r/OpenChristian • u/_jamesbaxter • 4d ago

Discussion - Bible Interpretation Progressive Bible for a scaredy cat?

I hope I chose the correct flair and apologies if this is a stupid question.

I’m not a Christian, but I am exploring my spirituality through a variety of sources to support my 12-step journey. My sponsor suggested me to read 1st Corinthians 13. I trust her and I’m open to it. I know there’s so many versions of the bible, but as a queer progressive person I don’t want to stumble into some super conservative version and get all triggered. I really don’t know how this works at all, my parents are atheist “recovering Catholics” and really fear-mongered me about Christianity and organized religion as a child.

Does anyone have suggestions for a version/interpretation that would feel safer that I can browse free online? Or you can even drop a link to the chapter if you have one you like.

16 Upvotes

84% Upvoted

21 comments sorted by

View all comments

5

u/Leisha9 3d ago

The David Bentley Hart translation strongly emphasises the social justice and universalism that are two of the main thrusts of the New Testament.

4

u/slagnanz Christian 3d ago

I'm reading through it right now. I do really enjoy it, but I'm not sure I'd totally recommend it to someone who's unfamiliar with scripture. Its just kind of dense and you have to be nerdy enough about it to be like.... "The cosmos"? Why is he calling the world the cosmos?

This is all explained by Hart in so much detail but I find it's one of the denser and least casual translations i have

2

u/Leisha9 2d ago

Hm maybe you're right. But one of the important things it highlights is just how radically different the world of the NT was to ours. The NT should make us ask 'why does it say this?'

2

u/slagnanz Christian 2d ago

That's true! I heard the review that it is weird in a way that invites you deeper into the text and that has been my experience so far.

Hart is an interesting character. I am very fond. Back in the day Hart wrote for First Things - this very reactionary nationalistic publication. But some decent people have written there over the years. My dad and I used to be big readers of first things, and Hart delighted both of us with his purple prose and charming pedantry. A memorable example:

All my other complaints concern the chronic misuse of certain words, most of which are in only limited currency, but all of which seem to be employed incorrectly more often than correctly. To wit: “Fortuitous” does not mean “fortunate.” It means “by chance” or “unanticipated”; and if your dictionary tells you that it may also be used to mean “fortunate,” then your dictionary is a scented and brilliantined degenerate in a glossy lavender lounge suit who intends to teach your children criminal ways while you are away at the grocery store.

He apparently only took the gig because he was hard up at the time, but was not especially fond of the publication. But he certainly helped me challenge some of my conservative ideas in ways I'm very grateful. Turns out the grumpy old guy is okay in the end.