I apologize up front for coming back before I said I would (“…I'll not be returning to even look here until the page count reaches over 50, which I believe hardly likely.”
Please take it in the spirit of the “first son” in Jesus’
Parable of the Two Sons from Matt. 21. I was wrong. I’ve repented and will do as my Father asks.
All this talk
against “cultural relativism.” I’m wondering if anyone else sees the humor in someone saying God’s Word isn’t affected by the culture, saying, indeed, that there is no concept of hetero or homo sexuality described in the Bible, and then uses a (modern) translation of the Bible with the word “homosexual” in it, when it will “
prove” his point.
The Bible may not be culturally relativistic but the translations certainly are (or, I should say, have become). Check out the older translations and you won’t find the word “homosexual.” I know the word itself is a recent invention. Still, that’s to the point. Without the word “homosexual” [and we’ve got to admit that in OUR culture that’s a
Loaded Word], the
KJV translators, and the
American Standard Version translators and
Darby were forced to translate the passage of 1 Cor 6:9 from the Greek, as closely as possible. Word for word it reads “abusers of themselves with mankind,” “abusers of themselves with men,” “nor who abuse themselves with men,” respectively. It’s never
"abusers of men with each other" but “
abusers of themselves....”
Now, “abusers of themselves” (self-abuse) is a nearly obsolete term as well, but we all Know What it Means. There is no idea proffered that Paul is speaking of (for or against) any Mutual Caring Relationship. In fact, to add to the point,
Young’s Literal Translation translates the words as “sodomites.” [And as we know, the sin that day (in Genesis) wasn’t an offer of homosexual
relationship, but a threat of homosexual
RAPE.] Culturally speaking, I’d say those earlier translators, meant that these “abusers of
themselves” were committing an act of masturbatory rape. Culturally, I’d say that happens most often in prisons these days, but it’s still a tragedy happening in society at large, as well. I'm thinking committing this crime/sin on a regular basis would hinder "inheriting the Kingdom."
Using “homosexual” in modern translation, takes us Further from the Truth, if we believe the Truth is found in how it was First written. We must be on guard against letting
our Culture redefine and color the scriptures in a way God did not intend.
Peace be with you.
