrations
Matt 8:24 seismo©ßmevgaß ejgevneto ejnth/ç qalavssh/ ... aujto©ßde©
eejjkkaavvqqeeuuddeenn
a massive storm came on the sea . . . but he was sleeping
Acts 3:2 tiß ajnh©r cwlo©ßejk koilivaß mhtro©ßaujtouç uJpavrcwn
eejjbbaassttaavvzzeettoo
a certain man, who was lame from birth, was being carried
➡2. Ingressive (Inchoative, Inceptive) Imperfect
ExSyn 544–45
a. Definition and clarification. The imperfect is often used to stress the
beginning of an action, with the implication that it continued for some time.
The difference between the ingressive imperfect and the ingressive aorist is
that the imperfect stresses beginning but implies that the action continues, while
the aorist stresses beginning but does not imply that the action continues. Thus
the translation (and key to identification) for the inceptive imperfect ought to be
“began doing” while the inceptive aorist ought to be translated “began to do.”
Diagram 60
The Force of the Progressive Imperfect
Past Present Future
——
02_Basics.Part 2 4/16/04 1:32 PM Page 233
b. Semantic situation. The ingressive imperfect is especially used in narra-
tive literature when a change in activity is noted. It is possibly the most common
imperfect in narrative because it introduces a topic shift. The following examples
may be treated as progressive imperfects, but the context of each indicates a topic
shift or new direction for the action.
The Basics of New Testament Syntax234
c. Illustrations
Mark 9:20 pesw©nejpi© thçßghçß
eejjkkuulliivveettoo
ajfrivzwn
He fell on the ground and began rolling about, foaming at the
mouth.
John 4:30 ejxhçlqon ejkthçßpovlewß kai©
hh[[rrccoonnttoo
pro©ßaujtovn
They came out of the city and began coming to him.
There is a subtle contrast between the aorist and imperfect here.
The aorist gets the Samaritans out of Sychar, in a summary
fashion; the imperfect gets them on the road to Jesus. But it
looks at the action from the inside. The evangelist leaves the
reader hanging with this tantalizing morsel: They were coming
to Jesus but had not arrived yet. Dramatically, the scene shifts
to the dialogue between Jesus and his disciples, leaving the
reader with some unfinished business about the Samaritans.
They appear on the scene again a few moments later when Jesus
declares, “Lift up your eyes, for they are white for the harvest”
(4:35). The Samaritans have arrived.
Broad-Band Imperfects
ExSyn 546–48
Like the present tense, several imperfects involve a time frame that is fairly
broadly conceived. However, unlike the present tense, there is no gnomic imperfect.
➡3. Iterative Imperfect
ExSyn 546–47
a. Definition. The imperfect is frequently used for repeated action in past
time. It is similar to the customary imperfect, but it is not something that regu-
larly recurs. Further, the iterative imperfect occurs over a shorter span of time.
There are two types of iterative imperfect: (1) Iterative proper, in which the
imperfect indicates repeated action by the same agent; and (2) Distributive, in which
the imperfect is used for individual acts of multiple agents.
b. Clarification. Many grammarians make no distinction between the itera-
tive and the customary imperfect. However, while the customary is repeated
Diagram 61
The Force of the Ingressive Imperfect
Past Present Future
•
——
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action in past time, it has two elements that the iterative imperfect does not have:
(1) regularly recurring action (or action at regular intervals), and (2) action that
tends to take place over a long span of time. Thus, in some sense, it might be said
that the customary imperfect is a subset of the iterative imperfect. The difference
between these two will be seen more clearly via the illustrations.
c. Key to identification. Often the gloss kept on doing, going, etc., helps the
student to see the force of this use of the imperfect, though this is not always the
case, especially with distributive imperfects. Another gloss is repeatedly, continu-
ously doing.
The Imperfect Tense 235
4
Some grammarians distinguish between stative imperfects and habitual imperfects. In
terms of type of action portrayed, this is a legitimate distinction. In terms of time frame, the two
are close together. Like the customary present, we have lumped them together for conven-
ience’ sake.
d. Illustrations
Matt 3:6
eejjbbaappttiivvzzoonnttoo
ejntwç/ ∆Iordavnh/ potamwç/ uJp j aujtouç
They were being baptized in the Jordan River by him.
John 19:3
ee[[lleeggoonn
, Caiçre
they kept on saying, “Hail!”
➡4. Customary (Habitual or General) Imperfect
ExSyn 548
a. Definition. The imperfect is frequently used to indicate a regularly recurring
activity in past time (habitual) or a state that continued for some time (general).
4
The difference between the customary (proper) and the iterative imperfect is
not great. Generally, however, it can be said that the customary imperfect is broader
in its idea of the past time and it describes an event that occurred regularly.
b. Key to identification. The two types of customary imperfect are lexically
determined: One is repeated action (habitual imperfect [customarily, habitually]),
while the other is ongoing state (stative imperfect [continually]). The habitual
imperfect can be translated with the gloss customarily, used to, were accustomed to.
