Common Humanity Bible
for Non-Theists and Theists Together:
A Humanist Translation of the Book of Matthew
eBook: Religious Humanism Studies Group: Amazon.com.au: Kindle Store
NOTE: This Kindle edition comes with every chapter hyper linked to the Table of Contents.
When Jesus spoke of “the Kingdom of Heaven” (in most Biblical translations), he was speaking of something quite different than our popular conception. A new rule of justice was breaking forth upon the world. It was so close, so impending, that one could taste it. He spoke of freedom to live in concert with other human beings. We’ve strayed quite far from this vision of peace. We’ve transmuted his call for justice and equality into a quest for personal immortality. The Common Humanity Bible (CHB) translates “the Kingdom of Heaven” more literally as “the realm of upward vision.” This reflects the literal elements of the Greek. Both theists and non-theists can engage Jesus’ call to live within this upward vision.
There is a dramatic need for a faithful and relatively literal translation of scripture, but which also frames theological concepts in humanist terms. There is a need, in other words, to be able to hear from Jesus in a fresh way in our generation.
The reader will notice some significant differences right from the beginning of this translation: the genealogy of Jesus begins with both parents being listed, not just the male. Retaining the literal language, but also, in this case, supplying extra information from other scripture, makes for a more full account of Jesus’ parentage. As a side note on this genealogy: the obvious propensity of the Hebrew monarchy to marry or otherwise mate with women of very diverse genetic heritage, means that any “purebred” notion of royalty is very misguided.
The CHB intends to be a consistent translation of the Book of Matthew, a translation with fidelity to the text and with an open mind as how best to express Jesus’ words and teachings in contemporary English.
So, the CHB renders the word “prayer” much more literally as “hold in well-being,” which reflects the roots of the Greek word. “Heaven” is more literally “upward vision.” “Father” when applied to the connecting Presence is “Center of who we are.” Literal translation, with poetic license (!), makes for a new expression of Jesus’ life and teaching.
Most translations render Matthew 1:21 as, “for he shall save his people from their sins.” Because the Greek word for “save” conveys a sense of bringing wholeness; and because the word for “sin” means to fail by missing the mark, this verse is here translated, “for he will begin the healing process for many broken people.”
Rather than translate KURIOS as a title of English nobility (“Lord”), the CHB uses the word “Presence” to express how guidance is experienced by us in our day to day lives. The Greek word THEOS is translated as Common Humanity (and cognates) to express what “God” really is within human society. This Common Humanity or Connecting Presence or sense of connectedness, empowers our individual lives in very significant ways. We are strengthened to love one another in accord with this sense of the Presence that ties us all together.
Similarly, the Greek original underlying the word “Spirit” conveys a sense of “breath/wind” when translated literally. And “holy” really has to do with the idea of being “set apart or set free.” Thus: Breath of Freedom, rather than Holy Spirit.
A few words have been modernized. The Pharisees were the true “Saved” of their day. They had faithfully clung to their scripture and beliefs. Likewise, the Sadducees were the “wealthy elite” class of their society and devout in their own way.
There’s a relationship between format and genre
and how the physical layout of the text can cause us to re-consider what
the author is saying…and which one of the various biblical genres
is being employed. So enjoy the message and format of the Common Humanity Bible.
Spirituality, Mind-Body, Gender, Ecology, Ageing, Peace, Scrapbook (in English and Korean)
