Everyone seems to struggle with punctuation when writing, and most of us fail to do it correctly. With the proliferation of e-mail, punctuation pretty much fell by the wayside as we gave up the battle over where to put the comma. Text messaging will probably eliminate punctuation altogether. The purpose of punctuation is to make clear the sense in which writing is to be understood.
It is used to eliminate confusion and bring clarity to bear.

I have been reading a book titled Eats, Shoots & Leaves by Lynne Truss, an experienced editor and writer who is enthusiastic about correct punctuation. The title comes from a dictionary entry that goes like this: “Panda. Large black-and-white bear-like mammal, native to China. Eats, shoots and leaves.” The cover illustration shows a panda walking away with a pistol in its hand. The erroneously placed comma gives you a new insight into panda behavior, but the information is completely wrong.

It’s obvious that punctuation is a problem in modern communication, but it’s interesting to note that it has long been a problem for interpreters of the Bible. New Testament translators had to work with texts that lacked any punctuation at all, and some of the best manuscripts were written without spaces between words! “Does that matter?” you might ask, thinking that our translations seem to have turned out pretty well and we can clearly understand what the writers say. It does matter when a misplaced comma can alter the meaning of the text, because the placing of commas in Bible translations is left to the discretion of the translator.

As an instance of the change that can be made by altering the position of a comma, consider Jesus’ words to the thief on the cross (Luke 23:43). Most translations have something like this: “And Jesus said to him, ‘Assuredly, I say to you, today you will be with Me in Paradise’” (New King James Version). The New World Translation of the Holy Scriptures, however, sets it out like this: “And he said to him: ‘Truly I tell you today, You will be with me in Paradise.’” Does that make a difference? In the New World Translation, the translators want you to understand that Jesus’ statement was made today, but the thief’s presence in Paradise was to take place at some time in the future. Your theology will govern where you want to place the comma!

Most English translations of 1 Corinthians place a paragraph break at the end of chapter 10 verse 33, and have chapter 11 begin with the words: “Be followers of me as I am of Christ.” But translations like the New International Version recognize that the paragraph break properly belongs after chapter 11 verse 1, making “Be followers of me as I am of Christ” the conclusion of chapter 10. Does it make a difference? Only in that it clearlysets apart Paul’s discourse on how authority is to be acknowledged by the Corinthian congregation.

The New Testament can be read as inspired devotional literature, which is good, but there are times when a correct understanding of doctrine requires a closer reading, with attention to grammar. We need to learn when to change gears and to recognize that where you put the comma does sometimes matter.