PUNCTUATION OF THE BIBLE.
THE punctuation of the Bible is modern. Taylor, the celebrated editor of Calmet’s Dictionary, says: “It is still much to be wished that in this respect the Scriptures were carefully revised.” Dr. Horne asserts, as clearly proved, “that there was no regular or accustomed system of punctuation in use in the fourth century. The majority of the points or stops now in use are unquestionably of modern date.” “At the invention of printing, the editors placed the points arbitrarily, probably (Michaelis thinks) without bestowing the necessary attention; and Stevens in particular, it is well known, waived the points in every edition.” In Luke xxii, 46, it is stated that our Saviour in the garden of Gethsemane, came to his disciples, and “found them sleeping for sorrow, and said unto them, Why sleep ye? Rise and pray.” &c. “And while he yet spake, lo, Judas, one of the twelve, came,” &c. In Matt. xxvi, 45, the same event is related, in the same connection; but in the English version, the question is changed into a command to do the very thing to which he objected. “Sleep on now and take your rest,” &c. “Rise let us be going,” &c. “And while he yet spake, lo, Judas, one of the twelve came.” By changing what is evidently an interrogation into a command, the translators make our Lord give two opposite commands at the same time. “Sleep on now,” “Rise,” “Take your rest,” “let us be going.” All these discrepancies would be avoided by making the first a question: Sleep ye on now and take your rest? or, Do ye now sleep and take your rest? “Now is my soul troubled, and what shall I say? Father save me from this hour? But for this cause came I unto this hour.” This is consistent. He is talking to his disciples, and inquires regarding the anguish which is about to overwhelm him. What shall I say? Shall I say, ‘Father, save me from this hour?’ But I cannot say that, because ‘for this cause came I unto this hour.’” In the common version, by changing what is evidently an iuquiry into a prayer, the Lord is made to ask for that which he says would be inconsistent with the whole object of his life. Many inaccuracies in punctuation have been pointed out by commentators, but it occupies so large a space to explain any one of the cases, and to show the reasons which render the correction necessary, that we forbear to bring forward any more. It is but justice, however, to say that the changes needed in this department are fewer than might reasonably have been expected, considering that no thorough revision has been made for so long a period of time, during which scholars and theologians have had opportunity to collate scripture with scripture, and discover the corrections needed in one place by comparison with others.