TIP OF THE DAY 140: Analyze time in a passage example

MJ. Smith

 I am adding these posts to the previous tip list L/V 10 Tip of the Day (when it doesn't time out)

POST ISSUE: Analyze time in a passage

In introducing the topic of time in scripture, we listed some of the ways time could be expressed: temporal prepositions and phrases, genealogical dating, event-base dating, specific time makers, chronological summaries, implied sequence, cyclic ritual time, pilgrimage feasts, additional Biblical festivals, . . . One must look for all of these possible time elements within a passage to analyze the use time within the passage. Both the Bible sense lexicon and the Louw-Nida semantic domains identify words related to time. Entering “time” in the Bible sense lexicon provides several key words which have numerous related terms below them. In the Louw-Nida scheme, 67.1-67.208 covers time itself. We will look more thoroughly at Louw-Nida time after consolidating what has been learned of time so far.

QUESTION: Do a time analysis of this passage: “9 In those days Jesus came from Nazareth of Galilee and was baptized by John in the Jordan. 10 And just as he was coming up out of the water, he saw the heavens torn apart and the Spirit descending like a dove on him. 11 And a voice came from heaven, “You are my Son, the Beloved; with you I am well pleased.” [1]”

ANSWER 1: from Perplexity with the prompt: Analyze the following text noting the elements that denote or imply time and sequence: 9 In those days Jesus came from Nazareth of Galilee and was baptized by John in the Jordan. 10 And just as he was coming up out of the water, he saw the heavens torn apart and the Spirit descending like a dove on him. 11 And a voice came from heaven, “You are my Son, the Beloved; with you I am well pleased.”

This passage from Mark 1:9-11 contains several elements that denote or imply time and sequence. Let's analyze them:

"In those days" (v. 9):

This phrase sets a general timeframe for the events.

It implies a connection to previously mentioned events or a known historical context.

Suggests the start of a new narrative sequence.

"came from Nazareth... and was baptized" (v. 9):

The sequence of verbs implies a chronological order:a) Jesus travels from Nazarethb) Then He is baptized by John

"And just as he was coming up out of the water" (v. 10):

"And" connects this event to the previous verse, indicating sequence.

"just as" denotes immediacy and simultaneity with the following events.

The present participle "coming up" implies an ongoing action at the moment of the next events.

"he saw the heavens torn apart and the Spirit descending" (v. 10):

These events are presented as simultaneous with Jesus coming out of the water.

The use of "and" suggests a rapid sequence or simultaneity of these two events.

"And a voice came from heaven" (v. 11):

"And" connects this event to the previous ones, implying it follows closely or occurs simultaneously.

The use of past tense "came" places this event in the same timeframe as the previous events.

Direct speech: "You are my Son..." (v. 11):

The present tense in the direct speech implies an immediate, timeless declaration.

Overall, the passage uses a combination of temporal phrases, verb tenses, conjunctions, and narrative structure to create a clear sequence of events that unfold rapidly and are closely connected in time.

ANSWER 2: from Perplexity with the prompt: Analyze the following text noting the how the sequence of events is expressed in language and noting the relationships between events: before, meets, overlaps, starts, during, finishes, equals: 9 In those days Jesus came from Nazareth of Galilee and was baptized by John in the Jordan. 10 And just as he was coming up out of the water, he saw the heavens torn apart and the Spirit descending like a dove on him. 11 And a voice came from heaven, “You are my Son, the Beloved; with you I am well pleased.”

The passage from Mark 1:9–11 in the New Revised Standard Version (NRSV) presents a sequence of events in narrative form, using specific linguistic cues to express temporal relationships and connections between actions. Below is an analysis of how the sequence of events is expressed and the relationships between them (before, meets, overlaps, starts, during, finishes, equals).

Text Analysis:

Verse 9:

"In those days Jesus came from Nazareth of Galilee and was baptized by John in the Jordan."

Sequence of Events:

Jesus comes from Nazareth of Galilee (starts).

Jesus is baptized by John in the Jordan (finishes).

Relationships:

Before: The act of traveling from Nazareth precedes the baptism.

Meets: Jesus encounters John at the Jordan for the baptism.

The verse establishes a linear progression, with no overlapping or simultaneous actions.

Verse 10:

"And just as he was coming up out of the water, he saw the heavens torn apart and the Spirit descending like a dove on him."

Sequence of Events:

Jesus comes up out of the water (starts).

The heavens are torn apart (overlaps with Jesus coming up).

The Spirit descends like a dove on Jesus (during or immediately following the tearing of the heavens).

Relationships:

Overlaps: The tearing of the heavens occurs simultaneously with Jesus coming up out of the water.

Starts/During: The Spirit's descent begins after or during the tearing of the heavens.

The phrase "just as" explicitly signals simultaneity between Jesus coming up out of the water and the tearing of heaven.

Verse 11:

"And a voice came from heaven, 'You are my Son, the Beloved; with you I am well pleased.'”

Sequence of Events:

A voice comes from heaven (starts).

The declaration is made about Jesus being God's Son (equals).

Relationships:

After/Starts: The voice follows (or coincides with) the Spirit's descent.

Equals: The declaration ("You are my Son...") is fully contained within this event.

Overall Temporal Relationships Between Events:

Event	Relationship
Jesus travels from Nazareth	Before baptism
Jesus meets John at Jordan	Meets John for baptism
Jesus is baptized	Baptism finishes his travel
Jesus comes up out of water	Starts tearing of heavens
Heavens torn apart	Overlaps with Jesus coming up
Spirit descends	Happens during/after tearing, overlaps with heavenly activity
Voice speaks	Happens after Spirit descends, coincides with divine declaration

Narrative Techniques Used to Express Sequence and Relationships:

Temporal Markers and Conjunctions:

"In those days" situates verse 9 in a general timeframe.

"And just as" (verse 10) explicitly signals simultaneity between two events (Jesus coming up and heavens torn apart).

Sequential Verbs:

The verbs "came," "was baptized," "coming up," "torn apart," "descending," and "came" guide readers through a clear chronological progression.

Imagery and Symbolism for Overlap:

The tearing of heaven and descent of the Spirit are visually dramatic events that overlap temporally, emphasizing divine intervention.

Cause-and-Effect Implications:

The descent of the Spirit and voice from heaven are causally linked to Jesus' baptism, indicating divine approval following this act.

Summary:

The passage uses explicit temporal markers ("just as") and sequential verbs to express relationships between events. It primarily organizes events linearly but includes overlapping actions (e.g., tearing of heaven occurs during Jesus' emergence from water). Relationships such as before, meets, overlaps, starts, during, finishes, and equals are effectively conveyed through linguistic cues, creating a cohesive narrative that emphasizes both human action (Jesus' baptism) and divine response (Spirit's descent and heavenly voice).