One of the easiest ways I can annoy or embarrass my kids is to pull out some fresh Gen X slang from 1986! “Dudes! I’m so stoked to hang and chill with you guys at the mall!” Not only would they probably shake their heads and call me their “old man,” but they may also need a translator. Because several of these words don’t mean what they used to mean, I run the risk of them not understanding what I’m trying to say.
As someone who spends their life working with words, it intrigues and frustrates me how quickly language can morph. A recent article posted on BBC offers three reasons why language is always changing:
- Language is constantly adapting and changing to reflect our changing lives, experiences, and cultures.
- Language change enables us to accommodate new ideas, inventions, and technologies.
- It's not just the words themselves which change; the way in which we use them can shift, too.
Our language around faith and theology is not exempt from these shifting patterns.
I remember when my local congregation made the shift in the Apostles’ Creed from “descended into hell” to “descended to the dead” when I was a teen. I stumbled over the change for months, but grew to appreciate the clarity. So much of what we associate with hell is imported from cultural references in books and film, not from the biblical witnesses. By the way, there’s still a footnote about this change in our cranberry Evangelical Lutheran Worship hymnal.
This month, Lord of Life and our larger church body, along with dozens of other denominations, will be switching the translation of the Bible we use in worship. For many years, our denomination has encouraged Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) congregations to use the New Revised Standard Version (NRSV), but this will be replaced with the New Revised Standard Version updated edition (NRSVue) this summer.
Why the shift? The Yale Divinity Library for New Testament studies writes, “The NRSVue reflects discoveries of ancient texts [such as the Dead Sea Scrolls] and new insights made in the 30 years since the NRSV was last revised. This newly-updated translation offers clearer, more direct, and inclusive language, and increased cultural sensitivity absent of the unintended biases of prior versions. The NRSVue includes over 10,000 substantial revisions and 20,000 minor revisions. Some of the NRSVue changes include:
- "slave woman" to "enslaved woman" (Galatians)
- "wise men" to "magi" (Gospel of Matthew)
- "demoniacs, epileptics and paralytics" to "people possessed by demons or having epilepsy or afflicted with paralysis" (Gospel of Matthew)
This Easter season, we are also making a shift in the Lord’s Prayer we use in our communal worship moments. We frequently bounce back and forth between what you may know as the “traditional” Lord’s Prayer, taken from the Anglican Book of Common Prayer in 1662, and an alternate version which has been in steady circulation since 1977. Beginning May 4, we’ll only use the newer version.
Why the shift? There are a few reasons, including the biblical reality that God doesn’t lead us into temptation. “Save us from the time of trial” speaks more truth about who God is and how we seek deliverance. An additional shift relates to how we speak. All of our language has shifted away from the King’s English, so the way we speak this most intimate prayer should follow.
As always, you are encouraged to use your favorite translation of the Bible for your devotion, study, and prayer times. Referencing a variety of versions helps us stretch our hearts and minds, and gain greater insight into how God continues to faithfully speak to God’s people. Read, study, and pray whatever version speaks to your heart.
Thank you for your patience as we make these shifts. Together, we strive to make Lord of Life a place where all can live, share, and celebrate the love of Jesus with clarity and hope.
Leaning into Hope!
Pastor Lowell Michelson
For more details about the NRSVue shift, visit https://www.friendshippress.org/pages/about-the-nrsvue and https://www.christiancentury.org/article/interview/even-better-bible.