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 nation’s 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.'"
SPONSORED LINKS The New York Times - as Low as $2.90 Get world-class reporting and coverage you can't find anywhere else of local, national and world news for as little as $2.90 a week with The New York Times. Get started now. www.nytimes.com/sb-subscription
Free Trial Issue: Stocks & Commodities Magazine Stay informed with market news, information, resources, and expert advice from one of the top traders' magazines. Receive your first year's subscription for the low introductory rate of $49.95. www.traders.com
"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
You can take the Baptist minister out of the Big Dipper Symbolic-only Pool, but you can't take the Big Dipper Symbolic-only Pool out of the Baptist.
I'm sure he's quite heretical by most Baptist standards, but he's retained his Baptist understanding of Symbolic-only Full-immersion Baptism.
I am glad that despite what is happening to the Anglican Communion, you have managed to retain a sense of humor.
After much consideration, I walked out of the EC 15 years ago. Even though I could dredge up a lot of vitriol from the past, I can only look at the situation with a certain detachment. I do hope that things work out well for the AC and its members and you.
This "bible" might cause the final break between the liberal heretics and the true believers in the Christian Churches.
This will be the line in the sand.
Does that mean La Traviata was written by Joe Green?
And don't forget other operas by Little Red.
Power as in the powerful odor of a skunk
Will Satan's nickname be "Clubber" in this version?
You wrote "I am glad that despite what is happening to the Anglican Communion, you have managed to retain a sense of humor."
Oh man, you've just got to maintain your ability to laugh when dealing with this stuff...and besides, experience shows that there are two things which absolutely confound the heretics: a. refusing to argue on their terms and b. refusing to take them seriously - if a person can combine the two, he can still have fun while driving the bad guys nuts....
Maybe. Or...Liz, Forkie, Snake, Darkie, Blackie, Fibber...
For those Anglicans/Episcopalians who still hold out the hope that this is a satire or an elaborate hoax, please visit:
http://www.chbookshop.co.uk/product.asp?id=2380182
This is from the official online bookstore of the Church of England which is selling this so-called 'Bible' by John Henson called "Good As New: A Radical Re-telling of the Scriptures". The page includes the foreword by the Archbishop of Canterbury.
This is the second foreword that ++Rowan has written for John Henson this year. The other was in a book called "The Other Temptations of Christ: Lenten Studies for Adventurous Christians ".
So does your thirty years of study outweigh the lifetimes of study that other scholars, immersionist and non-, have put in to find that "baptizo" doesn't mean "immerse"?
If the facts cross your dogma, that's not my issue.
That's my line.
bttt
Well, the facts do -- particularly when opposing scholars are shills for totalitarian, you-must-believe-The-Church-{tm}-not-your-lying-eyes sects.
Truth isn't settled by majority vote (John 17:17).
Dan
The new leader for this "cult" would be none other than bjclinton.
LOL! Joe Green! I love it.
Which "totalitarian" sects are you thinking of? The article provided quotes a scholar within the intensely "believe-what-you-think-right-not-what-others-do" sect called The Christian Church (an immersionist, anti-paedobaptist sect) as saying that there is no Greek word for immersion used in the NT. Not only that, but it is a disservice to the majority of Protestant sects to say that they are "totalitarian" when it comes to things as minor to them (as is the case with Methodists, Episcopalians and Presbyterians, among others) as the mode of baptism. I would argue that it is the Baptist and immersionist strain of Christianity (of Protestantism, even, though they hate that label) that is totalitarian. A Baptist who thinks that baptism is by aspersion (pouring/sprinkling) is out on his butt in no time--a Methodist who thinks that baptism is by immersion is just as accepted as one who believes baptism is by aspersion.
Truth isn't settled by majority vote (John 17:17).
And yet, "Whatever is new is not true," to quote John Wesley on newness of doctrine. Which has older roots, older evidence? The article I provided indicates that the most ancient Greek churches used baptismal fonts too small for immersion and made sacred art of John baptizing on the banks of the Jordan by pouring water over Jesus' head.
IMHO, they water this down, now "officially" it seems, because they seek spiritual credibility and sanction for their sinful lifestyle. They can't be openly honest and ascribe God's name to it at the same time.
< shrug > Whatever.
When I find a way to argue someone willingly in your position, sectwise, out of that position, I'll get back to you.
At present, I've neither the time nor the interest. (Your reply will almost surely validate my stance. I'll get ahead of the game by pre-emptively noting, "QED.")
Dan
Well now we know the version of clinton's 15 lb. Bible he always carried to church.
Thou shalt not covet thy neighbors wife.
New Age Commandment:
Pork them all.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.