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Verbal aspect in Ancient Greek has been a topic of significant debate in recent scholarship. In this book, Constantine R. Campbell investigates the function of verbal aspect within New Testament Greek narrative. He argues that the primary role of verbal aspect in narrative is to delineate and shape the various 'discourse strands' of which it is constructed, such as mainline, offline, and direct discourse. Campbell accounts for this function in terms of the semantic value of each tense-form. Consequently, in the search for more effective conclusions and explanations, he challenges and reassesses some of the conclusions reached in previous scholarship. One such reassessment involves a boldly innovative approach to the perfect tense-form.
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"This superbly written volume makes a substantial contribution to a complex but disputed linguistic problem. The author, who moves easily in the fields of linguistics, Classical Greek and New Testament Greek, has presented a fresh paradigm for understanding the indicative mood in the New Testament. Building on previous research, his model on verbal aspect provides innovative suggestions that make better sense of a number of difficult New Testament texts. In other instances, his paradigm has led to exegetical conclusions similar to those of earlier scholarship, but he has now put forth stronger reasons for reaching these decisions. This fine book deserves to be read by serious scholars of the New Testament, not only because of its fresh approach to the indicative mood and the resulting exegetical insights but also because aspect theory has not been taken up sufficiently by the world of New Testament scholarship." (Peter T. O'Brien, Senior Research Fellow at Moore Theological College, Sydney, Australia)
"Campbell's well-conceived and clearly written work is no mere rehashing of previous research. Rather, it is an original contribution to a difficult linguistic problem. Moreover, Campbell shows an impressive control of both primary and secondary sources. Although the subject matter will continue to prove controversial, this volume advances the discussion in a significant way and deserves careful attention." (Moisés Silva, Former Professor of New Testament, Westminster Theological Seminary and Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary)
