[B-Greek] Matt 16.21 'auton' in the accusative

William Warren wfwarren at aol.com
Thu Jul 13 10:31:43 EDT 2006


The relevant text from Mt. 16:21 is as follows: OTI DEI AUTON EIS  
IEROSOLUMA APELQEIN KAI POLLA PAQEIN .  .  .

AUTON is in the accusative due to being the "subject" of the  
infinitives that follow.   Some would call this an accusative of  
reference since infinitives are not conjugated, but the function is  
like a subject.  In this phrase, the infinitives are communicating a  
"subjunctive" idea in the sense that the action is anticipated or  
contemplated but has not already taken place (some would call this a  
more classical use of the infinitive, although it is also common in  
Koine, albeit without such a clear distinction from the usages of the  
participle in other situations).  For translating, you could put a  
conjugated subjunctive sense in place of the infinitives ("that he  
would go/depart to Jerusalem and would suffer many things .  .  . ") 
or simply leave the infinitives ("that it is necessary for him to go/ 
depart to Jerusalem and to suffer many things .  .  .").


paz,

Bill Warren
Director of the Center for New Testament Textual Studies
Landrum P. Leavell, II, Professor of New Testament and Greek
New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary


On Jul 13, 2006, at 10:22 AM, John Bayon wrote:


> Can you help with why 'auton' in Matt 16.21 takes the accusative.   
> I do see the complementary 'apelthein' in the clause.  Is 'auton'  
> attached to that infinitive?
>
> Thanks,
> John Bayon
>
> 18516 Fenton St.
> Detroit, MI  48219
> cell-313-303-2713
>



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