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Greek Grammars on "Extending-From-Past Present" with Supplemental List Ordered By Reference

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The following definitions and examples of the "extending-from-past present" have been drawn from several Greek grammars. Following the quotes, I have arranged them by biblical reference to assist you in your studies.

Robertson, Grammar of the Greek NT in Light of Historical Research, p.879-880

(B) The Progressive Present. This is a poor name in lieu of a better one for the present of past action still in progress. Usually an adverb of time (or adjunct) accompanies the verb. Gildersleeve calls it "Present of Unity of Time." Cf. estin hews apti (1 Jo 2:9). Often it has to be translated into English by a sort of "progressive perfect" (‘have been’), though, of course, that is the fault of the English. "so in modern Greek, hexnvta unvas s ayapw (Abbot, Joh. Gr., p.222). The durative present in such cases gathers up past and present time into one phrase" (Moulton, Prol., p.119). Cf. Idou tpia etn aph ou epxouai (Lu. 13:7); tosauta etn douleuw soi (15:29); poluv ndn xpovov exei (Jo. 5:6); tosoutov xpovov ueth huuwv eimi (14:9); ap apxns met emou este (15:27); palai dokeite (2 Cor. 12:19). Cf. apo Brephous oidas (2 Tim. 3:15). It is a common idiom in the N.T. Cf. 2 Pet 3:4; 1 Jo. 3:8. In Jo. 8:58 eimi is really absolute.

BDF, A Greek Grammar of the NT, p.168

The present is not perfective in those cases where the duration or repetition of an act up to and including the present is to be designated (a temporal expression indicates the intended period of the past): Lk 15:29; 13:7; Jn 5:58; 15:27; 2 Cor 12:19; and others. Acts 26:31 [prassei] without temporal designation (referring to Paul's whole way of life, especially his Christianity).

Wallace, Greek Grammar Beyond the Basics, p. 519

A. Extending-from-Past Present (Present of Past Action Still in Progress)

1. Definition

The present tense may be used to describe an action which, begun in the past, continues in the present. The emphasis is on the present time.

Note that this is different from the perfect tense in that the perfect speaks only about the results existing in the present time. It is different from the progressive present in that it reaches back in time and usually has some sort of temporal indicator, such as an adverbial phrase, to show this past-referring element. Depending on how tightly one defines this category, it is either relatively rare or fairly common.

2. Key to Identification

The key to this usage is normally to translate the present tense as an English present perfect. Some examples might not fit such a gloss, however.

3. Illustrations

Luke 15:29 [douleuw - I have served]

2 Pet 3:4 [diamenei - continue]

1 John 3:8 [hamartanei - has been sinning]

Cf. Also Luke 13:7; John 5:6; Acts 15:21; 27:33; 1 Cor 15:6

Young, Intermediate Greek, p.111-112

A Present Tense form is called durative when the context conveys an action that began in the past and continues into the present. The time element is often explicit in the context, as illustrated by 1 John 3:8: ap archas ho diabolos hmartanei (the devil has been sinning from the beginning). To say the devil is sinning from the beginning does not make sense in English. English translations will therefore employ the present perfect. Other examples include Luke 15:29, where the brother ofthe prodigal son tells his father that he has been serving (douleuo) him for many years; John 14:9, where Jesus tells Philip that He has been (eimi) with them for a long time; and John 15:27, where Jesus tells the disciples that they must testify of Him, since they have been (este) with Him from the beginning.

Burton, Syntax of Moods and Tenses in N.T. Greek, p.10

17. The Present of past Action still in Progress

The Present Indicative, accompanied by an adverbial expression denoting duration and referring to past time, is sometimes used in Greek, as in German, to describe an action which, beginning in past time, is still in progress at the time of speaking. English idiom requires the use of the Perfect in such cases.

Acts 15:21, exei [has had in every city them that preached him]. See also Luke 13:7, erxomai; 15:29, douleuw; John 5:6, exei; 2 Tim 3:15, oidas. This Present is almost always incorrectly rendered in the R.V.

Perschbacher, NT Greek Syntax, p.284-285

Durative present of past action continuing into the present, often with an adverb or temporal word or phrase.

1st per sing pres act indic

Luke 15:29 - douleuw = I have been serving

3 pers sing pres act indic

2 Pet 3:4 - pavta houtws diauevei = all things thus have continued…

2 pers sing pres indic

Luke 15:31 - su pavtote - you have always been

2 pers pl pres indic

John 15:27 - este = you have been

Stevens, NT Greek, p.78

Durative. The durative present denotes action over two points in time, a beginning point continuing even now. Translation often uses the English present perfect: tosauta eta douleuo soi = "all these years I have served you," Luke 15:29. This use also is called the "progressive present."

Dana-Mantey, Manual Grammar, p.182-183

c. Sometimes the progressive present is retroactive in its application, denoting that which has begun in the past and continues into the present. For the want of a better name, we may call it the present of duration. This use is generally associated with an adverb of time, and may best be rendered by the English perfect.

Ye have been with me from the beginning. Jn 15:27. See also: Lk 13:7; 2 Cor. 12:9.

Moule, An Idiom Book of N.T. Greek, p.8

v. Present of Past Action Still in Progress: e.g. Acts 15:21 [exei, them that preached him]. Cf. Luke 2:48, 13:7, 15:29, John 5:6, 2 Tim. 3:15 (where oidas is equivalent to a present tense).

Black, It’s Still Greek to Me, p.107

The progressive present describes an action begun in the past as continuing into the present (Luke 15:29)

LUKE 2:48 Moule, An Idiom Book of N.T. Greek, p.8

LUKE 13:7 BDF, p.168; Robertson, Light, p.879; Dana-Mantey, p.182; Burton, Syntax, p.10; Moule, Idiom, p.8; Wallace, GGBB, p. 519

LUKE 15:29 BDF, p.168; Stevens, NT Greek, p.78; Robertson, Light, p.879; Burton, Syntax, p.10; Moule, Idiom, p.8; Wallace, GGBB, p. 519, Young, Intermediate Greek, p.111-112; Black, Still Greek, p.107; Perschbacher, NT Greek Syntax, p.284-285

LUKE 15:31 Perschbacher, NT Greek Syntax, p.284-285

JOHN 5:6 Robertson, Light, p.879; Burton, Syntax, p.10; Moule, Idiom, p.8; Wallace, GGBB, p. 519

JOHN 14:9 Robertson, Light, p.879; Young, Intermediate Greek, p.111-112

JOHN 15:27 BDF, p.168; Robertson, Light, p.879; Dana-Mantey, p.182; Young, Intermediate Greek, p.111-112; Perschbacher, NT Greek Syntax, p.284-285

ACTS 15:21 Burton, Syntax, p.10; Moule, Idiom, p.8; Wallace, GGBB, p. 519