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In 1946, a single English word appeared in the Bible for the first time. That word was homosexuals.
Independent historian and researcher Kathy Baldock traces how this modern term-unknown to the biblical world-was inserted into 1 Corinthians 6:9-10, reshaping Christian theology, fracturing families, and fueling decades of church policy and culture wars that continue today.
Drawing on archival investigations with research partner Ed Oxford at Yale University and elsewhere, Baldock reconstructs the cultural assumptions and linguistic gaps that made this mistranslation possible-and follows its ripple effects across translations, denominations, and generations.
At the heart of the story: David, a young seminarian who discovered the error and wrote directly to the Revised Standard Version translation committee in 1959 to correct it. His concern was taken seriously-but the publisher's policy prohibited changes to the translation for ten years. The word stayed. And its consequences spread.
Forging a Sacred Weapon is seven years of primary research-564 pages of historical reconstruction and documentary evidence-written for readers who care about Scripture, truth, and what happens when translation becomes theology.
Written for LGBTQ people, their families and allies, scholars, pastors, church leaders, and anyone who has ever been handed a Bible verse as a verdict.
If you've ever wondered how the Bible came to say what it says on this topic, this is where the answer begins.
Independent historian and researcher Kathy Baldock traces how this modern term-unknown to the biblical world-was inserted into 1 Corinthians 6:9-10, reshaping Christian theology, fracturing families, and fueling decades of church policy and culture wars that continue today.
Drawing on archival investigations with research partner Ed Oxford at Yale University and elsewhere, Baldock reconstructs the cultural assumptions and linguistic gaps that made this mistranslation possible-and follows its ripple effects across translations, denominations, and generations.
At the heart of the story: David, a young seminarian who discovered the error and wrote directly to the Revised Standard Version translation committee in 1959 to correct it. His concern was taken seriously-but the publisher's policy prohibited changes to the translation for ten years. The word stayed. And its consequences spread.
Forging a Sacred Weapon is seven years of primary research-564 pages of historical reconstruction and documentary evidence-written for readers who care about Scripture, truth, and what happens when translation becomes theology.
Written for LGBTQ people, their families and allies, scholars, pastors, church leaders, and anyone who has ever been handed a Bible verse as a verdict.
If you've ever wondered how the Bible came to say what it says on this topic, this is where the answer begins.