SCRIPTURE PUNCTUATION

BY W. P. CLARK

Not being inspired, the work if the translator (including his punctuation) may not be correct, and as a matter of fact the various translations differ materially in their punctuation from one another. We are at liberty therefore, without Presumption, to question the punctuation of any particular verse of Scripture, and reverently apply our own judgment. To take one verse, Romans 8: 17 as an example. Without any punctuation it reads:‑ “And if children then heirs - heirs of God - and joint heirs with Christ if so be that we suffer with Him that we may also be glorified with Him.” In the Authorized and Revised Versions a colon or semi-colon is placed after “if children then heirs”; and a similar punctuation point after “heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ.” This would mean that the concluding paragraph, “if so be that we suffer with Him, that we may be also glorified with Him “qualifies both “heirship of God” and “joint-heirship with Christ.” If this be so, then logically we cannot be “children of God” unless we suffer with Christ. Suffering with Christ would then be necessary for salvation; but this no evangelical reader of the Scriptures would believe or assert. Alas! how few children of God do suffer with Christ. The sole qualification for becoming “children of God” is belief in, and receiving or accepting, Christ as Saviour (John 1: 12). “Believe on the Lord Jesus, and thou shalt be saved” (Acts 16: 31). This being so, manifestly “the suffering with Christ” - qualifies the preceding paragraph “joint heirs with Christ,”* and this agrees with other scripture. “If we suffer with Him, we shall also reign with Him” (2 Tim. 2: 12) - no suffering, no crown - and again, “He that overcometh” - and only the overcomer – “I will give to him to sit down with me in my throne” (Rev. 3: 21). And again, “He that overcometh, and he that keepeth my works unto the end, to him will I give authority over the nations and he shall rule them …”

[* The Greek enforces the distinction. “Heirs of God on the one hand” [See Greek] “but on the other hand” [See Greek] “joint-heirs with Christ if so be that we suffer with him.” – D. M. PANTON.]