Overview

Temporal Deixis of the Greek Verb provides a detailed grammatical study of the Greek verb in the Gospel of Mark focused on the question of temporal reference. Following the theory of verbal aspect proposed by several recent scholars, this book distinguishes between aspect and Aktionsart, semantics and pragmatics. It argues that temporal reference is not grammaticalized by the tenses of the Greek verb. Instead, koine Greek indicates these relationships through contextual means (temporal deixis). The full temporal range of usage of the verb in Mark's Gospel is examined, deictic indicators are catalogued, and selected passages are used to illustrate the ways in which time is indicated. This linguistic study provides a basis for more accurate exegesis of the text of Mark and other similar writings.

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Reviews

Rodney J. Decker's study of the temporal deixis of the Greek verb is important for students beginning to study verbal aspect in the Greek New Testament and for those who have been involved in the renewed discussion of this topic over the past decade. Beginning students will find in this book a quick entree into the discussion of verbal aspect; Decker provides for them the definitions of key terms and a summary of the recent theoretical discussion concerning verbal aspect in the Greek New Testament. For those who have followed the discussion for the last decade, Decker's study is the kind of work we have been waiting for. He tests one of the two main competing temporal theories of the Greek verb on extended portions of the Gospel of Mark. Decker's work is a must for students of New Testament Greek and exegetes of the New Testament who desire to stay abreast of the discussion concerning verbal aspect in the Greek New Testament. (W. E. Glenny, Northwestern College, St. Paul, Minnesota) I am pleased to recommend Rodney J. Decker's study of verbal aspect both to those interested in matters of Greek linguistics and to New Testament exegetes. Informed study of Greek verbal structure, especially verbal aspect, has become a topic of increasing importance over the last decade. Decker's study not only offers a worthwhile survey of much of this recent work, but applies an informed concept of verbal aspect to important passages in Mark's Gospel with telling results. His attempt to quantify these results is a definite aid to further study of this vital topic. (Stanley E. Porter, University of Surrey Roehampton, London, United Kingdom)

Author Information

The Author: Rodney J. Decker is Associate Professor of New Testament at Baptist Bible Seminary, Clarks Summit, Pennsylvania. He received his Th.D. in New Testament from Central Baptist Seminary, Minneapolis. His articles on linguistic, exegetical, and theological topics have been published in various journals. He has taught Greek and New Testament for the past ten years.

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