New Testament Greek Syntax

The Perfect Tense

In the NT the perfect tense generally presents as one of three different actions:

Stative. A present continued or repeated action which has resulted from a past action, 55%

Ongoing relevance. A present relevance / state which is the result of a past action, 35%

Aorist. Indistinguishable from an punctiliar aorist - determined by context, 10%

In the gospels 97% of perfect indicatives appear in the context of direct speech

Emphasizing the present results or present state achieved after a past action

Translate as an English present tense

your sins ARE FORGIVEN

afewntai soi ai aJmartiai sou

The Greek Perfect is concerned with result, the English with the absence of an interval

For by grace ARE ye SAVED, KJV;

not: for by grace you HAVE BEEN SAVED, RSV.

th gar cariti este sesw/smenoi

Emphasizing a past completed action from which has come abiding results

Translate as an English present perfect

Often found among aorists and the verb is often transitive.

your faith HAS MADE you well

hJ pistiV sou seswken se

Expressing a past event which involved repeated actions for its completion

those whom I SENT to you (in succession)

tina wJn apestalka pros uJmaV

Vividly describing a past event

The results of the action are emphasized, but "without concern for present consequences"

A similar expression to the historic present and the dramatic aorist

I GOT no relief

ouk eschka anesin

Describes a custom of society or a generally accepted truth

a wife IS BOUND as long as her husband is living

gunh dedetai ef oJson cronon zh oJ anhr authV

Expressing the results of an action that is still in the future

Often occurs in the apodosis of a conditional sentence

the one who loves his neighbor HAS FULFILLED the law

oJ agapwn ton eJteron nomon peplhrwken

Expressing an Old Testament event that has contemporary significance

eg. Jn.6:32, Act.7:35, Gal.3:18, 4:23, Heb.7:6,9, 8:5

by faith HE HAS KEPT the passover

pistei pepoihken to pasca

The perfect part. + an auxiliary verb, usually eimi, sometimes ginomai. Only 40 examples

became DARKENED

egeneto eskotwmenh

Stative verbs that occur in the perfect tense but are read as present tense

oida, eJsthka, pepoiqa, memnhmai

*A less than common usage*

For Greek font requirements see Syntax Notes

A Commentary on the Greek New Testament Exegetical Notes

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