Temporal Deixis of the Greek Verb in the Gospel of Mark with Reference to Verbal Aspect

by Rodney J. Decker

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.

293 pages, Hardcover

First published November 1, 2000

About the author

Rodney J. Decker (1953–2014) received his ThD from Central Baptist Theological Seminary and served as professor of Greek and New Testament at Baptist Bible Seminary in Pennsylvania. He authored Temporal Deixis of the Greek Verb in the Gospel of Mark with Reference to Verbal Aspect and several major Greek study books, including A Koine Greek Reader and the forthcoming Mark volumes in the Baylor Handbook on the Greek New Testament.

Reviews

[Jason Foreman · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very strong case for Porter's general verbal aspect system. Helps answer the question of how temporal relationships are encoded in Greek if not in the verbal form.
I find it helpful to skim the historical and practical explanations of verbal aspect in each work in this series (even though there is a decent amount of content overlap between these sections and Porter's book, PVA). It helps to keep my mind working from an aspectual standpoint as opposed to temporal when reading the Greek NT.

[Ben · Rating 5 out of 5]

Decker's work is simply outstanding and carries significant weight in the understanding of Koine Greek. Verbal Aspect is here to stay and Decker's work is a huge addition to that end.

The book focuses on how Koine communicates time since it does not do so via the verb tense-forms.