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Worldly word:New Bible texts translate the Bible away
WORLD ^ | October 15, 2005 | Gene Edward Veith

Posted on 10/07/2005 8:38:02 AM PDT by Caleb1411

As evangelicals debate the inclusive-language Today's New International Version (TNIV), many liberal mainline churches have slipped far down the slippery slope in what they have done to the Bible.

In 1990, the National Council of Churches published the New Revised Standard Version (NRSV), an inclusive-language rendition of the well-accepted Revised Standard Version (RSV). This translation keeps masculine references to God and to Jesus, but changes them for human beings, getting rid of the generic "man," putting "brothers and sisters" where the original just has "brothers," and using awkward plurals and repetitions to avoid the generic "he." Never mind that the messianic title "Son of Man" is now "a human being." What the NRSV did to the RSV is pretty much what the TNIV did to the NIV.

But that much inclusive language was not enough for many mainline churches. An Inclusive Language Lectionary, a rendition of Scripture texts read during the worship service, takes the next step of changing the gendered language for God. Today, the congregations who use this lectionary in Sunday worship pray to "our Father-Mother." Jesus is not the Son of God, but the "child of God." The pronoun "he" is not even used for the man Jesus, replaced with ungrammatical constructions: "Jesus Christ, who gave Himself for us" becomes "Jesus Christ, who gave self for us" (Titus 2:13-14).

But that much tinkering proved not to be enough either. In 1995, Oxford University Press published the New Testament and Psalms: An Inclusive Version. This revision of the NRSV not only uses gender-inclusive language for God and Jesus ("God our father-mother"), it also eliminates, in the words of the introduction, "all pejorative references to race, color, or religion, and all identifications of persons by their physical disability." In avoiding all "offensive language," "darkness" is changed to "night," lest it offend black people, and "the right hand of God" is changed to "the mighty hand of God," lest it offend left-handed people.

But that does not go far enough. The liberal Catholic group Priests for Equality published in 2004 the Inclusive Bible. "Kingdom" is both sexist and authoritarian, so the priests made up a new word, "kindom." Adam is not a "man," he is an "earth creature." And to avoid offending homosexuals or others in nontraditional relationships, the words "husband" and "wife" are changed to "partner."

But since radical theology depends on demonizing the "patriarchy" of the Bible, the Inclusive Bible includes footnotes admitting that "the actual Hebrew is even more brutal" and chastising the apostle Paul for his retrograde attitudes. Then the translators just change the text to something more suitable.

But the Inclusive Bible does not go far enough either. The Bible version Good as New: A Radical Retelling of the Scriptures uses what its introduction calls "cultural translation." Not only is it inclusive, it translates ancient terms into their modern-day equivalent. Thus, "demon possession" becomes "mental illness." Even names are changed: Peter, Nicodemus, and Bethsaida become "Rocky," "Ray," and "Fishtown." Religious terminology is eliminated, as not being in accord with our culture: "Baptize" is changed to "dip"; "salvation" is changed to "completeness."

The translation describes itself as "women, gay and sinner friendly." Thus, when Paul says that it is better to marry than to burn, the Inclusive Bible says, "If you know you have strong needs, get yourself a partner. Better than being frustrated." The Inclusive Bible follows the higher critics in leaving out the Pastoral Epistles and Revelation, and it follows The Da Vinci Code in including instead the Gnostic Gospel of Thomas. This translation is endorsed by the Archbishop of Canterbury, Rowan Williams, and the evangelical leader Tony Campolo.

But does any of this matter, as long as people are exposed to the Bible? Yes, it does. The bisexual deity "Father-Mother" is not the true God, nor is this made-up religion Christianity. These translations are not the Word of God. Just the Word of Man.


TOPICS: Culture/Society
KEYWORDS: apostate; bible; christianity; heresy; heretic; moralabsolutes; purge; religiousleft; screwballs; screwytranslations; tniv
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To: radioman
There is no historical evidence in the King James Bible that Jesus Christ was a living breathing man. The only historical evidence that Jesus was real is contained in the "heresy" Greek, Coptic and Hebrew texts, but you can't use that evidence because it comes from "heresy". I find that very interesting.

Where do you get this dribble? What do you think the geneologies in Matthew and Luke are if not accounts of a real live human being born of a woman, with real human ancestors. Those accounts are in King James. It is collaborated by the incarnation in Philipians 2, and the passage in Timothy 3:16, 1 Corinthians 15, and many many others. Then, there are the secular sources such as Tacitus and Suetonius and Josephus.

141 posted on 10/07/2005 12:13:48 PM PDT by SmartCitizen
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To: radioman
There is no historical evidence in the King James Bible that Jesus Christ was a living breathing man. The only historical evidence that Jesus was real is contained in the "heresy" Greek, Coptic and Hebrew texts, but you can't use that evidence because it comes from "heresy". I find that very interesting.

