The Queen James Bible?

Question
Have you heard of the Queen James Bible? Is there any truth to the changes made in the Queen James Bible?
Answer

The QJV Bible was published in 2012 (it is not the first attempt of LGBT to rewrite Scripture, i.e. Study New Testament For Lesbians, Gays, Bi, And Transgender: With Extensive Notes On Greek Word Meaning And Context, was published in 2007, et. al.). It is also called the "Gay Bible," "LGBT Bible" (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transexual) or the "Rainbow Bible." It is based upon the KJV of the Bible.

The publishers state their reason for producing such a Bible:

Homosexuality was first mentioned in the Bible in 1946 in the Revised Standard Version. There is no mention of or reference to homosexuality in any Bible prior to this - only interpretations have been made. Anti-LGBT Bible interpretations commonly cite only eight verses in the Bible that they interpret to mean homosexuality is a sin; Eight verses in a book of thousands! The Queen James Bible seeks to resolve interpretive ambiguity in the Bible as it pertains to homosexuality: We edited those eight verses in a way that makes homophobic interpretations impossible.

While the word "homosexual" may not be in any Bible prior to 1946, what LGBT fails to mention is that the English word "homosexual" wasn't even used until 1892 in the English language (i.e. in the German to English translation of Krafft-Ebing's, "Psychopathia sexualis"). Many words have been added to the English language since 1611, and some of these are used in more modern translations of the Bible. For instance, you will not find the word "grandfather" in the 1611 Bible, but it does appear in later translations (i.e. 2 Sam 19:28, NIV). One would think that a honest publisher would have pointed this out?

While the word "homosexual" may not be in any Bible prior to 1946, this does not mean that the words in the Bible were not properly understood as referring to acts of homosexuality, lesbianism, sodomy, or sexual deviance. Many early church writings reflect such an understanding. Here are just a few to make the point:

Didache (A.D. 70).

You shall not commit murder, you shall not commit adultery, you shall not commit pederasty [homosexual relationship between an adult male and an adolescent male], you shall not commit fornication, you shall not steal, you shall not practice magic, you shall not practice witchcraft, you shall not murder a child by abortion nor kill one that has been born.

Didache 2:2.

Athenagoras of Athens (2nd Century)

But though such is our character (Oh! why should I speak of things unfit to be uttered?), the things said of us are an example of the proverb, 'The harlot reproves the chaste.' For those who have set up a market for fornication and established infamous resorts for the young for every kind of vile pleasure - who do not abstain even from males, males with males committing shocking abominations, outraging all the noblest and comeliest bodies in all sorts of ways, so dishonoring the fair workmanship of God.

Fr.. B. P. Pratten, trans., A Plea For The Christians, Chap. 34.

Tertullian (160-225)

But all the other frenzies of passions - impious both toward the bodies and toward the sexes - beyond the laws of nature, we banish not only from the threshold, but from all shelter of the Church, because they are not sins, but monstrosities.

Fr. S. Thelwall, trans., On Modesty, Chap. 4.

Eusebius of Caesarea (260-341)

[God in the Law given to Moses] having forbidden all unlawful marriage, and all unseemly practice, and the union of women with women and men with men.

W. J. Ferrar, trans., Demonstratio Evangelica, Book 4, Chap. 10.

Saint Jerome (340-420)

And Sodom and Gomorrah might have appeased it [God's wrath], had they been willing to repent, and through the aid of fasting gain for themselves tears of repentance.

Book 2, no. 15.

Saint John Chrysostom (347-407)

But if thou scoffest at hearing of hell and believest not that fire, remember Sodom. For we have seen, surely we have seen, even in this present life, a semblance of hell. For since many would utterly disbelieve the things to come after the resurrection, hearing now of an unquenchable fire, God brings them to a right mind by things present. For such is the burning of Sodom, and that conflagration! . . .

Consider how great is that sin, to have forced hell to appear even before its time! . . . For that rain was unwonted, for the intercourse was contrary to nature, and it deluged the land, since lust had done so with their souls. Wherefore also the rain was the opposite of the customary rain. Now not only did it fail to stir up the womb of the earth to the production of fruits, but made it even useless for the reception of seed. For such was also the intercourse of the men, making a body of this sort more worthless than the very land of Sodom. And what is there more detestable than a man who hath pandered himself, or what more execrable?

