Indefinite Temporal Clause

a) Often the subjunctive will be used after a temporal adverb (like e{w", a[cri, or mevcri) or after a temporal conjunction o{tan (or less frequently ejpan or hJnivka).  These temporal adverbs mean ‘until’; the temporal conjunctions mean ‘whenever’.

b) This use of the subjunctive indicates a future contingency relative to the time of the main verb in the sentence.

c) Examples with temporal adverbs:

    i) Galatians 3:19
     "It (the law) was added because of transgressions, until the seed should come to whom the promise was made;"
     "tw'n parabavsewn cavrin prosetevqh, a[cri" ou| e[lqh/ toV spevrma w|/ ejphvggeltai,"

    ii) 2 Peter 1:19
     "...word, which you do well to heed …, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts;"
     "...lovgon, w|/ kalw'" poiei'te prosevconte" ..., e{w" ou| hJmevra diaugavsh/ kai; fwsfovro" ajnateivlh/ ejn tai'" kardivai" uJmw'n:"

d) Examples with temporal conjunctions:
    i) 2 Corinthians 12:10
     "For whenever I am weak, then I am strong."
     "o{tan ga;r ajsqenw', tovte dunatov" eijmi."
    ii) 2 Corinthians 3:16
     "But whenever it (the heart) turns to the Lord, the veil is taken away."
     "hJnivka de; eja;n ejpistrevyh/ pro;" kuvrion, periairei'tai to; kavlumma."
 

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