Slouching Toward Bethlehem - It's days like today that I think that the advent of Christ cannot be that far away. Consider Yesterday's post, "U.S. Lawmakers Crown rev. Sun Myung Moon Messiah!", with this news from WorldNetDaily™, "New Bible translation promotes fornication: Archbishop of Canterbury praises version for 'extraordinary power'."
WND™ reports that this new translation, or what I would truly term a perversion, is produced by UK based organization started by a former Baptist preacher named John Henson. The organization is named "One." WND™ reports on the praise that Dr. Rowan Williams (I guess Reverend is a lower title then Doctor) the archbishop of Canterbury gives in promotion of this new translation
perversion:
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.'"
"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.
WND™ points to the website of ekklesia which describes itself as a "think-tank that works to promote theological ideas in the public square." They describe this new translation perversion as:
...a "new, fresh and adventurous" translation of the early Christian scriptures. It is designed both for mature Christians and for those who have limited experience of traditional Christianity or "may have found it a barrier to an appreciation of Jesus".
And, ekklesia, noting some of the changes in the this translation perversion:
The translation is pioneering in its accessibility, and changes the original Greek and Hebrew nomenclature into modern nicknames. St Peter becomes “Rocky”, Mary Magdalen becomes “Maggie”, Aaron becomes “Ron”, Andronicus becomes “Andy” and Barabbas becomes “Barry”.
In other passages the translator John Henson, a retired Baptist minister, renders “demon possession” as “mental illness” and “Son of Man”, the phrase used frequently to refer to Jesus, as “the Complete Person”.
Parables become “riddles” and to baptise, to “dip” in water. Salvation becomes “healing” or “completeness” and Heaven becomes “the world beyond time and space.”
ekkleshia also notes that the archbishop of Canterbury pens the foreword for the new translation perversion:
In his foreword to the new version of the New Testament, which also includes the non-canonical Gospel of Thomas, Dr Williams describes it as a work of “extraordinary power” because it is “so close to the prose and poetry of ordinary life”. He writes: “Instead of being taken into a specialised religious frame of reference — as happens even with the most conscientious of formal modern translations — and being given a gospel addressed to specialised concerns . . . we have here a vehicle for thinking and worshipping that is fully earthed, recognisably about our humanity.”
The Archbishop praises Mr Henson’s translation for screening out “the stale, the technical, the unconsciously exclusive words and policies”.
In other words the archbishop is praising the new translation perversion for removing God's condemnation of sins. It's all about tolerance and inclusiveness, Satan's talking points.
Here are some side-by-side translations that are provided on ekklesia site:
Mark 1:4
Authorised version: “John did baptise 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 1:10-11Authorised 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 are 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
Authorised version: “Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites!”
New version: “Take a running jump, Holy Joes, humbugs!
Matthew 26:69-70
Authorised 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!”
The Great Separation continues. Which side are you on?
