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Home , Intensive pronoun

Intensive Autos

A. Definition 1. Auto is the neuter singular form of the intensive pronoun autos. 2. It is the most frequently used of all the in the NT, and is the most varied in use, being employed as personal, and , as well as intensive pronoun. 3. It is its distinctive use as intensive pronoun. 4. The function of the intensive pronoun is to emphasize identity. 5. It is the demonstrative force intensified. 6. The intensive pronoun, aujtov", is far and away the most common pronoun used in the NT. 7. Technically, however, as an intensive (with the sense of -self) it is relatively infrequent. 8. The predominant function of aujtov" is as a stand-in for the third person in oblique cases. B. Functions 1. When aujtov" is in predicate position to an articular (or to an anarthrous proper name), it has the force of himself, herself, itself, etc. aujtov" can also bear this force when it stands alone, either as the subject of the or in any of the oblique cases. 2. In general, the intensive use of aujtov" is intended “to emphasize identity. 3. It is the demonstrative force intensified.” 4. When modifying an articular substantive in the attributive position, aujtov" is used as an identifying . 5. As such, it is translated same. C. Autos is used 3 different ways: 1. : “himself, herself, itself” 2. Personal pronoun: “he, she, it” 3. Indicating identity: “the same” D. There are 4 uses of the intensive pronoun: 1. Attributive: When autos is used in the attributive position it means the same. 2. Predicate: When autos is used in the predicate position it means self. 3. Demonstrative: this, that, those, these. 4. Simple 3rd personal pronoun: him A. Bauer, Gingrich and Danker list the following usage and meanings for autos (A Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament and Other Early Christian Literature pages 122-123): 1. Self, intensive, setting the individual off from everything else, emphasizing and contrasting; used in all pers., genders and numbers. a. Used with a subject (noun or pronoun) b. To emphasize a subject already known c. Differentiating from other subjects or pointing out a contrast with them d. Self=in person e. Of himself, ourselves f. Thrown on one’s own resources g. Intensifying kai autos even h. The meaning even, very directs attention to a certain person or thing to the exclusion of the others, so that autos can almost take on demonstrative sense 2. Autos refers with more or less emphasis to a subject, often resuming one already mentioned 3. The oblique cases of autos very often take the place of the 3rd person personal pronoun; in particular the genitive case replaces the missing possessive pronoun. a. With reference to a preceding noun b. With reference to a noun to be supplied from the context c. Not infrequently used with a verb even though a noun in the case belonging to the verb has already preceded it d. Used pleonastically after a relative, as something in classical Greek e. In a constr. Not objectionable in classical Greek f. With a change of person, number and gender 4. Ho autos, the same a. With a noun b. Without a noun B. The New Thayers Greek-English Lexicon lists the following (pages 85-87): 1. Self, as used (in all persons, gender and numbers) to distinguish a person or a thing from or contrast it with another, or to give him (it) emphatic prominence a. When used to express Opposition or Distinction, it is added b. To the subjects implied in the verb, the personal pronouns ego hemeis su being omitted c. It is added to subjects expressed, whether to pronouns personal or demonstrative, or to proper or common d. It is used to distinguish one not only from his companions, disciples, servants e. Self to the exclusion of others, i.e., he etc. alone, by one’s self f. Self, not prompted or influenced by another, i.e., of one’s self, of one’s own accord 2. When it gives Prominence, it answers a. To our emphatic he, she, it b. It points out some one as chief, leader, master of the rest c. It answers to our very, just, exactly d. Even 3. Autos has the force of a simple personal pronoun of the 3rd person, answering to our unemphatic he, she, it; and that a. As in classical Greek, in the oblique cases, him, her, it, them b. Contrary to Greek usage in the NT even in the Nominative it is put for a simple personal pronoun of the 3rd person, where the Greeks say houtos or ho de, or use no pronoun at all c. Sometimes in the oblique cases the pronoun is omitted, being evident from the context d. Not infrequently autos in the oblique cases is added to the verb, although the case belonging to this very verb has preceded e. By a Hebraism auto is used redundantly in relative sentences f. Very often autos is used rather laxly, where the subject or the to which it must be referred is not expressly indicated, but must be gathered especially from some preceding name of a province or city, or from the context g. Sometimes in relative sentences consisting of several members, the 2nd member is not joined to the 1st by the relative hos but by a loose connection proceeds with kai autos 4. Ho autos, he aute, to auto, with the , the same a. Without a noun b. With a noun added