Wednesday, December 25, 2013

Duck Dynasty, Phil Robertson, A&E: what Corinthians really says

The complete reference is:
1 Corinthians 6:9-10
The problem is that the New Testament is not written in English or Latin or Hebrew or even Aramaic (Jesus' native tongue), but Koine Greek. Therefore, translations vary.
Here is a brief sampling.

New English Bible
Surely you know that the unjust will never come into possession of the kingdom of God. Make no mistake: no fornicator or idolater, none who are guilty either of adultery or of homosexual perversion, not thieves or grabbers or drunkards or slanderers or swindlers, will possess the kingdom of God

King James Version
Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind, nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God.

New American Standard
Or do you not know that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived; neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate [by perversion], nor homosexuals, nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers, shall inherit the kingdom of God.

Williams—New Testament in the Language of the People
Do you not know that wrongdoers will not have a share in the kingdom of God? Stop being misled; people who are sexually immoral or idolaters or adulterers or sensual or guilty of unnatural sexual vice or thieves or greedy graspers for more or drunkards or slanderers or swindlers will not have a share in the kingdom of God.

Beck—New Testament in the Language of Today
Or don't you know wicked people will have no share God's kingdom? Don't be mistaken about this: Nobody who lives in sexual sin or worships idols, no adulterers or men who sin sexually with other men, who steal, are greedy, get drunk, slander, rob will have a share in God's kingdom.

Revised Standard Version
Do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived; neither the immoral, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor sexual perverts, nor thieves, nor the greedy, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor robbers will inherit the kingdom of God.

What It Does Not Say
Note carefully: not a single one of these translations states that homosexuality is a sin, or that the soul of gays will burn forever in pain and torment in Hades. They simply say that they will not gain the kingdom of God, which is not the same thing.
It is also important to keep in mind that this an excerpt of a pastoral letter written by Saul/Paul to the church of Corinth. These are not the words of Jesus or one of his disciples. Paul is interpreting, and not all of his contemporaries agreed with him.

If you have a Bible in your home, now would be a good to take it out and read what it really says, not what you wish it to say or what others claim it says. 

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