https://blog.adw.org/2024/01/a-conc...-lectionary-and-a-missed-moment-for-teaching/ Posted on January 16, 2024 by Msgr. Charles Pope A Concern for a Vague Translation in the Lectionary and a Missed Moment for Teaching This past Sunday featured a reading from 1 Corinthians 6 that was unfortunately vague in its English translation. The text said, “Avoid immorality,” (1 Corinthians 6:18) hides the more specific meaning of the text. “Avoid immorality?” It may as well have said “Do good and avoid evil.” Nothing could be more vague. For the record the Greek text is Φεύγετε τὴν πορνείαν (Pheugete ten porneian) which is accurately and easily translated: Flee fornication (sexual immorality). It is a powerful admonition in the Greek, and just about every other English version of the Bible, except the Revised New American Bible (RNAB). I checked twenty other translations, and they all say “Flee fornication” or “Flee sexual immorality.” It is a clarion call to chastity that is so necessary to hear in this sex saturated culture? Sadly our vague lectionary translation misses a teachable moment. Fundamentally there are two problems with this translation. In the first place, πορνείᾳ (porneia) (which is a specific reference to sexual immorality) is translated vaguely as “immorality.” Immorality can mean practically any sin. If I were to say, “That group is immoral,” I could mean almost anything from it being greedy, or racist, or violent, or just promoting some sinful activity. Frankly sex is not the first thing that comes to mind when the word immorality is encountered. But πορνείᾳ (porneia) is a specific word referring to sexual immorality. Usually it refers to pre-marital sex (fornication), but sometimes it may be used to refer to other sexual sins, depending on the context, like incest or adultery. So problem one is that “immorality” is so vague as to be inaccurate. In the second place “avoid” (as in “avoid immorality”) is profoundly weak as a translation of Φεύγετε (pheugete) which means, quite simply, “Flee!” It is a present, active, imperative verb in the second person plural. As an imperative it is thus a command, and merits the exclamation point: You (all) flee! Strong’s Greek dictionary of biblical terms defines the verb as “to flee, escape or shun. One might argue that “avoid” captures the word “shun” which is the third meaning. No it does not. “Shun” is a strong word, “avoid” in English is exceedingly more vague. “Avoid” says, “other things being equal, you ought to steer clear of this, if it is not too much trouble.” “Avoid” is friendly advice. “Shun” indicates a strong detestation. Flee, which is the first first meaning is an unambiguous command of warning, one which calls for immediate action due to something that is more than a small threat. This Greek verb φεύγω (pheugó) is used 29 times in the new Testament (see here) and in no case is “avoid” the best or proper translation. In fact to use “avoid” would yield often times unintelligible, sometimes comical results. Consider some of the following verses and mentally try to substitute the word “avoid” The angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream saying Arise and take the young child and his mother and flee into Egypt (Matt 2:13) But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees come to his baptism he said unto them O generation of vipers who hath warned you to flee from the wrath to come (Matt 3:7) And they that kept [the pigs] fled into the city and told every thing and what was befallen to the possessed of the devils (Matt 8:33) When ye therefore shall see the abomination of desolation spoken of by Daniel the prophet stand in the holy place whoever reads let him understand Then let them which be in Judaea flee into the mountains (Matt 24:16) the disciples left [Jesus] and fled. (Matt 26:56) the woman fled into the wilderness (Rev 12:6) In other words “fled” or “flee” is the first, and best translation of the Greek verb φεύγω (pheugó), followed by “escape.” “Avoid,” just doesn’t capture what is being said. Pastorally, this is a lost moment for Catholics with the translation “Avoid immorality.” Not only is the meaning obscure, but the imperative voice of the Greek is almost wholly lost by the vague and suggestive “avoid.” Who will follow an uncertain trumpet? (cf 1 Cor 14:8). The clarion call of this text is to get way as far, and as fast as possible, from fornication. This trumpet-call is reduced to barely a kazoo by the translation, “avoid immorality.” And even if a listener does finally get that “immorality” here means “sexual immorality” he or she will hardly be moved by the word avoid. The bottom line is that 1 Corinthians 6:18 (Φεύγετε τὴν πορνείαν. πᾶν ἁμάρτημα ὁ ἐὰν ποιήσῃ ἄνθρωπος ἐκτὸς τοῦ σώματος ἐστιν· ὁ δὲ πορνεύων εἰς τὸ ἴδιον σῶμα ἁμαρτάνει) is better and correctly translated as: Flee from sexual immorality. All other sins a man commits are outside his body, but he who sins sexually sins against his own body. OR: Flee fornication. All other sins a man commits are outside his body, but the fornicator, sins against his own body. In other words, Run! Flee! Head for the hills! Get as far and as fast away from fornication as you can. Do you get it? Probably not if you heard the Lectionary version last Sunday: Avoid immorality. Every other sin a person commits is outside the body, but the immoral person sins against his own body. Not exactly a clarion call. This is surely something to bring to the attention of the Bishops as a new Lectionary is prepared. Rest assured I will surely bring it to the attention of a few bishops I know. I pray you might do the same. Painting at top: St. Paul Writing at his Desk by Rembrandt
It was so interesting reading Monsignor Pope write about the use of the Word, 'Flee', in Scripture. I have been thinking a lot of the Flight into Egypt when the angel told Joseph to take his family and, 'Flee' there. It is also mentioned in the Book of the Apocalypse, the Mother with child having to flee the Old Dragon.