Where do you get this dribble? What do you think the geneologies in Matthew and Luke are if not accounts of a real live human being born of a woman, with real human ancestors. Those accounts are in King James. It is collaborated by the incarnation in Philipians 2, and the passage in Timothy 3:16, 1 Corinthians 15, and many many others. Then, there are the secular sources such as Tacitus and Suetonius and Josephus.

142 posted on 10/07/2005 12:14:43 PM PDT by SmartCitizen
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To: lupie

That's what I meant- the PCA church. It seems people were bashing PCA. I know all about PCUSA.


143 posted on 10/07/2005 12:15:34 PM PDT by SmartCitizen
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To: radioman

How can you be 100% certain that is was his brother who wrote that nonsense? And there are other historical proofs that Jesus did exist. I believe Josephus is one - so it is just the "heretics" that have the evidence. But I do believe that there is more evidence that He did walk the earth than that He didn't. I haven't done research in that area, perhaps someone else here has.


144 posted on 10/07/2005 12:18:02 PM PDT by lupie
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To: SmartCitizen

Oh, sorry. My mistake.


145 posted on 10/07/2005 12:21:22 PM PDT by lupie
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To: agrace

ping for your input


146 posted on 10/07/2005 12:22:18 PM PDT by lupie
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To: pjd
What version is are you refering to? My KJV has this in Rev 22:18-19

You are correct, must have been a satan induced typo!

147 posted on 10/07/2005 12:22:35 PM PDT by Doomonyou (FR doesn't suffer fools lightly.)
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To: SmartCitizen
What do you think the geneologies in Matthew and Luke

Fiction. Who were Matthew and Luke?
When were they born?
When did they die?
Is there any historical reference to them outside of the Bible?
.
148 posted on 10/07/2005 12:22:55 PM PDT by radioman
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To: radioman

ME:"Was he amoung the 54 translators that the King appointed."

YOU: "He was the man in charge. The King ordered him to produce a religious book that favored the King. Do you really think that any of those men would do anything that displeased the King?"

It is clear you are either un-educated on these matters or you are playing some sort of game, reason unknown. Perhaps you had found some rubish on the Internet.

If you are serious show me proof that Bacon was on the committe, let alone the man in charged. But before you do that, in case you are taking for granted of someone trying to spread misinformatin in the Internet for example, and have no background on the histories of the KVJ, do yourself a favor and learn a bit more. I venture to say you don't even know how many commitees where formed, their names and which college they where affiliated with.


149 posted on 10/07/2005 12:32:41 PM PDT by Marine_Uncle (Honor must be earned)
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To: RonF
Atlanta, Georgia - Holy Spirit Parish.

Last Sunday we sang Palestrina's Alma Redemptoris Mater (preceded by the Gregorian chant transposed to the same key) and Mozart's Jubilate Deo

Next Sunday, Victoria's "Ave Maria" and Gluck's "O Saviour Hear Me". On tap: Tallis's "If Ye Love Me", Purcell's Bell Anthem, Hassler's "Dixit Maria" and the "Cantique de Jean Racine".

The choirmaster really wants us to do the William Matthias "A Babe Is Born" for Christmas - I've got no problem with it, my previous choirmaster was a demon for sightreading and I will take a stab at anything. But it IS tough . . . the sopranos are freaking out.

150 posted on 10/07/2005 12:36:24 PM PDT by AnAmericanMother (. . . Ministrix of ye Chace (recess appointment), TTGC Ladies' Auxiliary . . .)
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To: SmartCitizen
What is your motive for defending a book that is not part of scripture?

"America is a Christian Nation" started me down this road. Christians want to claim the moral high ground and if I'm going to be subject to Christian dogma I want to know everything I can about that dogma. I am not defending Thomas. I am not a Christian. I have lived and worked in the Holy Land. I have an interest in and am familiar with the history and cultural anthropology of the region.

Are you wiser than all Christians before you?

No. Are you wiser than all Gnostics before you?

Is your purpose to discredit Christianity and the gospels?

No. I have given you an opportunity to enlighten me. All you can reference are the writings of various evangelical Christian book sellers. Not a scientist, archeologist or historian in the bunch.

I did not reference any Dag Hammadi papyri, yet you try to refute my reference by assuming I would not know the difference. Not very honest of you I must say!
.
151 posted on 10/07/2005 12:42:14 PM PDT by radioman
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To: radioman
Isn't the Gospel of Thomas the only Gospel written while Jesus was alive and preaching?

Dictated by Jesus from the cross is what I've heard on the matter.

152 posted on 10/07/2005 12:42:49 PM PDT by aBootes
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To: radioman

This is goofy. Go and read Josephus, the Babylonian Talmud, Lucian, Pliny the Younger, and Tacitus and get back with us.


153 posted on 10/07/2005 12:44:50 PM PDT by AnAmericanMother (. . . Ministrix of ye Chace (recess appointment), TTGC Ladies' Auxiliary . . .)
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To: radioman
Fiction. Who were Matthew and Luke? When were they born? When did they die? Is there any historical reference to them outside of the Bible?

