COGNews recently posted this:
1946: The Mistranslation that Shifted Culture
This film documentary claims to shed light on the mistranslation of the word “homosexual” in the Bible – which first appeared (in the RSV) in 1946. (The word “homosexual” was first coined in the late 19th century.) The film makers are hoping it will make the short list of nominations for the Oscars, which would substantially increase publicity of this issue.
In an interview on Forgeonline, Ed Oxford points out that Martin Luther used the word knabenschander – boy molester – in his 1534 bible version, and that 19th century German bibles say that man shall not lie with “young boys” in Leviticus 18:22 and Leviticus 20:13, and in 1 Corinthians 6:9 that “boy molesters will not inherit the kingdom of God.”
These bible verses condemn pederasty only, he argues, not homosexuality.
Why should Martin Luther use the term “boy molester”? Possibly because in his time this practice was rife within the Catholic church. Leo X (who ex-communicated Luther when the latter refused to retract his 95 theses) vetoed a motion to enact a papal bull which would have limited the number of boy lovers that the cardinals could have.
See: Forge Has “Homosexual” always been in the Bible?
16 comments:
Interesting. Several thoughts come to mind. The first one is, if you are trying to live the Christian life, the Biblical proscriptions against fornication and adultery are still in place. So, based on that, even if this is truly a mistranslation, I'm not sure it's time for the ol' clothing optional hot tub party with the guys for gay Christians. The qualifications for a bishop also come to mind.
It wasn't long ago that right here, in the American culture, most people did not differentiate between homosexuals and child molesters. I'm not saying this to offend our gay friends here on the blog, but we straight people actually believed that gay people WERE child molesters. I know that when my son was old enough that he wanted to be able to go to the restroom in a restaurant unescorted, I did have a talk with him. And it became our little joke that when he announced that he needed to use the restroom, I'd always say "Watch out for the Tinker Bells!" just to keep him aware of his surroundings.
Attitudes do change with time and education. Centuries ago, people believed a lot of bad things about left-handed people. Now, they're just seen as being normal people who happen to be more dextrous with, and favor their left hand. There is also much better understanding about fetishes, too. I'm sure that everyone who has a fetish thinks about that fetish while having sex.
Or, are we just nearing the end times and becoming more like Sodom and Gomorrah? Who even knows? We've been lied to about so many things by our past spiritual guides that it's hard to tell any more. You just never know. I guess if you do nice things and help people, you might end up having helped some angels who were just pretending to be gay.
There are multiple times homosexual acts are described as a sin or abomination. Luther taught that as well. And not meant to offend, but it is part of the common Tau that homosexuality is against nature and a perversion. Pederasty is one of the sickening areas that some cultures accepted more than adult consensual sex. If anything, Luther was focusing on that pederasty "loophole" that some cultures allowed.
So much tiptoeing. Homosexuality is an abomination, and if anyone is offended by that statement they can take it up with God. He declared it so.
It's been interesting to watch all of the "christian" denominations cave, one by one, on the issue of homosexuality, but then, since they are trying to be christian on their own they cannot help but fail. The whole Sunday crowd is mired in confusion. I look forward to the day when they can come out of it and know and understand the truth.
" we straight people actually believed that gay people WERE child molesters. "
Speak for yourself on that one.
Hey, Just talking about societal norms. Homosexuality was classified as a mental illness during the 1950s. People were subjected to shock treatment by mental health professionals, given male hormones, prevented from employment in certain professions where it was fesred that they would proselytize. There's been a major shift in the ways in which LGBTQ+ people are viewed over the past 50-60 years.
To Jan 17 @ 5:39AM
I beg to differ. I used to be part of the Saturday crowd who live under the Old Covenant. Then I found the grace and truth of the New Covenant.
Now I am part of the Sunday crowd, and although a lot of churches have gone astray on the homosexual subject, not all have. My pastor stays with the truth of the scripture and teaches only from scripture and tells it like it is.
Those who are staying with the Old Covenant are ignoring the grace and truth of Jesus Christ.
I respectfully, with love for all who are still where I used to be, to sit down and study
the New Testament and ask God the Father and Jesus Christ to open your eyes, heart and mind to the truth. And do not be afraid to ask for that.
May God help all who are living under the Old Covenant. Appealed with love for all.
Lev. 20:13 (NIV) “’If a man has sexual relations with a man as one does with a woman, both of them have done what is detestable. They are to be put to death; their blood will be on their own heads
So, if this is talking about molesting boys, why have “both” done what is detestable? Why are both put to death?
Maybe because this isn’t talking about boy molesters
405, good comment. Those "clobber" passages are not hard to understand, and they are after all, STILL the word of God revealing the mind of God, and are profitable for instruction in righteousness.
I guess when the old arguments fail (it's in the old testament, old covenant, part of the law, Israel only, love is love, God loves everybody), the only alternative left is to challenge the authority of the Word itself, a tactic many of this site use. But mistranslations, and there are many, cannot dismiss the many other plain scriptures that are in agreement on any given subject.
Also, however one believes on the subject of homosexuality does not diminish a Christian's responsibility to "love they neighbor as thyself". Even murderers should be treated the way we want to be treated, even though we know murder is wrong.
I never quite understood why that passage gets cited so much. Announcing that you want Bill and Bob on your block to be killed seems rather barbarous.
"....translated with the accurate historical contextualization...."
*****
So now a 2000 year old word should be translated with consideration of a 1500 year history? Just can't fix stupid.
"Just can't fix stupid."
And yet here you are feeling the need to weigh in with your opinion.
@9:14
Me thinks you’re not getting the point of this discussion.
"My pastor stays with the truth of the scripture and teaches only from scripture and tells it like it is."
Then why is he part of the Sunday crowd???
Uh, maybe because the rez was on Sunday AM? Oops, the Armstrongs modified that, too. I blame Hislop.
Go back and read it again. The "rez" was not on Sunday.
So Sodom’s sin was pedophilia or pederasty not actually homosexualism? Give me a break! Like Jesus said in the beginning God created male and female and they were to be married for life (Mt 19:4-8). All other forms of sex between two or more people outside heterosexual monogamous marriage is sin pure and simple. All who give excuses for such lawlessness prove Isaiah 8:20 and John 3:19 true.
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