Concordia Journal | Spring 2010

taining an aorist participle seems to “say”: “There is a subordinate act in some relationship to the action of the main/leading verb, and in some relationship in terms of time. You must determine what that relationship is, based upon the context.”

Thus, in #3 above, the time of the participle is coterminous with the action of the main/leading verb (because the actions are identical). In #4 the time of the participle is subsequent to that of the main/leading verb, because it conveys an additional activity to that of the main/leading verb. Put another way: the aorist participle says: “Here is an(other) activity—I am bringing that into focus—related to the main/ leading verb but subordinate to it. You figure out how it is related, also with regard to time.”

Why, then, does it seem that the “cheap, quick, and dirty” explanation of an aorist participle’s time relationship to the main/leading verb, i.e., that it conveys action preceding the main/leading verb, so often holds? Probably simply from the logic of the cases. Take the following verse from Matthew 2 as a typical example: Matthew 2:11: kai. evlqo,ntej eivj th.n oivki,an ei=don to. paidi,on meta.

Mari,aj th/j mhtro.j auvtou/( kai. peso,ntej proseku,nhsan auvtw/| kai. avnoi,xantej tou.j qhsaurou.j auvtw/n prosh,negkan auvtw/| dw/ra( cruso.n kai. li,banon kai. smu,rnan.

Literally, the sentence says that there is an activity of coming which is associated with and subordinate to seeing, then an activity of falling down associated with and subordinate to worshiping, followed by an activity of opening associated with and subordinated to bringing to/presenting. Logically, then, the Magi enter before they see, prostrate themselves before they worship, and open treasure boxes before they present gifts—which gives rise to the “cheap, quick, and dirty” understanding that is so common.

But there are the other examples, such as the two from Acts above, that are not “cheap, quick, and dirty,” which is why a discussion ensues. In fact, as can be seen in these examples, problems generally arise when aorist participles follow the main/leading verbs in the physical syntax of the sentence. But it is those examples that do “probe” the rule, and it is for this reason that a more satisfactory understanding—such as we are suggesting—must be developed.

We close with several more aorist participles whose actions are very likely not prior to the actions of their leading verbs in time. Enjoy.

1 Thessalonians 1:6: Kai. u`mei/j mimhtai. h`mw/n evgenh,qhte kai. tou/ kuri,ou( dexa,menoi to.n lo,gon evn qli,yei pollh|/ meta. cara/j pneu,matoj a`gi,ou.

Acts 16:23: polla,j te evpiqe,ntej auvtoi/j plhga.j e;balon eivj fulakh.n paraggei,lantej tw/| desmofu,laki avsfalw/j th/rein auvtou,j.

Acts 23:30: mhnuqei,shj de, moi evpiboulh/j eivj to.n a;ndra ))) e;pemya pro.j se. paraggei,laj kai. toi/j kathgo,roij le,gein ta. pro.j auvto.n evpi. sou/.

James W. Voelz 158