Greek Verbal Aspect in Synoptic Parallels: On the Method and Meaning of Divergent Tense-form Usage in the Synoptic Passion Narratives

Abstract

Typical approaches to analyzing the parallel material of the Synoptic Gospels have primarily been concerned with studies in form, source, and redaction criticism. However, these sorts of studies have tended to lack any significant treatment of the fundamental linguistic issues that are relevant to a discussion of Synoptic parallel texts, particularly the issue of divergent tense-form usage. For example, in the temple cleansing episode of Matt 21 :13//Mark ll:17//Luke 19:45, Matthew uses the Present form TTotiiTE (''make'') to recount Jesus' statement to the buyers and sellers, while Mark uses the Perfect TTETTOt~KaTE and Luke the Aorist ETTOt~oaTE to communicate the same event. By employing the insights of Systemic-Functional Linguistics and Stanley E. Porter's model of verbal aspect theory, this work argues that different tense-forms are used in the parallel material of the Synoptic Passion Narratives because each Gospel uses verbal aspect as a means to structure their discourses according to various levels of prominence.

Typical approaches to analyzing the parallel material of the Synoptic Gospels have primarily been concerned with studies in form, source, and redaction criticism. However, these sorts of studies have tended to lack any significant treatment of the fundamental linguistic issues that are relevant to a discussion of Synoptic parallel texts, particularly the issue of divergent tense-form usage. For example, in the temple cleansing episode of Matt 21 :13//Mark ll:17//Luke 19:45, Matthew uses the Present form TTotiiTE (''make'') to recount Jesus' statement to the buyers and sellers, while Mark uses the Perfect TTETTOt~KaTE and Luke the Aorist ETTOt~oaTE to communicate the same event. By employing the insights of Systemic-Functional Linguistics and Stanley E. Porter's model of verbal aspect theory, this work argues that different tense-forms are used in the parallel material of the Synoptic Passion Narratives because each Gospel uses verbal aspect as a means to structure their discourses according to various levels of prominence.