Introduction to the Perfect Tense

Tenses are one of the most debated topics of NT Greek. We will get into time and aspect later, since scholars debate how the tenses interact with these. Different moods (indicative, imperative, subjunctive) may relate to the tenses differently, particularly when it comes to aspect.

Time = past, present, future actions

Aspect = type of action, whether continuous, completed, statement of fact

The perfect tense is not used as often as other tenses, and since its form has reduplication at the front and a  case formative (usually kappa), it stands out on the page. Writers usually chose the form deliberately.

The classic definition of the perfect tense is that it describes completed action that has continuing results. It’s important to note that this action only applies to the speaker/writer. Unless context explains further, there’s nothing inherent in the tense that requires the results to continue into our present or forever.

Most agree with the "completed action/continuing results" kernel definition, but there's debate as to how this works exactly. In class, Fanning even called this a "quasi-aspectual" tense. So it's not exactly parallel to the present and aorist. How the "results/effects" relate to the present and how much is built into the tense vs the surrounding context is heavy grammatical work. Not for this intro.

My favorite analogy for tenses (I don’t know where I heard this—not original to me—so probably a Greek class) is a parade. Imagine Macy’s Day on Thanksgiving. 

The present tense puts you front row on the Main Street. You are watching float after float, singers, dancers, confetti. You can look one way and the other, and there’s no end and no beginning. You simply get to enjoy one stream of endless motion. (Of course, there are multiple uses of the present tense in specific contexts. This does not apply to every passage).

The aorist tense would be like riding in a blimp high above the action. You see the whole parade from thousands of feet in the air, and you can see the entire day’s worth of fun. You get the grande view. 

The perfect tense would be like you’re cleaning the street afterwards. Something happened. And now there are definitely results. And maybe there’s joy and emotions that fill everyone as they reflect on what they just experienced. But the tangible results linger as well.

Again, these tenses interact with real time and the moods differently, so this is definitely a general overview. When we see a perfect verb, we can dive into the context and see if it fits any of the following specific uses. Wallace has identified seven possible functions for the perfect tense: 

• Intensive Perfect: The perfect is completed action with continuing results. This function emphasizes the results or a present state. Many stative verbs belong in this category. It’s best in these examples to just use the English present tense. E.g. ἀφέωνταί σοι αἱ ἁμαρτίαι σου “Your sins are forgiven” Luke 5:20. 

• Extensive Perfect: The opposite of the intensive, this category emphasizes the past, completed action. Usually translate with English present perfect. E.g. κἀγὼ ἑώρακα καὶ μεμαρτύρηκα ὅτι οὗτός ἐστιν ὁ υἱὸς τοῦ θεοῦ “And I have seen and I have testified that this is the son of God” John 1:34.

• Aoristic Perfect: Describes an event vividly. For some reason, authors use the perfect for simple past events with little concern for present results. Very rare in narrative genre. τοῦτον ὁ θεὸς [καὶ] ἄρχοντα καὶ λυτρωτὴν ἀπέσταλκεν σὺν χειρὶ ἀγγέλου τοῦ ὀφθέντος αὐτῷ ἐν τῇ βάτῳ. “This [Moses] God…sent” Act 7:35.

• Perfect with Present Force: Certain verbs occur in the perfect tense, though they function like present verbs. Οἰδα is the most common, but also some others: ἕστηκα, πέποιθα, μέμνημαι. These are also stative verbs, and their lexical history/meaning may impact this classification. E.g., μέσος ὑμῶν ἕστηκεν ὃν ὑμεῖς οὐκ οἴδατε, “In your midst stands one who you do not know” John 1:26.

• Gnomic Present: Speaks of a general or proverbial statement/event. The aspect is in view, but occurs on many occasions. This is very rare. ὁ δὲ μὴ πιστεύων ἤδη κέκριται,  “The one not believing has already been condemned” John 3:18.

• Proleptic Perfect: The perfect can occur in the second half of a conditional statement (called an apodosis). Depending on the time of the verb in the first half of the condition (protasis), the perfect can refer to a state that would result from an action that hasn’t occurred yet. This is a rare usage. (Rom 13:8)

• Perfect of Allegory: Very rare, but Hebrews uses it to refer to an OT event in an allegorical or picturesque way. (Heb 11:28)

  Someone my disagree with some of these examples or categories. Other grammars have more or less categories. But these serve as a good foundation for an understanding of the perfect and how authors could be using their forms. For more reading from Wallace, see Greek Grammar, 572-82.