Hi Randg,
I just checked again and it seems that the present tense of aphiemi does 
occur in verse 12 of the KJV.  I overlooked that.
Quote:
12 KJV has the present "we forgive" in both Matthew and Luke and is widely 
supported. The aorist is attested by '* B Z 1 22 124mg 1365 1582, five MSS 
of the Latin Vulgate, and several MSS of the Syriac and Coptic versions. 
This represents a fair spread of text type. But the convincing arguments 
are the likelihood of assimilation to Luke and the converse implausibility 
of a copyist changing the present to an aorist.
Footnote on Mt. 6:12 from the Expositor's Bible Commentary, New Testament 
Footnotes (based on the NIV).
Frank E. Gaebelein, General Editor, J.D. Douglas, Assistant Editor, (Grand 
Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 1992).  Zondervan NIV Bible Library, Version 2.5.1, 
1997.
I still hold that the aorist tense should not be translated as a perfect 
here.  Note the NIV rendering:
Matthew 6:12-14
12 Forgive us our debts, 
as we also have forgiven our debtors. 
13 And lead us not into temptation, 
but deliver us from the evil one. 14 For if you forgive men when they sin 
against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. 
The New International Version, (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan Publishing 
House) 1984, [Online] Available: Logos Library System.
Only in verse 12 does the NIV imply a perfect tense in the second 
occurrence of the word.  However, even that translation is not exact since, 
as I said, even Machen indicates that there is no exact English translation 
of the aorist.  In the KJV the second occurrence of aphiemi in verse 12 is 
the second person plural present active indicative, aphiemen.  An expanded 
translation of the present tense in verse 12 would then be:  "Forgive us 
our debts as we are continually forgiving others on an ongoing basis."
The NIV is simply trying to convey the simple past tense but it comes 
across as a perfect tense.
Hope this helps.  I'm by no means an expert but I have had two years of 
Greek in college and a Greek exegesis course in seminary.  I also have 
Machen, Dana & Mantey, Burton's Greek NT Moods.  I have a copy of NT Greek 
in Light of Historical Evidence on order.
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
---
 * WR  # 461 * Sola Scriptura, Solus Christus, Sola Gratia, Sola Fide.
---------------