Is Verbal Aspect a Prominence Indicator? 21 repeats the words of v. 47 in the form of a direct address to the woman (v. 48) and then reflects on the words in v. 49 suggests that ἀφέωνταί σου αἱ ἁμαρτίαι represents the climactic pronouncement in the Lukan discour- se67. Indeed, the whole episode revolves around the “scandalous” display of gratitude (vv. 37-39), which is implicitly explained by the parable (vv. 40-43) and then, having reminded Simon of the woman’s deeds (vv. 44- 46), it is openly declared to him (v. 47) and climactically pronounced to the woman (v. 48). Significantly, the story is told with the perfective and imperfective aspects until v. 47 at which point there is a shift into the stative aspect grammaticalized by the perfect tense ἀφέωνται. Thus, Porter’s hypothesis offers a possible explanation for the use of the perfect tense in this story since it is only when the story reaches its climax that the stative aspect is appropriated. It should perhaps be noted, however, that the stative aspect was a par- ticularly appropriate aspect to employ at this point. The stative aspect conveys an existing state, a state that is usually the result of some previo- us action. This woman’s premeditated act of thankfulness is interpreted as evidence that she has been forgiven a great debt. Thus, she is in a forgiven state, hence the perfect tense. It may also be relevant that Luke characteristically conjugates ἀφίημι in the perfect tense when its object is “your sins” (cf. 5,20.23). So, it is also possible that the perfect tense owes more to a pattern of usage than to an alleged desire to indicate prominence. Jesus teaches Martha (10,38-42) Widely recognised as a pronouncement in form68, Fitzmyer describes “the most memorable part” as “the pronouncement about Mary’s por- tion”69. The most significant comment in this pronouncement, however, seems to be the short phrase ἑνὸς δέ ἐστιν χρεία (v. 42) since the following subordinate clause explains and reinforces it and the preceding statement prepares for it. Thus, this striking contrast and implicit rebuke naturally suggests itself as the most salient feature. Although the verb is present tense, it cannot be taken as illustrative of Porter’s hypothesis since εἰμί is “aspectually vague” i.e. it is not conjugated in every tense form necessary for the grammatical expression of all three aspects70. See Cotterell and Turner, Linguistics, 273. 67 Bultmann, History, 33; Bock, Luke, 2:1039. 68 Fitzmyer, Luke, 2:891-92. 69 See Porter, Aspect, 442-47. 70 Bultmann, History, 54; Bock, Luke, 2:1148. 71