| 11. Linguistic Exegesis The sentence is framed by the temporal conjunction hote {ὅτε | hó-te} “when,” which introduces two temporal situations: the earlier stage of childhood and the later, completed state of adulthood. Within the first temporal frame, a sequence of imperfect first person verbs—elaloun {ἐλάλουν | e-lá-loun} “I was speaking,” ephronoun {ἐφρόνουν | e-phró-noun} “I was thinking,” elogizomēn {ἐλογιζόμην | e-lo-gi-zó-mēn} “I was reasoning”—portrays ongoing, characteristic actions rather than single events. Each of these verbs is followed by a manner construction using hos {ὡς | hōs} “as, like” plus the predicate nominative nepios {νήπιος | nḗ-pi-os} “child,” forming a rhythmic parallelism that underscores how every aspect of communication and thought belonged to a childish mode. The second hote-clause introduces the turning point with gegona {γέγονα | gé-go-na} “I have become,” a perfect tense that emphasizes the present result of a completed transition to maturity. This is followed by katērgēka {κατήργηκα | ka-tḗr-gē-ka} “I have put away,” another perfect that stresses the lasting effect of abandoning former patterns. The direct object phrase ta tou nēpiou {τὰ τοῦ νηπίου | ta toû nē-pi-ú} “the things of the child” uses a neuter plural article with a genitive singular noun to sum up all behaviors, ways of thinking, and habits associated with childhood. In translation, the parallel clauses are preserved to highlight the contrast between immature and mature modes of life, and the perfect verbs are rendered with present relevance (“have become,” “have put away”) through English expressions that convey a settled, enduring change. |