Love Lost in Translation: Homosexuality and the Bible

by K. Renato Lings

Love Lost in Translation systematically examines the biblical stories and passages that are generally assumed to deal with, or comment on, homoerotic Noah and Ham, Sodom and Gomorrah, Leviticus 18:22, Deuteronomy 23:1718, Judges 19, Romans 1:2627, and 1 Corinthians 6:9. K. Renato Lings convincingly demonstrates that mistranslations of these texts into Greek, Latin and other languages occurred early, and that serious errors continue to be committed by translators today. This explains the painful controversy about same-sex relationships, which has rocked Christian churches for decades.Love Lost in Translation proposes a fresh approach to translating the Bible by means of linguistic and literary criteria. As demonstrated throughout this ground-breaking book, the method enables readers to become acquainted with the literary sophistication, psychological insights and spiritual depth of the Bible. Combining meticulous scholarship with an accessible style, Love Lost in Translation provides a much-needed infusion of essential learning into a subject that affects millions of Bible readers today.

Genres: Theology, Religion

786 pages, Kindle Edition

First published September 14, 2011

Reviews

[Becky Ankeny · Rating 4 out of 5]

Renato Lings has provided a linguistic/literary analysis of the main texts that conservative Christians cite that they understand as excluding LGBTQ folks from full participation in the congregational life of the church. His approach is to review the context within the Bible, to review the history of translations and compare various English translations, and to review how the passage has been understood over church history. His approach is systematic and requires commitment on the part of the reader.

I found it the kind of analysis I relate to as a English professor. I loved the explorations of words in the Hebrew and Greek, and how they are translated elsewhere. He treats the text with the kind of respect that wants to understand it as much as possible as ancient readers would have done, and he treats the writers with the kind of respect that assumes they have written carefully and with attention to the words they have chosen. His analysis will be reassuring to those who want to be inclusive Christians and at the same time want to continue to respect the authority of the Bible as a guide to faith and practice.

[John-Francis Friendship · Rating 5 out of 5]

An excellent study of the language used in certain texts of the bible and the way they have been translated by different people involved in biblical work.

[Livi R · Rating 5 out of 5]

excellent study, particularly in language. I used his work extensively for reference on a paper about the Sodom and Gomorrah narrative, and I look forward to using him as a reference in the future!