The wandering comma in Hebrews 10:12-13

[Cranch]

This question was inspired by something the Baptist preacher pointed out in the Karl Keating YouTube debate posted elsewhere. He seems to think Catholics altered the position of a comma in Hebrews 10:12 to avoid a scriptural refutation of the sacrifice of the mass or a proof of OSAS or something . It’s true the comma moves position depending on (apparently) if the translation is Catholic or protestant. Personally, although it alters the object of “for ever” in the verse, I don’t believe the position of the comma affects any fundamental truth for a Catholic.

I am interested, however, in which rendering is more accurate. Does anyone know? Does the Greek have punctuation and does one or the other comma placement correspond to it? Thanks for any help. Here’s what I’m referring to (comma shown in red):

Hebrews 10:12-13

Catholic:NAB:
12 But this one offered one sacrifice for sins, and took his seat forever at the right hand of God; 13 now he waits until his enemies are made his footstool.

Challoner Douay-Rheims:
12 But this man offering one sacrifice for sins**,** for ever sitteth on the right hand of God, 13 From henceforth expecting, until his enemies be made his footstool.
**
Protestant:
KJV:
12 But this man, after he had offered one sacrifice for sins for ever,** sat down on the right hand of God; 13 From henceforth expecting till his enemies be made his footstool.

NASB:
12 but He, having offered one sacrifice for sins for all time**,** sat down at the right hand of God, 13 waiting from that time onward until his enemies be made a footstool for his feet.

 

[jdavidb]

Does the Greek have punctuation and does one or the other comma placement correspond to it?

The Greek does not have punctuation! Pretty much all arguments based on punctuation of a particular Bible translation prove nothing. There might be a few aspects of Greek that might translate to a concept that is expressed in English through punctuation, but not many if any. This also applies to capital letters. The apostles wrote the New Testament in all capital letters. Customs like capitalizing pronouns referring to deity make sense in modern English but tell us nothing about what the original said. (This can be significant in passages that use the word “spirit” and might be referring to the Holy Spirit or might be using the word in a different sense.)

When you hear people arguing from punctuation or capitalization, it’s usually a good idea to let them know that the apostles never heard of these concepts.

He seems to think Catholics altered the position of a comma in Hebrews 10:12 to avoid a scriptural refutation of the sacrifice of the mass or a proof of OSAS or something . It’s true the comma moves position depending on (apparently) if the translation is Catholic or protestant. Personally, although it alters the object of “for ever” in the verse, I don’t believe the position of the comma affects any fundamental truth for a Catholic.

I’m a Protestant, and I can’t see any significant doctrinal difference in the four translations you provided.

I think the argument is nothing but sound and fury, signifying nothing.

 

[jemfinch]

And let’s note that even the “Protestant comma” doesn’t refute the mass. The mass is the completion of the sacrifice of Christ on the cross; it’s like certain Jewish sacrifices: after the victim was killed, a portion of his body was returned to the one who offered it for consumption by him and his household.

Jeremy