At Camp Don Bosco, there were Bibles all over the place…
““At Camp Don Bosco, there were Bibles all over the place, mostly 1970s hippie versions like Good News for Modern Man. They had groovy titles like The Word or The Way, and translated the Bible into “contemporary English,” which meant Saul yelling at Jonathan, “You son of a bitch!” (I Samuel 20:30). Awesome! The King James version gave this verse as “Thou son of the perverse rebellious woman,” which was bogus in comparison. Maybe these translations went a bit far. I recall one of the Bibles translating the inscription over the cross, “INRI” (Iesus Nazaremus Rex Iudaeorum), as “SSDD” (Same Shit Different Day), and another describing the Last Supper — the night before Jesus’ death, a death he freely accepted — where Jesus breaks the bread, gives it to his disciples, and says, “It’s better to burn out than fade away,” but these memories could be deceptive.””
About This Quote
This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.
Modern Bible translations often use slang to make ancient texts relatable, but can distort meaning and tone.
In simple terms: Slang translations can mislead.
Key Takeaway
Balance relevance with fidelity.
Themes
religion
translation
culture
humor
language
Mood
irry
critical
reflective
Type
humorous
observational
When to use this quote
- church youth groups
- Bible study classes
- publishing
- media critique
Key Concepts
linguistics
theology
media studies
Questions to Reflect On
- How does slang affect sacred texts?
- When is creative translation appropriate?
A Different Perspective
Over‑casual language may undermine reverence.