On another thread, Justin wrote:
It's tough to refute particular passages in English. As translations vary to such an extraordinary degree (and
seemingly, it's based largely on the particular agenda of each Church, whether liberal or conservative).
Is this really the case. I decided to test this hypothesis based on the passage that Justin chose. I'd be happy to choose any other at all. However, for those of you, who have the stamina and the interest to wade through all of this, I think that you'll see that, while different English words might be used by different translators, there's no significant difference in the translations as Justin stated. Also, the Revised Standard Version is the accepted version for most christian liberal churches while the New American Bible is the used in the official liturgy of the Roman Catholic Church in the United States and there still are no differences in the cited passage. I do happen to know where there are some and they do have to do with some doctrinal differences between the liberal and conservative churches. Justin, if you want to pick a different passage, I can do the same thing. Just remember that it will take some time. However, these translations certainly don't lend support to your hypothesis that there are significant variances in translations and I can tell you with a very high degree of certainty that there are very few. However, if you want to cherry pick some passages where you think that your hypothesis might apply, then go ahead.
26Because of this, God gave them over to shameful lusts. Even their women exchanged natural relations for unnatural ones. 27In the same way the men also abandoned natural relations with women and were inflamed with lust for one another. Men committed indecent acts with other men, and received in themselves the due penalty for their perversion. NIV
Romans 1:26-27 (New American Standard Bible)
26For this reason (A)God gave them over to (B)degrading passions; for their women exchanged the natural function for that which is unnatural,
27and in the same way also the men abandoned the natural function of the woman and burned in their desire toward one another, (C)men with men committing indecent acts and receiving in their own persons the due penalty of their error.
Romans 1:26-27 (The Message)
26-27Worse followed. Refusing to know God, they soon didn't know how to be human either-women didn't know how to be women, men didn't know how to be men. Sexually confused, they abused and defiled one another, women with women, men with men-all lust, no love. And then they paid for it, oh, how they paid for it-emptied of God and love, godless and loveless wretches.
Romans 1:26-27 (New Century Version)
26 Because people did those things, God left them and let them do the shameful things they wanted to do. Women stopped having natural sex and started having sex with other women.27 In the same way, men stopped having natural sex and began wanting each other. Men did shameful things with other men, and in their bodies they received the punishment for those wrongs.
Romans 1:26-27 (Contemporary English Version)
26God let them follow their own evil desires. Women no longer wanted to have sex in a natural way, and they did things with each other that were not natural. 27Men behaved in the same way. They stopped wanting to have sex with women and had strong desires for sex with other men. They did shameful things with each other, and what has happened to them is punishment for their foolish deeds.
Romans 1:26-27 (21st Century King James Version)
26For this cause God gave them up unto vile affections: for even their women changed the natural use into that which is against nature.
27And likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust one toward another, men with men, working that which is unseemly, and receiving in themselves that recompense for their error which was meet.
Romans 1:26-27 (Young's Literal Translation)
26Because of this did God give them up to dishonourable affections, for even their females did change the natural use into that against nature;
27and in like manner also the males having left the natural use of the female, did burn in their longing toward one another; males with males working shame, and the recompense of their error that was fit, in themselves receiving.
Romans 1:26-27 (Darby Translation)
26For this reason God gave them up to vile lusts; for both their females changed the natural use into that contrary to nature;
27and in like manner the males also, leaving the natural use of the female, were inflamed in their lust towards one another; males with males working shame, and receiving in themselves the recompense of their error which was fit.
Romans 1:26-27 (New Life Version)
26 Because of this, God let them follow their sinful desires which lead to shame. Women used their bodies in ways God had not planned. 27 In the same way, men left the right use of women's bodies. They did sex sins with other men. They received for themselves the punishment that was coming to them for their sin.
Romans 1:26-27 (Holman Christian Standard Bible)
26 This is why God delivered them over to degrading passions. (A) For even their females exchanged natural sexual intercourse [a] for what is unnatural. 27 The males in the same way also left natural sexual intercourse [b] with females and were inflamed in their lust for one another. Males committed shameless acts with males (B) and received in their own persons [c] the appropriate penalty for their perversion.
Romans 1:26-27 (New International Reader's Version)
26 So God let them go. They were filled with shameful longings. Their women committed sexual acts that were not natural. 27 In the same way, the men turned away from their natural love for women. They burned with sexual longing for each other. Men did shameful things with other men. They suffered in their bodies for all the twisted things they did.
Romans 1:26-27 (Worldwide English (New Testament))
26That is why God left them to do the wrong things they wanted to do. Their women left the right way for women and did things that are wrong for women to do.
27Their men also left the right way with women. They wanted to have sex with one another. They did wrong things with other men. Their own bodies were punished because of the wrong things they did.
Romans 1:26-27 (New International Version - UK)
26 Because of this, God gave them over to shameful lusts. Even their women exchanged natural relations for unnatural ones.
27 In the same way the men also abandoned natural relations with women and were inflamed with lust for one another. Men committed indecent acts with other men, and received in themselves the due penalty for their perversion.
Romans 1:26-27 (Today's New International Version)
26 Because of this, God gave them over to shameful lusts. Even their women exchanged natural sexual relations for unnatural ones. 27 In the same way the men also abandoned natural relations with women and were inflamed with lust for one another. Men committed shameful acts with other men, and received in themselves the due penalty for their error.
Romans 1.26-27