Diagram 62
The Force of the Iterative Imperfect
Past Present Future
. . . . .
Diagram 63
The Force of the Customary Imperfect
Past Present Future
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
or
————————
02_Basics.Part 2 4/16/04 1:32 PM Page 235
c. Illustrations
Luke 2:41
eejjppoorreeuuvvoonnttoo
oiJ goneiçßaujtouç kat j e[toß eijß ∆Ierousalhvm
his parents used to go to Jerusalem each year
Rom 6:17
hh\\ttee
douçloi thçßaJmartivaß
you were [continually] slaves of sin
Special Uses of the Imperfect
ExSyn 549–53
Three uses of the imperfect tense do not naturally fit into the above cate-
gories. These include the “pluperfective” imperfect (not included here), conative
imperfect, and imperfect retained in indirect discourse. The first two are true syn-
tactical categories, while the third is technically not a syntactical category but a
structural one.
5. Conative (Voluntative, Tendential) Imperfect
ExSyn 550–52
This use of the imperfect tense occasionally portrays the action as something
that was desired (voluntative), attempted (conative), or at the point of almost happen-
ing (tendential).
5
There are two types: in progress, but not complete (true cona-
tive); and not begun, but about/desired to be attempted (voluntative, tendential).
a. In Progress, but not Complete (True Conative)
(1) D
EFINITION AND KEY TO IDENTIFICATION
. The imperfect tense is used to
indicate that an attempt was being made in the past time. The implications are that
it was not brought to a successful conclusion. As a key to identification, use was
attempting (unsuccessfully).
The Basics of New Testament Syntax236
5
Nevertheless, the conative imperfect is much more common than the conative present.
(2) ILLUSTRATIONS
Matt 3:14 oJ de© ∆Iwavnnhß
ddiieekkwwvvlluueenn
aujtovn
but John was trying to prevent him
Mark 15:23
eejjddiivvddoouunn
aujtw/ç ejsmurnismevnon oi\non… o}ßde© oujke[laben
They were attempting to give him wine mixed with myrrh,
but he did not accept it.
Diagram 64
The Force of the (True) Conative Imperfect
Note: The symbol O is used for all actions that are either not accomplished or not
begun.
Past Present Future
——
O
02_Basics.Part 2 4/16/04 1:32 PM Page 236
b. Not Begun, but About/Desired to be Attempted
(Voluntative/Tendential)
(1) D
EFINITION AND KEY TO IDENTIFICATION
. The imperfect tense is used
to indicate that an attempt was about to be made or that one was almost desired to
be made. The action, however, was not carried out. Often the notion conveyed is
that the action was contemplated more than once (hence, the imperfect is natu-
rally used).
What is portrayed with this usage frequently is present time, in which the
action is entirely unrealized in the present. The imperfect seems to be used to
indicate the unreal present situation.
As the key to identification, use was about to, could almost wish.
The Imperfect Tense 237
6
There are exceptions to this general rule. Not infrequently, the imperfect stands in the
place of the present.
7
For a more detailed explanation, see the discussion of tenses retained in indirect dis-
course in the previous chapter.
8
For a general discussion of the indicative mood in declarative o{ti clauses, see “Indicative
Mood.”
(2) I
LLUSTRATIONS
Luke 1:59
eejjkkaavvlloouunn
aujto© ejpi© tw/ç ojnovmati touç patro©ßaujtouç Zacarivan
They wanted to call him by the name of his father, Zachariah.
Rom 9:3
hhuujjccoovvmmhhnn
ga©rajnavqema ei\nai aujto©ßejgwv
For I could almost wish myself accursed
➡6. Imperfect Retained in Indirect Discourse
ExSyn 552–53
a. Definition. Like the present, the imperfect can be retained from the direct
discourse in the indirect.
6
In English, however, we translate it as though it were
a past perfect. As with the retained present, this is a translational category, not a
syntactical one.
7
Indirect discourse occurs after a verb of perception (e.g., verbs of saying,
thinking, believing, knowing, seeing, hearing). It may be introduced by a declar-
ative o{ti, levgwn, ei\pen, etc.
8
This is unlike English: In indirect discourse we usu-
ally push the tense back “one slot” from what it would have been in the direct
discourse (especially if the introductory verb is past tense)—that is, we render a
simple past as a past perfect, a present as a past tense, etc.
Diagram 65
The Force of the Tendential Imperfect
Past Present Future
OOO
02_Basics.Part 2 4/16/04 1:32 PM Page 237
b. Illustrations
John 2:22 ejmnhvsqhsan oiJ maqhtai© aujtouç o{ti touçto
ee[[lleeggeenn
his disciples remembered that he had said this
John 9:18 oujkejpivsteusan oiJ ∆Ioudaiçoi ... o{ti
hh\\nn
tuflovß
the Jews did not believe . . . that he had been blind
The Basics of New Testament Syntax238
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