[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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