My understanding of the perfect tense is that it describes a state rather than
an action.
I am curious how this affects the meaning of a phrase in Revelation 3:8.
i)δοὺ δέδωκα ἐνώπιόν σου θύραν ἠνεῳγμένην,
Concerning the first perfect, δέδωκα , is it important that it has been given,
or just that it is available now?
Concerning the second perfect, ἠνεῳγμένην, my question is; Does this
participle say anything about the fact that this door was opened, or just that
it is standing open, maybe just happened to stand open?
Thank you.
Perfects in Rev. 3:8
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Hi Bert,Bert wrote:Concerning the first perfect, δέδωκα , is it important that it has been given, or just that it is available now?
Well, in order to be available now it must first be given.
I would say that the perfect here stresses the present availability of the given door. In otherwords, this perfect denotes a persistent state of the object.
I don't think this perfect participle says anything about the opening of the door. Rather, simply that the door is open and remains open.Bert wrote:Concerning the second perfect, ἠνεῳγμένην, my question is; Does this participle say anything about the fact that this door was opened, or just that it is standing open, maybe just happened to stand open?
Cordially,
Paul
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Thanks Paul. Concerning your first comment (Well, in order to be available now it must first be given.) Would there then only be a very slight difference in meaning if the verb had been in the 3 rd person, "someone has given..." or even " you have taken for yourself..." ?
(I was hoping that you would be at least one of the ones to reply, considering the work you have done on verb aspect, so thanks again)
(I was hoping that you would be at least one of the ones to reply, considering the work you have done on verb aspect, so thanks again)
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Hi Bert,Bert wrote:Concerning your first comment (Well, in order to be available now it must first be given.) Would there then only be a very slight difference in meaning if the verb had been in the 3 rd person, "someone has given..." or even " you have taken for yourself..." ?
Yeah, that's how I see it. The clause sooner concerns the persistent availability of an open door than who put it there.
Cordially,
Paul