Commands
There are over 1600 imperatives in the NT, almost all of them in the present or aorist tense; the remaining four are perfect imperatives. The imperative mood does not convey time, although the command usually has to do with the time after it is spoken. The difference between the three tenses is one of aspect: what kind of action is commanded by the speaker?
Beware that the imperative mood is regularly mishandled by exegetes. At one time it was customary to take the present imperative to mean “keep on doing/stop doing” while the aorist imperative supposedly meant “start/don’t start doing.” This has proven to be untenable. Today it is understood that the aorist imperative in Rom. 6:13 (ἀλλὰ παραστήσατε ἑαυτοὺς τῷ θεῷ) should NOT be rendered as “start presenting yourselves to God,” implying that they are not doing so now. The aorist tense is not proof of their lack of commitment!
Broadly speaking, we may say that present commands give general or repeatable instructions, while aorist commands give specific directions. There are numerous exceptions: for example, some verbs may take one tense or the other by convention, not by conscious choice; also, third person prohibitions favor the aorist tense five to one. If you are in doubt, simply translate Greek commands as English commands, and leave the rest to context.
EXAMPLES:
λογίζεσθε ἑαυτοὺς [εἶναι] νεκροὺς τῇ ἁμαρτίᾳ (Rom. 6:11)
reckon yourselves to be dead to sin
ἀσπάσασθε Ἀπελλῆν (Rom. 16:10)
greet Apelles
Comments: the first example is a command that should be practiced as a way of life. Paul uses the present imperative, which is most natural for a generally applicable command. The second example is more specific direction: greet this man, please!
The Greek New Testament Insert (GNTI)
GREEK NEW TESTAMENT INSERT SECOND EDITION, REVISED BY BENJAMIN CHAPMAN AND GARY STEVEN SHOGREN STYLUS PUBLICATION
For month of July 2024
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