biblical language

despite some disagreement about whether inclusive-language translations of the Bible have gone too far or not far enough, today most individuals and churches can find something to suit them. What has been important in accepting changes to what is considered the word of God is the knowledge that biased language was often a later imposition. "It is astounding how often masculine designations have entered the text in English translations and have no basis in the original language" (editors of Lectionary for the Christian People). Indian-born missionary priest and scholar Father Joseph Arackal says that going back to the original language of the scriptures eliminates 90% of the exclusive words in our English translations. The "newest" translations thus often turn out to be the "oldest" with their reliance on ancient Greek and Hebrew texts rather than on intermediate translations. "The Greek wording said, 'If anyone' and the translation came out 'If a man.' When Moses talked of 'God, who bore you,' the translators made it 'begot.' There was a clearly feminine reference in the original" (William Holladay, in Dorothy Uris' Say It Again). In addition, just as "thee"s and "thou"s are considered archaic and irrelevant and the products of translation, so are male-centered terms. (It is sometimes clearer to refer to the "Jewish Scriptures" and the "Christian Scriptures" rather than to the "Old Testament" and the "New Testament.") See also Old Testament, prayer language.