Posted on 01/05/2012 7:07:55 PM PST by SeekAndFind
The latest version of the popular NIV Bible translation has had its verses on homosexuality reworded, making them clearer in denouncing the practice, a theologian who helped with the translation says.
These clarifications include the verse in 1 Corinthians 6:9, where the 1984 NIV version uses the phrase “homosexual offenders,” while the 2011 translation changes the phrase to "men who have sex with men."
The Committee on Bible Translation, chaired by Dr. Douglas J. Moo, who also serves as Wessner Chair of Biblical Studies at Wheaton College, released the 2011 New International Version last year.
“Debates among Christians about the teaching of the Bible on homosexuality over the last twenty years sparked considerable scholarly interest in relevant words and texts,” said Moo in an interview with The Christian Post.
“This research showed that two Greek words in this verse referred, respectively, to the passive and active participants in male homosexual activity.”
Moo also explained the problem with the previous translation for a verse like the one in 1 Corinthians 6:9.
“The 1984 NIV rendering … did not make clear whether homosexual activity per se was being condemned or whether only certain kinds of ‘offensive’ homosexual activity was being condemned.,” said Moo.
“The updated NIV makes clear that the Greek words here indicate any kind of homosexual activity. The updated NIV also reflects the fact that the key Greek word here refers to males.”
According to Moo, other verses that were altered due to scholarship and to make the message clearer included Romans 1:26-27 and Leviticus 18:22.
In Romans 1:26, the verse “even their women exchanged natural relations for unnatural ones,” was changed to, “even their women exchanged natural sexual relations for unnatural ones.” While in Leviticus 18:22, the verse “Do not lie with a man as one lies with a woman,” was changed to, “Do not have sexual relations with a man as one does with a woman.”
One verse that appears to have been changed dramatically was 1Timothy 1:10, where the word “perverts” from the 1984 NIV was changed to “those practicing homosexuality.”
“The same key Greek word used in 1 Corinthians 6:9 occurs here also, and so the reason for the change here was the same as the reason for the change in 1 Corinthians 6:9,” said Moo.
The NIV 2011 version debuted amid controversy, with some Christian groups and individuals criticizing the translation for allegedly having too much “gender inclusive” language, similar to the TNIV translation of the Bible.
Last year, members of the Southern Baptist Convention and the Committee on Biblical Manhood and Womanhood criticized the edition, saying the 2011 NIV “cannot be considered sufficiently trustworthy in its translation of gender language."
According to the Committee on Bible Translation’s website, however, every example of gender inclusive language found in the TNIV was “reconsidered,” especially when compared to the 1984 NIV.
“Some changes were preserved, some were rescinded in favor of the 1984 rendering, and many were re-worded in a third, still different way,” reads an entry from the CBT website’s Frequently Asked Questions page.
“All gender decisions for the updated NIV were subjected to rigorous scrutiny in the light of this data to ensure that the words chosen maximize comprehension of the original meaning,” the committee maintains.
For those interested, the Greek words are ‘sodomite’ and ‘catamite’. Pitchers and catchers.
I was wondering if there was consensus amongst our Greek scholars. Do y’all think the Committee on Bible Translation did right ?
Ping
Homosexualtiy was EXPLICITELY condemned under the law of Moses.
Also was condemned under the law of the patriarchs.
That's a little different than straight man-on-man sex. It's worse.
The whole verse, New King James, is:
Do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived. Neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor homosexuals,[a] nor sodomites,
So it distinguishes between pederasts and homosexuals (I don't know why), but they're in the same boat. And verse 10 says that thieves and drunkards and the greedy and the extortioners and such are in the same boat. They're all condemned, unless they straighten up.
In general, if you're a lowlife, you better straighten up.
I’ll admit I’m a drunkards at times... So in God’s Eyes I’m the same as a homosexual? Damn, that’s harsh.
What about Woman on Woman Sex. I’ve always found it disturbing that the Bible is vague at best on that.
The ESV translates those NT verses similarly too:
http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1%20corinthians%206:9&version=ESVUK
9 Or do you not know that the unrighteous[a] will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: neither the sexually immoral, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor men who practise homosexuality,[b]
Footnotes:
a. 1 Corinthians 6:9 Or wrongdoers
b. 1 Corinthians 6:9 The two Greek terms translated by this phrase refer to the passive and active partners in consensual homosexual acts
http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1%20timothy%201:10&version=ESVUK
the sexually immoral, men who practise homosexuality, enslavers,[a] liars, perjurers, and whatever else is contrary to sound[b] doctrine,
Footnotes:
a. 1 Timothy 1:10 That is, those who take someone captive in order to sell him into slavery
b. 1 Timothy 1:10 Or healthy
And then there's Verse 11:
And that is what some of you were. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God.
In the Bible, it's about acknowledging your wrongs, confessing them, giving your life to Christ. And should you fall down again, climb out of the hole again. And again. And again.
As long as the girls are hot it’s OK/ sarc
The problem is, of course, that they so rarely are.
“while the 2011 translation changes the phrase to “men who have sex with men.””
Which specifically excludes lesbianism. Apparently that’s ok - I’m sure no one has questionable or perverted motives for making this decision.
Jeez, one would think that you can conclude that condemnation of men having sex with men would also include women having sex with women. But do we really have to make a translation that EXPLICITLY says : “Men having sex with men AND women having sex with women” to make us understand that?
Homosexuality, murder, adultery, drunkenness, etc ... are all sin. But the good news is that God does not call on us to be sinless. Rather the charge to mankind is to turn away from sin and if we believe in Jesus his son, and work to clean up our lives, confess our sins and ask for God's forgiveness, he will be faithful to forgive.
According to the remarks from men here on FR, it’s AOK.
Same ones who puke at male homosexuality. Go figure.
(I have my theories about them.....lol)
Lesbianism’s covered by Romans 1:26,
http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=ROMANS%201:26&version=ESVUK
“For this reason God gave them up to dishonourable passions. For their women exchanged natural relations for those that are contrary to nature;”
No, sir.
A catamite is a young boy raped anally by an adult homosexual. That is why the Greek word also means ‘soft ones’. It was common practice back then.
A sodomite is the adult male homosexual rapist. Pitchers and catchers, sodomites and catamites. Always paired together.
No, the greek is very explicit. Harsh and graphic if you explain just what a catamite is, but we aren’t doing people a favor by whitewashing.
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