Homily IV Romans 1:26-27.

Saint Augustine (354-430)

Those offences which be contrary to nature are everywhere and at all times to be held in detestation and punished; such were those of the Sodomites, which should all nations commit, they should all be held guilty of the same crime by the divine law, which hath not so made men that they should in that way abuse one another. For even that fellowship which should be between God and us is violated, when that same nature of which He is author is polluted by the perversity of lust.

Book III, Chap. 8, no. 15.

Saint Thomas Aquinas (1225-1274)

Given the sin of impiety through which they [the Romans] sinned against the divine nature [by idolatry], the punishment that led them to sin against their own nature followed. . . . I say, therefore, that since they changed into lies [by idolatry] the truth about God, He brought them to ignominious passions, that is, to sins against nature; not that God led them to evil, but only that he abandoned them to evil. . . .

If all the sins of the flesh are worthy of condemnation because by them man allows himself to be dominated by that which he has of the animal nature, much more deserving of condemnation are the sins against nature by which man degrades his own animal nature. . . .

Man can sin against nature in two ways. First, when he sins against his specific rational nature, acting contrary to reason. In this sense, we can say that every sin is a sin against man's nature, because it is against man's right reason. . . .

Secondly, man sins against nature when he goes against his generic nature, that is to say, his animal nature. Now, it is evident that, in accord with natural order, the union of the sexes among animals is ordered towards conception. From this it follows that every sexual intercourse that cannot lead to conception is opposed to man's animal nature.

Super Epistolam B. Pauli ad Romanos, Cap. 1, Lec. 8.

Saint Bernardine of Siena (1380-1444)

No sin in the world grips the soul as the accursed sodomy; this sin has always been detested by all those who live according to God. . . . Deviant passion is close to madness; this vice disturbs the intellect, destroys elevation and generosity of soul, brings the mind down from great thoughts to the lowliest, makes the person slothful, irascible, obstinate and obdurate, servile and soft and incapable of anything; furthermore, agitated by an insatiable craving for pleasure, the person follows not reason but frenzy. . . . They become blind and, when their thoughts should soar to high and great things, they are broken down and reduced to vile and useless and putrid things, which could never make them happy. . . . Just as people participate in the glory of God in different degrees, so also in hell some suffer more than others. He who lived with this vice of sodomy suffers more than another, for this is the greatest sin.

Sermon XXXIX in Prediche volgari, pp. 896-897, 915.

Saint Peter Canisius (1521-1597)

As the Sacred Scripture says, the Sodomites were wicked and exceedingly sinful. Saint Peter and Saint Paul condemn this nefarious and depraved sin. In fact, the Scripture denounces this enormous indecency thus: 'The scandal of Sodomites and Gomorrhans has multiplied and their sins have become grave beyond measure.' So the angels said to just Lot, who totally abhorred the depravity of the Sodomites: 'Let us leave this city.' . . . Holy Scripture does not fail to mention the causes that led the Sodomites, and can also lead others, to this most grievous sin. In fact, in Ezechiel we read: 'Behold this was the iniquity of Sodom: pride, fullness of bread, and abundance, and the idleness of her, and of her daughters: and they did not put forth their hand to the needy, and the poor. And they were lifted up, and committed abominations before me; and I took them away as thou hast seen' (Ezech. 16: 49-50). Those unashamed of violating divine and natural law are slaves of this never sufficiently execrated depravity.

Summa Doctrina Christianae, III a/b, p. 455.

So, we see no truth to the LGBT statement, "There is no mention of or reference to homosexuality in any Bible prior to this - only interpretations have been made." Personally, I see their statement as dishonest, crafty, and deceitful (2 Cor 4:1-2).

