Wednesday, January 16, 2013

Misguided

Just a quick rant from me.
This is not the fault of anyone but the translators, however it irks me to no avail that people have become attached to the Bible passage first Corinthians thirteen. We all know verses four through eight: "Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. 5 It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. 6 Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. 7 It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. 8 Love never fails. But where there are prophecies, they will cease; where there are tongues, they will be stilled; where there is knowledge, it will pass away." These four verses have been read at weddings and tattooed on all types of people. But here is the thing, the passage isn't translated properly. Early versions of the passage had the word agape in place of the word love. Agape does not have a word to word translation to English, the closest translation would be God Love. So the passage should read: God's love is patient, God's love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. 5 It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. God's love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. 7 It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. 8 God's love never fails. But where there are prophecies, they will cease; where there are tongues, they will be stilled; where there is knowledge, it will pass away.

The passage changes in meaning with that one simple change. It turns from a guide on how to love into a description of God's love and all it's power. When translated the right way this passage becomes much more powerful than the version that we have become attached to. When translated correctly the passage is a weel needed description of God's love and support for his people.

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