How about the Greek language (part 2)?
Introduction. We began our answer regarding the original language of the New Testament in part 1 by giving an introduction to the language. In this installment, we shall notice the functionality and some truths taught by the precision of the Greek of the New Testament.
Two of the fundamental elements of a sentence in Greek are the verb and the noun. We shall, therefore, use these two parts of speech to illustrate some of the utility of Greek. Blackwelder wrote of the Greek verb: "The Greek verb is an intricate piece of word mechanism. As an interpreter studies it analytically, he is thrilled at the many shades of meaning set forth by its various forms..." (Light from the Greek new Testament, pg. 51). The Greek verb has tree areas of importance, mood, voice, and tense. Let us briefly consider the tense of the Greek verb. There are seven tenses of the Greek verb. They are: the arorist, Present, Imperfect. Future, Pluperfect, and Future Perfect. Let us exemplify the Perfect and Present tenses.
The perfect tense. In the words of the Greek grammarian Gresham Machen, "The Greek perfect tense denotes the present state resultant upon a past action: (New Testament Greek for beginners, pg. 187). The perfect is used in Matthew 4:4,7,10 ("it is written"). Literally translated, "It has been written in the past and is still in force." Hence, Jesus expresses the Continuing authority of God's written law by using the perfect tense. The perfect tense is also found Matthew 16:19 ("...whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in heaven"). "Shall be bound in heaven" is a perfect passive participle (The Analytical Greek lexicon. Pg85). Jesus is telling Peter that what he (Peter) bound would have already been bound in heaven. Hence, the perfect tense shows Peter had no binding power within himself (Peter was not the first Pope). (continued in part 3)
Two of the fundamental elements of a sentence in Greek are the verb and the noun. We shall, therefore, use these two parts of speech to illustrate some of the utility of Greek. Blackwelder wrote of the Greek verb: "The Greek verb is an intricate piece of word mechanism. As an interpreter studies it analytically, he is thrilled at the many shades of meaning set forth by its various forms..." (Light from the Greek new Testament, pg. 51). The Greek verb has tree areas of importance, mood, voice, and tense. Let us briefly consider the tense of the Greek verb. There are seven tenses of the Greek verb. They are: the arorist, Present, Imperfect. Future, Pluperfect, and Future Perfect. Let us exemplify the Perfect and Present tenses.
The perfect tense. In the words of the Greek grammarian Gresham Machen, "The Greek perfect tense denotes the present state resultant upon a past action: (New Testament Greek for beginners, pg. 187). The perfect is used in Matthew 4:4,7,10 ("it is written"). Literally translated, "It has been written in the past and is still in force." Hence, Jesus expresses the Continuing authority of God's written law by using the perfect tense. The perfect tense is also found Matthew 16:19 ("...whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in heaven"). "Shall be bound in heaven" is a perfect passive participle (The Analytical Greek lexicon. Pg85). Jesus is telling Peter that what he (Peter) bound would have already been bound in heaven. Hence, the perfect tense shows Peter had no binding power within himself (Peter was not the first Pope). (continued in part 3)