Friday, July 11, 2008

Bible Publishers Sued over Translation of 1 Corinthians 6:9

biblehands In one of the oddest stories I have read in a while, Christian publisher Zondervan Publishing is reporting facing a $60 million federal lawsuit in the United States filed by a 39-year-old man who claims he and other homosexuals have suffered based on what the suit claims is a misinterpretation of the Bible.  His suit centres on one passage in scripture -- 1 Corinthians 6:9 -- and how it reads in some editions of Bibles published by Zondervan.  He levels similar allegations against Thomas Nelson regarding the company's earlier versions of the New King James Bible and is suing them for $10 million.

A company spokeswoman with Zondervan suggested that even if the accusations had merit, Bradley Fowler is suing the wrong group because Zondervan doesn't actually translate the Bible or own the copyright for any of the translations.   Instead, she said in a statement, the company relies on the "scholarly judgment of credible translation committees."

According to a report by WOOD-TV in Grand Rapids, Michigan on July 8, Fowler says Bibles published by Zondervan in 1982 and 1987 used the word "homosexuals" among a list of those who are "wicked" or "unrighteous" and won't inherit the kingdom of heaven. He claims that because his family's pastor used that Bible, his family considered him a sinner and he suffered.  Now he is asking for an apology and $60 million to "compensate for the past 20 years of emotional duress and mental instability."  

Judge Julian Abele Cook Jr. refused to appoint an attorney to represent Fowler in his case against Thomas Nelson, writing "The Court has some very genuine concerns about the nature and efficacy of these claims."

Comments anyone?

3 comments:

Anonymous said...

I am not surprised by this latest attack of satan.The New Living Translation,Tyndale House Publishers Inc.reads as follows and I quote:
"Don't you know that those who do wrong will have no share in the Kingdom of God?Don't fool yourselves.Those who indulge in sexual sin,who are idol worshipers,adulterers,male prostitutes,homosexuals,thieves,greedy people,drunkards ,abusers and swindlers-none od these will have a share in the Kingdom of God.
1Corinthians 9:9,10.
Is it any surprise that mankind will get angry when faced with God's opinion about their behaviour in flagrant opposition to His lifegiving laws?
The truth needs to be told:Repentance from those sins and accepting God's forgiveness through Jesus Christ will bring entrance into God's Kingdom.
The next verse gives us the answer:
"There was a time that you were just like that,but now your sins have been washed away and you have been set apart for God."
Should we be alarmed about this lawsuit in the States?NO!!
Instead of fear let us prepare ourselves through prayer,reading God,s word and continue to proclaim the Good News,that Jesus saves.We can expect persecution and Jesus told us that we should rejoice if we as a company or as a church or as an individual are suffering injuctice because we are
persecuted.We are given the privilege to pray for those who persecute us. The time has come that we as God's children in Jesus Christ,our Lord,prepare ourselves for battle and put on the armour as described in Ephesians:6.

Anonymous said...

Why be afraid of this?
What satan uses for evil God uses for good.
I say it's a great opportunity for a court of law to really examine the word of God. To judge fairly they and the whole court will have major exposure to the word of God. It's all good I say.

Unknown said...

Simply ridiculous. Need we say more?