Some Observations on the Punctuation in 1 Corinthians 7.16-17

Abstract

The construction of 1 Cor 7.17 has been described as difficult. In light of its grammatical problems, this is an understatement. It appears that the difficulty stems not so much from the grammar of the Greek syntax but rather from the perception of what constitutes a sentence in Greek. A proposed change of the punctuation makes 1 Cor 7.17 part of a well-constructed Greek sentence. The suggestions advanced in this contribution, supported by evidence from Greek manuscripts, pertain to both the punctuation of 1 Cor 7.17 and its relation to 1 Cor 7.16. The treatments of this passage in Erasmus’s Greek New Testament, the Vulgate, Luther’s Bible, and other versions are considered.