A study of the Greek New Testament will very often provide a Bible student with valuable gems of truth and insight into the sacred text. One such gem can be found in the context of Mark's account about John the baptizer and his confrontation with King Herod (Mk. 6:12-29). The record of this event recalls that Herod had married Herodias, his brother's wife. Because of this adulterous union, John rebuked Herod by telling him that he had no lawful right to be married to her. In verse 18, one reads, "For John had said unto Herod, It is not lawful for thee to have thy brother¹s wife." This admonishment of sin inevitably cost John his life when the daughter of Herodias requested of King Herod John's head upon a platter (v. 25). An examination of an English translation alone might leave one with the idea that John spoke only once to Herod about this adulterous relationship. Several English translations translate elegen (the Greek stem leg meaning "say") as "had said," which seems to imply that it was just a one-time occurrence. However, such is not the case, as the Greek text reveals that John was persistent in telling Herod that he was living in adultery.
    In Greek, as in English, the tense of a verb expresses time element; "i.e., the time at which the action indicated by the verb takes place" (Hadjiantoniou 24). The time element involved with the verb elegen (third person singular, indicative imperfect active) is that of a past action. However, it is not simple past action of no duration, but rather it is continuous. Hadjiantoniou says that, "In order to denote a continuous or habitual action in the past, the imperfect tense is used" (49). In Mark 6:18, the imperfect is used and denotes that John was continuous in his admonishment of Herod’s adultery. Thus, Mark 6:18 could be rendered, "John kept on saying..." or "John had been saying . . . ." Whether "John kept on saying" that Herod was an adulterer in a single setting or over a period of weeks or months is not known. But, what is known is that John was persistent.
    Persistence is the act of "continuing steadily or firmly in some state, purpose, course of action, or the like, especially in spite of opposition" (Webster 1074). Indeed, John the baptizer was persistent. He did not waver in his stand for truth. He kept on arguing for what was morally true and correct. It did not matter what those in positions of authority thought or what the majority of people believed. It did not matter that he would be cast into prison or even lose his life. It did not matter that there were friends and family to be left behind to mourn over a tragic death. It did not matter whether or not it was "a sticky" or "hard" situation. It did not matter whether or not Herod and Herodias were happy. What mattered was truth, and the salvation of souls.
    Our concern and love of souls ought to make us persistent in rebuking error and correcting wrong. Both in the world and in the church, the faithful child of God is facing opposition. There is opposition to God's marriage law and design for the home. Faithful brethren are being opposed for their stand on women's role in the church, etc. Opposition should not and must not deter us from preaching, teaching, and living the Truth. Regardless of what some may teach or how many may live, we must not grow weary in well doing (Gal. 6:9). We, like Paul, must "press on toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus" (Phil. 3:14) And when we become wearied and tired of resisting, we must look unto Jesus, "the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God" (Heb. 12:2). Finally, like Jesus, the apostle Paul, and John the baptizer, we must be persistent to the very end if we want to wear the crown of life (Rev. 2:10).
WORKS CITED:
Hadjiantoniou, George Aristotle. A Basic Grammar of New Testament Greek. Chattanooga: AMG, 1985.
Persistence Webster's New Universal Unabridged Dictionary. 1994 ed.
John W. Moore

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