From: ceb@dbrus.Unify.Com (Caroline E. Bryan)
Subject: Bible Translations (Was Re: Biblical ...)
Organization: /usr/lib/news/organization
Distribution: usa
Date: Tue, 8 Sep 92 23:25:22 GMT

In article <1992Sep8.150715.27352@murdoch.acc.Virginia.EDU> jon@Turing.ORG (Jon Gefaell (KD4CQY)) writes:
>>In article <1992Sep7.154642.12539@athena.mit.edu> jfed@athena.mit.edu (Jude G Federspiel) writes:
>>
>>> "Do you not know that the wicked will not inherit the kingdom of God?
>>> Do not be deceived: Neither the sexually immoral nor idolaters nor
>>> adulterers nor male prostitutes nor homosexual offenders nor thieves nor
>>> the greedy nor drunkards nor slanderers nor swindlers will inherit the
>>> kingdom of God." 
>>>	   --I Corinthians 6:9-10

Apparently which translation of the Bible makes a difference.  My translation
(NAB, Revised) is *much* more specific, letting some of Jude's "sinners" off
the hook, and putting others on it:

	"Do you not know that the unjust will not inherit the kingdom of
	God?  Do not be deceived; neither fornicators nor idolaters nor
	adulterers nor boy prostitutes nor practicing homosexuals nor
	thieves nor the greedy nor drunkards nor slanderers nor robbers
	will inherit the kingdom of God."  (I Corinthians 6:9-10)

Paul predefines "unjust":  "it is, in any case, a failure on your part that
you have lawsuits against one another.  Why not rather put up with injustice?
Why not rather let yourselves be cheated?  Instead, you inflict injustice and
cheat, and this to brothers." (I Corinthians 6:7-8).  Jude's translation has
the more general "wicked".

Paul doesn't condemn generally "sexually immoral" people, but people who
persistently commit a specific sin: "fornicators" (above).

He doesn't condemn all male prostitutes, but "boy prostitutes", or catamites
(Notes, I Corinthians 6:9).

He doesn't condemn "homosexual offenders" but "practicing homosexuals":  this
one is an especially important distinction because a "homosexual offender"
may have repented of his sinful actions decades ago and still "offend" some-
one by his past; but Paul doesn't condemn people for being what they are (or
were) but because of what they persist in doing.  After Jude's selected pas-
sage Paul continues: "That is what some of you used to be; but now you have
had yourselves washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of
the Lord Jesus Christ and in the Spirit of our God." (I Corinthians 6:11)

Paul condemns swindlers when he condemns thieves; but robbers (who steal from
you face-to-face) are neither swindlers nor thieves, and he condemns them as
well, unlike in Jude's preferred translation.  Using Jude's translation a
robber might feel like s/he's not committing a sin St. Paul would condemn
him/her for, because there's no sneaking involved.

>I've been thinking about this lately, and the only New Testament Christian
>Bible references condemning homosexuality seem to have been written
>by Paul (Saul of Tarsus, taxman) IS this correct? You know what they say
>about Paul :)
>
>I'd really like to know, I suppose...

Saul of Tarsus was a tentmaker, not a taxman.  St. Matthew was the tax col-
lector.  If "they" told you St. Paul was the tax collector of the group, I'd
also be suspicious of anything else they told you about him.  Why not read
the NT yourself, btw?  Then you *would* know without having to depend on
people whom you already know have told you what isn't true.


Carrie		ceb@rechenau.unify.com	x6244		        ------------+
|   You can choose to do housework or to do things.  I have chosen to do    |
|		things.					-- Anon.	    |
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