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Originally Posted by dansims  So is this info incorrect? A person may use a semicolon to separate a list of items in a series containing commas. A semicolon can also be used to separate independent clauses if there are commas within the clauses. A semicolon can be used between independent clauses joined by words such as “for example,” however,” “therefore,” and “furthermore.” When writing a sentence such as Romans 1:16, the writer must have some basis for deciding whether to use two independent clauses with a semicolon between them, or two separate sentences with a period. It is usually best to divide the writing into two sentences. A semicolon is used only when the ideas in the two clauses are so closely related that a period would make too distinct a break between them.1 If separated into two sentences, the latter part of Romans 1:16 would read, “For it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth” and “For it is the power of God unto salvation to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.” |
The rule about semicolons is correct. I would not have used it there in your passage. The words that follow it do not constitute a clause. I would not have used the colon where it appears either.
I would add two things. First, this and other Bible passages are translations. Second, they were written a long time ago, and rules and styles have changed since then.