Hi Randg Wood,
I took my first NT Greek class using Machen as well.  My copy is at the 
office so I don't have immediate access to it.  However, if you will go 
back to page 80 or 81 where you cited Machen's instructions for 
"translation" you will note that he also says that there is no exact 
translation for the aorist tense of Koine Greek into English.  In general, 
however, since there is no "exact" translation of the aorist into English 
(there is no aorist tense in English) the simple past tense is "usually" 
adopted as the best translation.
Dana and Mantey also have a section of the various contextual and 
syntactical uses of the aorist tense with the different moods--indicative, 
subjunctive, optative, imperative (and sometimes the infinitive is 
considered as a Greek mood).
However, please note following passage:
Quote:
The aorist and present tenses are used about equally in the NT, together 
making up over 80% of all verbs and verbals.  At the other end of the 
scale, the pluperfect is used less than 1% of the time.  In the 
non-indicative moods, the aorist is the routine tense, unless there is some 
reason for choosing another.  The aspect of the present tense, for example, 
carries more information and will sometimes convey imperfective aspect.  
You would do well to pay close attention to tense and aspect within the 
Greek verb system.  A writer will use tense and aspect to convey meaning 
within a paragraph.
Fortunately, the Greek verb system has lately come under intensive 
scrutiny, and we have a clearer picture of how the ancient writers intended 
to be understood.  The bad news is that the exegetical significance of the 
tenses is awash with misinformation, much of it left over from the 19th. 
century.  Take as an example the lingering notions about the aorist: that 
it’s a point action, or completed, or never to be repeated.  Another myth 
is that the aspect of the verb was thought to exactly represent the nature 
of the action in reality.  These popular notions are not just heard from 
the pulpit; they crop up in reputable commentaries and the standard 
grammars.  Whole systems of doctrine can be - indeed, are! - built upon a 
single “punctilear aorist.”
It is crucial that you deal with tenses in a natural manner: Greek verbs, 
like those in all languages, are not artificially constructed containers, 
neatly compartmentalized with mathematical precision.  They have a core of 
inherent meaning, but their meaning is heavily influenced by context, the 
vocabulary used, and stylistic convention.
Each occurrence of a verb may tell you two things about the action:
Primarily, a verb tense tells you about the ASPECT, that is, kind of action 
as the speaker chooses to depict it.  The speaker’s choices may be guided 
by other factors, such as a conventionalized use of a certain aspect with a 
particular verb.  Verbal aspect does not necessarily tell you the whole 
story of how the action took place in reality (i. e., the Aktionsart), but 
simply how the speaker/writer chooses to relate it in this context.
The verb tenses convey three types of aspect:
imperfective (or linear) = an action is depicted as progressive or 
continuing
English analogy - “he was loosing”
perfective (or aoristic) = an action is summarized, presented in its 
entirety
English analogy - “he loosed”
perfect tense is considered by many to be a third type of aspect (perfect 
or stative) = focusing on a state that arises from a previous action
English analogy - “he has loosed,” “it is written”
Secondarily, a verb tense may tell you the TIME of the action relative to 
the speaker/writer.  The time element is fairly well defined in the 
indicative mood (e.g., with the epsilon augment in the aorist and 
imperfect), but it is absent from the non-indicative moods, including 
participles and infinitives.
The kind of action in reality (AKTIONSART) is not determined by the tense 
or its aspect.  It may, however, be inferred from:
1. Lexical information.  Perhaps the verb by nature refers to a state 
(believe, love), a continuous action (grow, run), or a point in time (slap, 
cough).  Compound verbs (verbs with prepositional prefixes) often yield a 
clear Aktionsart.
2. Contextual information.  For example: “they reigned [aorist] for a 
thousand years” means that the kind of action in reality takes place over a 
thousand years.
Example 1: Tesseravkonta kai; e}x e[tesin oijkodomhvqh oJ nao;" ou|to" 
(John 2:20)
Over the space of forty-and-six years was this Temple built.
Aktionsart: “build” is by nature a continuous activity; context indicates a 
46 year span of time for building
Aspect: with the aorist the speakers are viewing the action as a whole
Time: in the indicative, the aorist typically denotes past time relative to 
the speaker; that fits here, as they look back over a 46-year stretch.
NOTE however, what the aorist tense does NOT tell you: that the building 
took place in a point of time; that it was completed; that it’s done 
“once-for-all” and never to be repeated.  In fact, what this particular 
aorist tells you is what the context tells you - illustrating that, even if 
you can read Greek, context always has the final word in exegesis!
Example 2: ajpeqavnomen th/` aJmartiva/ (Rom. 6:2)
 we died to sin
Aktionsart: in the context, dying to sin seems to be the common Christian 
experience, but Paul does not state explicitly whether that death took 
place in an instant or over a period of time; the verb “die” may suggest a 
point of time.
Aspect: the death is viewed in its entirety, not looking at the internal 
timing of the action
Time of Aorist Verb: this aorist tense implies that Paul and the Roman 
Christians died to sin in the past.  That does have theological 
significance, if one considers that Paul could have said “some of us died 
to sin” or “we should die” or “we will die.”
Time, Aspect, and Verbal Mood
Indicative Mood:
Present: imperfective aspect, present time
Future: either perfective or imperfective aspect, expected action or state
Imperfect: imperfective aspect, past time
Aorist: perfective aspect, past time
Perfect: present state of affairs arising from a previous action
Pluperfect: past state of affairs arising from a previous action
Chapman, Benjamin and Shogren, Gary Steven, Greek New Testament Insert, 
(Quakertown, PA: Stylus Publishing) 1994, [Online] Available: Logos Library 
System.
End quote.
Please note that perfective aspect is *not* the same thing as a perfect 
tense, which denotes a completed action in the past tense with enduring 
results.  The aorist tense in the indicative mood rather indicates a 
*simple* past tense as even your quotes from Machen indicate.
Sincerely in Christ,
Charlie Ray, 
Chaplain
1 Timothy 4:16
Watch your life and doctrine closely.
Persevere in them, because if you do,
you will save both yourself and your hearers.  (NIV).
chaplain@isgroup.net
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 * WR  # 461 * Sola Scriptura, Solus Christus, Sola Gratia, Sola Fide.
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