Quote:
TRANSLATION OF THE AORIST INTO ENGLISH.  The Greek aorist ind. 
[indicative], as can be readily seen, is not the exact equivalent of any 
tense in any other language.  It has *nuances* all its own, many of them 
difficult or well-nigh impossible to reproduce in English.  Here, as 
everywhere, one needs to keep a sharp line between the Greek idiom and its 
translation into English.  We merely do the best that we can in English to 
translate in one way or another the total result of word (Aktionsart), 
context and tense.  Certainly one cannot say that the English translations 
have been successful with the Greek aorist.  Weymouth in his NEW TESTAMENT 
IN MODERN SPEECH has attempted to carry out a consistent principle with 
some success.  Moulton has thought the matter important enough for an 
extended discussion.  He makes clear that the Greek aorist is true to 
itself, however it is rendered in English.  Take "tines ekoimethesan" (1 
Cor. 15:6), for instance, 'fell asleep (at various times),' Moulton 
explains, "and so have fallen asleep."  In Mt. 3:7 'hupedeixen' may be 
translated by 'has warned,' but 'warned' will answer.  The English past 
will translate the Greek aorist in many cases where we prefer "have."  
Burton puts it clearly thus:  "The Greek employs the aorist, leaving the 
context to suggest the order; the English usually suggests the order by the 
use of the pluperfect."  The Greek aorist takes no note of any interval 
between itself and the moment of speaking while the English past takes note 
of the interval.  The Greek aorist and the English past do not exactly 
correspond, nor do the Greek perfect and the English perfect.  The Greek 
aorist covers much more ground than the English past.  Cf. "dio eklethe ho 
agros ekeinos Agros Haimatos Hews tes semeron" (Mt. 27:8), where the Greek 
aorist is connected with the present in a way that only the English perect 
can render.  See also "hews arti ouk etesate (Jo. 16:24).  From the Greek 
point of view the aorist is true to its own genius.  The aorist in Greek is 
so rich in meaning that the English labours and groans to express it.  As a 
matter of fact the Greek aorist is translatable into almost every English 
tense except the imperfect, but that fact indicates no confusion in the 
Greek.
End quote.
From A GRAMMAR OF THE GREEK NEW TESTAMENT IN THE LIGHT OF HISTORICAL 
RESEARCH, by A. T. Robertson, (Nashville, TN: Broadman, 1934), pp. 547-48.
Please note in particular that Robertson says, "The Greek aorist and the 
English past do not exactly correspond, nor do the Greek perfect and the 
English perfect.  The Greek aorist covers much more ground than the English 
past."
Hope this helps.
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.
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.
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