Posted on 06/24/2004 7:21:03 AM PDT by take
New Bible translation promotes fornication Archbishop of Canterbury praises version for 'extraordinary power'
A brand-new translation of the Bible praised by Britain's archbishop of Canterbury, that nations senior Christian voice flatly contradicts traditional core Christian beliefs on sex and morality.
Titled "Good as New," the new Bible is translated by former Baptist minister John Henson for the "One" organization, to produce what the group calls a "new, fresh and adventurous" translation of the Christian scriptures.
Archbishop Rowan Williams
The 104th archbishop of Canterbury, Dr. Rowan Williams leader of the Church of England describes it is a book of "extraordinary power," but admitted many would be startled by its content.
"Instead of condemning fornicators, adulterers and 'abusers of themselves with mankind'," says Ruth Gledhill, the London Times religious affairs correspondent, "the new version of his first letter to Corinth has St. Paul advising Christians not to go without sex for too long in case they get 'frustrated.'"
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"The new version, which Dr. Williams says he hopes will spread 'in epidemic profusion through religious and irreligious alike', turns St. Paul's strictures against fornication on their head," adds the Times.
The One organization that produced the new Bible translation is dedicated to "establish[ing] peace, justice, dignity and rights for all." It is also focused on "sustainable use of the earth's resources," challenging "oppression, injustice, exclusion and discrimination" as well as accepting "one another, valuing their diversity and experience."
According to Ekklesia, a London-based "theological think tank" that supports the "One" translation:
The translation is pioneering in its accessibility, and changes the original Greek and Hebrew nomenclature into modern nicknames. St. Peter becomes "Rocky," Mary Magdalene becomes "Maggie," Aaron becomes "Ron," Andronicus becomes "Andy" and Barabbas becomes "Barry." In keeping with the times, translator Henson deftly translates "demon possession" as "mental illness" and "Son of Man," the expression Jesus frequently used to describe himself, as "the Complete Person." In addition, parables are rendered as "riddles," baptize is to "dip" in water, salvation becomes "healing" or "completeness" and Heaven becomes "the world beyond time and space."
Here's how Williams, the top Anglican archbishop, describes the new Bible: "Instead of being taken into a specialized religious frame of reference as happens even with the most conscientious of formal modern translations and being given a gospel addressed to specialized concerns we have here a vehicle for thinking and worshipping that is fully earthed, recognizably about our humanity."
In addition, notes Ekklesia, the archbishop praises Henson's translation for eliminating "the stale, the technical, the unconsciously exclusive words and policies" in other translations.
Here, according to the London Times, are a few sample passages:
Mark 1:4
Authorized version: "John did baptize in the wilderness, and preach the baptism of repentance for the remission of sins."
New: "John, nicknamed 'The Dipper,' was 'The Voice.' He was in the desert, inviting people to be dipped, to show they were determined to change their ways and wanted to be forgiven."
Mark 1:10-11
Authorized version: "And straightway coming up out of the water, he saw the heavens opened, and the Spirit like a dove descending upon him. And there came a voice from the heaven saying, Thou art my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased."
New: "As he was climbing up the bank again, the sun shone through a gap in the clouds. At the same time a pigeon flew down and perched on him. Jesus took this as a sign that God's spirit was with him. A voice from overhead was heard saying, 'That's my boy! You're doing fine!'"
Matthew 23:25
Authorized version: "Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites!"
New version: "Take a running jump, Holy Joes, humbugs!"
Matthew 26:69-70
Authorized version: "Now Peter sat without in the palace: and a damsel came unto him, saying, 'Thou also wast with Jesus of Galilee.' But he denied before them all, saying, I know not what thou sayest."
New: "Meanwhile Rocky was still sitting in the courtyard. A woman came up to him and said: 'Haven't I seen you with Jesus, the hero from Galilee?" Rocky shook his head and said: 'I don't know what the hell you're talking about!'"
1 Corinthians 7:1-2
KJV: "Now concerning the things whereof ye wrote unto me: [It is] good for a man not to touch a woman. Nevertheless, [to avoid] fornication, let every man have his own wife, and let every woman have her own husband."
New: "Some of you think the best way to cope with sex is for men and women to keep right away from each other. That is more likely to lead to sexual offences. My advice is for everyone to have a regular partner."
1 Corinthians 7:8-7
KJV: "I say therefore to the unmarried and widows, It is good for them if they abide even as I. But if they cannot contain, let them marry: for it is better to marry than to burn."
New: "If you know you have strong needs, get yourself a partner. Better than being frustrated
ohmygawd.
how about, "a flying rat" flew down and perched on him, bringing him disease.
I know how ya feel, girl .....
New Testament translation: Thou shalt have sex
There are other changes besides the translation:
Perhaps the most controversial departure from all other translations is a return to the selection of books which were held in the highest esteem by the early Church in the first two centuries. So, for instance, Revelation is out, the Gospel of Thomas is in.
Review of As Good as New: A Radical Retelling of the Scripture; includes endorsements by, among others, Rowan.
LOL! okay you get the 'historical quote of the week nobody except RCs and Anglicans will understand award'.
in case nobody else has mentioned it, there is further discussion of this abortive mistranslation (now known in some circles as the MPSV - Monty Python Standard Version) at
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-religion/1158618/posts
True enough, which just demonstrates that no particular denomination has yet cornered the market on apostasy and heresy.
who you callin' "girl" meekie?
Yep, just the tares among the wheat.
This Baptist knows that quote well, referring to the murder of the Archbishop of canterbury, Thomas A' Becket.
Anyone familiar with the Canterbury Tales by Geoffrey Chaucer knows that Becket's shrine was the rationale for the pilgrimage.
Furthermore, I am a descendent of one of the four knights who murdered him, William de Traci.
uh, well, how about "almost nobody except RCs and Anglicans..."
You read my mind.
Interesting to see which other books are in.
who you callin' "girl" meekie?LOL ! Me Ape ! The Orangutang in the dress. :^D
ohhhhhh...
Cicero, out of curiosity, what do you think of the NIV translation? That's what my in-laws gave me when I accepted Jesus four years ago, and it's what I've used since, though my church uses the New American Standard.
Oh...I don't mean the gender-neutral NIV, I mean the slightly older one where God was still "He". :)
}:-)4
And of course, the fake "Gospel of Thomas" was not current in the Church during the first two centuries.
That's a very recently coined myth.
"The Shepherd of Hermas" and the "Protoevangelion of James" were much more widely read and cherished by Christians of those times than the "Gospel of Thomas" - but those books are harder to twist into leftism.
Spoken like an immersionist. According to multiple Greek scholars, modern and past, there is no Greek word for "immersion" in the New Testament. Not only that, but the old pre-Vulgate Latin translation, The Itala (which dates back to the first couple of centuries A.D.) does NOT use the Latin term "immergo" (immerse), but "baptizo," implying that there is a difference between the two (a couple of tidbits from this article: Why Baptize by Pouring and Baptize Babies).
Actually, spoken like someone who's studied Koine Greek for over thirty years.
If the facts cross your dogma, that's not my issue.
Dan
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