84 Trent A. Rogers a. Continuative Simple (now, then, and): οὖν continues a narra- tive. Winer comments that οὖν is frequently used “simply to mark the progress of a narration (where it is only in virtue of a conexion in time that the second of two events can be said to rest on the first as its basis)”34. This is the most general use of οὖν in John, and its frequency is somewhat unique to John. Robertson comments, “John boldly uses οὖν alone and needs no apology for doing so. It just carries along the narrative with no thought of cause or result”35. J. D. Denniston summarizes this somewhat rarer usage in Classical Greek: “In narrative, [οὖν is] almost purely temporal, marking a new stage in the sequence of events”36. In John this usage occurs in the narrative portions and functions much like τότε or καί, and is frequently interchanged with δέ in the textual history. John has now been recognized for the comparatively high use of the continuative οὖν. An example for the general continuative use will demonstrate its function in the Gospel. 7:10,11: ως δε ανεβησαν οι αδελφοι αυτου εις την εορτην τοτε και αυτος ανεβη ου φανερως αλλα ως εν κρυπτω οι ουν ϊουδαιοι εζητουν αυτον εν τη εορτη37. I have chosen a debatable example to demonstrate the difficulty in distinguishing between the simple continuative and inferential uses. One could argue that because of Jesus’ secretiveness, therefore (inferential) the “Jews” were looking for him. While this is possible, the Gospel seems to be making a more general statement about the sequence of events: Jesus went up secretly and the “Jews” were looking for him. It is not that inferential notions are entirely removed from the context; it is a question of what is the primary intent that the Gospel wishes to convey. Here it seems to be a simple continuation. b. Resumptive (so, as has been said): following an interruption or parenthetical comment, often by the narrator, οὖν resumes the flow of the dialogue or narrative. The resumptive use of οὖν indicates a break in content from the previous clause; whereas, οὖν typically highlights the direct connection to a previous 34 G. B. Winer, A Treatise on the Grammar of New Testament Greek Regarded as the Basis of New Testament Exegesis (trans. W. F. Mouton; Edinburg 1870) 555. 35 Robertson, Grammar, 1191. 36 Dennsiton, Particles, 425-26. 37 “And when his brothers went up to the feast, then even he went up, not openly but in secret. Now the Jews were looking for him at the feast”.