I see, so in your view, the only reliable text is a rejected gnostic gospel from the 2nd century, while the accepted CANONICAL gospels are unreliable even though they correspond internally with the Old Testament and Paul's epistles, are reliably dated to within one generation of the crucifixion, and were accepted by the church fathers.

Believe whatever you want, just don't try to pass it off as orthodoxy - it's heresy.

154 posted on 10/07/2005 12:48:45 PM PDT by SmartCitizen
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To: SmartCitizen; lupie; Old_Mil

You're wasting time on this guy. I've heard all his stuff before. I guess the inclusion of heretical texts in the new Bibles was done in order to please avowed non-believers like him. Time to tune the radioman out, IMO.


155 posted on 10/07/2005 12:49:25 PM PDT by Sans-Culotte (Meadows Place, TX- "Tom DeLay Country")
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To: radioman
"America is a Christian Nation" started me down this road. Christians want to claim the moral high ground and if I'm going to be subject to Christian dogma I want to know everything I can about that dogma. I am not defending Thomas. I am not a Christian. I have lived and worked in the Holy Land. I have an interest in and am familiar with the history and cultural anthropology of the region.

So you are a anti-Christian troll. Evidently you are not very familiar with Christian history or the New Testament. Your position has been weighed in the balance on this thread and found WANTING. YOu can't even get your basic facts straight. Did you thing you were going to out-debate people who know more about the NT history than you do? Why don't you just get lost and go spout your dribble in a thread where more gullible people might just believe your tripe.

156 posted on 10/07/2005 12:55:38 PM PDT by SmartCitizen
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To: radioman

***Fiction. Who were Matthew and Luke?***

If you are going to play that game consider this.

Years ago naysayers said there was no such thing as Hittites as none of the ancients spoke of them. That is until Champolion translated the Egyptian language and found a complete history of them.

Naysayers said Pontius Pilate was fiction for the same reason, that is until a dedication plaque was found in Csesarea with his name on it.

Can you prove Herodotus lived? Maybe someone else wrote his histories,er, that is fictions as no one can "prove " them.

Can you show me the birth Certificate of Josephus? Can you prove it was He that wrote his histories of the Jews and not someone else?
Maybe Tacitus and Suetonius' histories were really fiction!Can you prove to me that a a Gladitorial Stadium collapsed killing thousands of people?

Can you even prove that most of the people Tacitus and Suetonius wrote about lived?
Maybe Julius Caeser was a fictional character written by someone else. We have statues and stories of him, but we also have statues and stories of Paul Bunyon and Pecos Bill.

So, what standard do you hold to prove someone lived in the past. You can call it "fiction" but that doesn't mean the historical people did not exist.

Again I ask my question...
In the Gospel of Thomas Jesus said he would preach to Mary and she would become a man. Did she?
if not, why do you keep bringing up this piece of drivel?


157 posted on 10/07/2005 12:55:39 PM PDT by Ruy Dias de Bivar (When someone burns a cross on your lawn, the best firehose is an AK-47.)
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To: Sans-Culotte

Good idea. He's a troll.


158 posted on 10/07/2005 12:56:31 PM PDT by SmartCitizen
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To: radioman
America is a Christian Nation" started me down this road.

America was founded as a Christian nation. It is only recentlly that anti-Christian bigots like you are trying to erase God from the public square and classsroom, and teach a FALSE history based on revisionist lies. Dont' even go there pal - I have a degree in U.S. History. I'll paste you to the wall.

159 posted on 10/07/2005 12:59:21 PM PDT by SmartCitizen
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To: Sans-Culotte
"On a more positive note, there is a women's Bible Study my wife attends on Tuesdays. The woman who teaches it (not from our church) is very good, and her teachings always assume the inerrancy of the scriptures. So, at least some good things do happen in the building."

Yes, thank the Lord! We adhere to Baptist distinctives, and we have been greatly blessed by many Bible-believing Presbyterian preachers over the years, and I have a set of books by the 18th Century Presbyterian evangelist, Icabod Spencer, called PASTOR'S SKETCHES. PASTOR'S SKETCHES contains real life episodes of Spencer's dealings with individuals about their soul's salvation. They are really fine illustrations of sound and spiritual personal evangelism methods.

ALL denominations of Christians have really slipped and, excuse me, apostatized. We are independent missionaries and so do not maintain affiliation with any Baptist denomination. It just seems that when churches nowadays stay involved with denominational structures, they are disappointed by the liberal slide of all of virtually all of them.

But I have been looking at the Bible Presbyterian (Charlotte, NC) web site and the Free Presbyterian (Ulster) web site, and I find those to be quite a joy to my Bible-believing Christian spirit. Here I am, a Baptist, recommending Presbyterian web sites to Presbyterian folks...I hope you don't take me as arrogant. I just pray for you the Lord's best. I don't know if there would be any Bible or Free Presbyterian churches near you....or perhaps independent Presbyterians. If not, there might be some independent Bible churches nearby. As a last resort, you might find a friendly independent Bible-believing Baptist church around.
160 posted on 10/07/2005 1:04:45 PM PDT by Free Baptist
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