7:11 So if perfection had in fact been possible through the Levitical priesthood – for on that basis 6 the people received the law – what further need would there have been for another priest to arise, said to be in the order of Melchizedek and not in Aaron’s order?
1 tn Grk “because of the time.”
2 tn Grk “the elements of the beginning of the oracles of God.”
3 tn Grk “you have come to have a need for.”
4 tc ‡ Most texts, including some early and important ones (א2 A B* D Ψ 0122 0278 1881 Ï sy Cl), have καί (kai, “and”) immediately preceding οὐ (ou, “not”), but other equally significant witnesses (Ì46 א* B2 C 33 81 1739 lat Or Did) lack the conjunction. As it was a natural tendency for scribes to add a coordinating conjunction, the καί appears to be a motivated reading. On balance, it is probably best to regard the shorter reading as authentic. NA27 has καί in brackets, indicating doubts as to its authenticity.
5 tn Grk “the promise,” referring to the thing God promised, not to the pledge itself.
9 tn Grk “based on it.”