Hi Padraig, I remember you posted a video of an Irish man, who was anticipating this reading from the letter of Saint Paul to the Corinthians. (I searched for the video briefly, but couldn't find it...it was made by the same guy (Robert(?)) that experienced the apparition of Our Lady of Guadalupe at a prayer meeting in Derry(?) on the First Friday of January). In the video he read the passage that would be read to all Mass goers and he said that it was the only time in three years (due to the A, B, C lectionary cycle) that we would hear about those who wouldn't be admitted into the kingdom of Heaven. Well woefully, I don't know if it is because of the lectionary used in the United States or what, but the whole reading was watered down to the degree that it had about zero effect...meaning the types of sins that would lead to exclusion from the kingdom of Heaven were not listed. I thought to myself that the people that compile the lectionary may have a tough time at their judgement for mitigating the Word of God to that extent. Also, I don't know if other people experience this, but at my parish they always omit reading the text in brackets during the Gospel reading, a terrible editorial practice that almost always negates what the Holy Spirit is trying to impart to us from the words of the Gospel.
Same at my parish. Msgr Pope addressed this in an editorial. He said it was deliberate wishy washy translation. And they scrubbed the words of St Paul warning idolaters and fornicators and sodomites. In the effort to be pastoral no doubt. It was Robert Nugent of "Decrevi: determined to be Catholic" who brought up the passage in Corinthians.
I've been of the mind for a while that "pastoral" is in fact a code word for "deceptive". It seems "journey" is another code word. The time to stop journeying with these promoters of all things "pastoral" and in fact flee is very near, imho..... God love Msgr Pope for teaching the clear truth.
the continuation of the reading: Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; 20 you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your bodies.
I agree with the above. Below is the outline for the first 10 minutes of my homily last Sunday. I / STRUCTURE OF LECTIONARY READINGS Samuel. {Andrew, John, and James} However, focus will at first be on our second reading II/ Avoid immorality (context is sexual immorality) Also: Hebrews 13:4 Marriage should be honored by all, and the marriage bed kept pure, for God will judge the adulterer and all the sexually immoral. Genesis 1: 26 Then God said, “Let us make man in our image, after our likeness; 27 So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them. 28 And God blessed them, and God said to them, “Be fruitful and multiply… So the most blessed of God’s earthly creation is the human family: husband/wife, children! This is important: the Sacrament of Matrimony (marriage by God’s design) fidelity and openness to children Apart from immigration, USA population would be dropping! Think of Japan… The devil hates the Catholic family and seeks to destroy it: Think of pornography’s pervasiveness Follow the Lord’s plan for family and He will bless and provide.
I am not sure what Bible translation is being used in this lectionary. A solution could be to attend a Traditional Latin Mass where both Latin and English is used for the readings. There, the English Bible translations are traditional and correct (likely based on Douay-Rheims). God bless!
The other day when I was at Mass I noticed that the reader, who is very experienced and has been doing the readings for years read the wrong reading for the day. My ears always prick up at something like this and seek out the correct reading. I also notice that some readers and priests take it upon themselves to change the reading as they read it. This is quite common. Sadly even in the Liturgy itself words are often changed. It can be quite scary.
Some changes are bigger than others. There was a reading from St Paul at Mass on Sunday from Corinthians which I hear that was not read in many Churches. Why because it was far, far, far too much to the point, that's why. It takes a very special type of pride for a person to think they know better than Scripture: 1 Corinthians 6:9-20 9Do you not know that the wicked will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: Neither the sexually immoral nor idolaters nor adulterers nor male prostitutes nor homosexual offenders 10nor thieves nor the greedy nor drunkards nor slanderers nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God. 11And that is what some of you were. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God. 12"Everything is permissible for me"-but not everything is beneficial. "Everything is permissible for me"-but I will not be mastered by anything. 13"Food for the stomach and the stomach for food"-but God will destroy them both. The body is not meant for sexual immorality, but for the Lord, and the Lord for the body. 14By his power God raised the Lord from the dead, and he will raise us also. 15Do you not know that your bodies are members of Christ himself? Shall I then take the members of Christ and unite them with a prostitute? Never! 16Do you not know that he who unites himself with a prostitute is one with her in body? For it is said, "The two will become one flesh." 17But he who unites himself with the Lord is one with him in spirit. 18Flee from sexual immorality. All other sins a man commits are outside his body, but he who sins sexually sins against his own body. 19Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; 20you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your body.
The lectionary cut out that whole middle section. sadly including the portion where Paul says "such were you at one time..." recounting how they have been washed clean by the Blood of Christ. What tragedy for those fettersed by these sins.