As to the revisions of the eight (8) verses which is against the very Scripture LGBT revises (Deut 4:2, KJV), please see the chart below. The revisions are in colored type (pink, red, orange, yellow, green, turquoise, indigo, violet) to match the LGBT original 1978 flag color scheme (LGBT has used a seven color flag scheme as well, and presently uses a six color scheme, but none of them have matched God's rainbow as of the time this writing. The Hebew seven letter word for God's rainbow is "qesheth," and the rainbow consists of seven colors: red, orange, yellow, green, blue, indigo, and violet):

Text
KJV
QJV
Interpretative
Notes
Genesis 19:5
And they called unto Lot, and said unto him, Where are the men which came in to thee this night? Bring them out unto us, that we may know them. And they called unto Lot, and said unto him, Where are the men which came in to thee this night? Bring them out unto us, that we may rape and humiliate them. (Page 21) Sodom: The Sin of Homosexuality - Genesis 19:1-11

The change from "know them" to rape and humiliate them" is based on the false idea that male-on-male rape is not a sexual act.

The Hebrew text does not use the word "humiliate." In the KJV the word "humiliate" occurs only once (Acts 8:33).

Physical rape - sodomy - was what the sinners of Sodom had in mind.

Leviticus 18:22
Thou shalt not lie with mankind, as with womankind: it is an abomination. Thou shalt not lie with mankind as with womankind in the temple of Molech: it is an abomination. (Page 75) Sexual Behavior - Leviticus 18:1-30

The Hebrew text does not include the phrase "in the temple of Molech." The QJV editors borrowed the word "Molech" from Lev 18:21 and added "in the temple."

The QJV revisionists assert, that it is "abominable" for a man have sex with another man if they are "in the temple of Molech," but it is not "abominable" for a man to have sex with another man if it has nothing to do with Molech worship.

Does Lev 18:23 condemn bestiality "in the temple of Molech," but justify it outside the temple? Why the selective inconsistency?

Leviticus 20:13
If a man also lie with mankind, as he lieth with a woman, both of them have committed an abomination: they shall surely be put to death; their blood shall be upon them. If a man also lie with mankind in the temple of Molech, as he lieth with a woman, both of them have committed an abomination: they shall surely be put to death; their blood shall be upon them. (Page 76) Capital Crimes - Leviticus 20:1-27

Molech is mentioned earlier in Lev. 20:2, 3, 4, and 5, but it is not mentioned in Lev 20:13. See Lev 18:22 above.

Romans 1:26
For this cause God gave them up unto vile affections: for even their women did change the natural use into that which is against their nature. [For this cause God gave them up unto vile affections.] Their women did change their natural use into that which is against nature: And likewise also the men, left of the natural use of the woman, burned in ritual lust, one toward another. (Page 545) Natural relations . . . unnatural ones - Romans 1:26-27

Note the removal of "For this cause God gave them up unto vile affections."

Additionally note the addition of "And likewise also the men, left of the natural use of the woman, burned in ritual lust, one toward another."

Notice that the phrase "ritual lust" is not in the Greek text. The original KJV has no occurrence of the word "ritual" in the entire Bible. This addition alters the meaning of the text to make it to say that homosexuality is only sinful when it is practiced in some sort of religious ritual, such as temple prostitution (cf. note the addition of "in the temple of Molech" in Lev 18:22 and 20:13 above).

The Greek words for "against nature" mean "monstrous, abnormal and perverse; that which is contrary to nature's laws." Sexual intercourse was ideally designed to lead to conception (Gen 1:21-22, 27-28) and that which does not is opposed to man's nature, given to him by God!

Homosexuality, lesbianism, bisexualism, and transgenderism are opposed to man's ideal God-given nature!

Romans 1:27
And likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust one toward another; men with men working that which is unseemly, and receiving in themselves that recompence of their error which was meet. Men with men working that which is pagan and unseemly.For this cause God gave the idolators up unto vile affections, receiving in themselves that recompence of their error which was meet. (Page 545) Natural relations . . . unnatural ones - Romans 1:26-27

Note the addition of the phrases "is pagan" and "For this cause God gave the idolators up unto vile affections."

Compare with additions of the "in the temple of Molech" in Lev 18:22. 20:13 and "ritual" in Rom 1:26.

1 Corinthians 6:9
Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind. Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor morally weak, nor promiscuous. (Page 554) The wicked will not inherit the kingdom of God? - 1 Corinthians 6:9-11

Passive and/or active homosexuality is forbidden in the Bible (Lev. 18:22, 20:13; Rom. 1:24-28, 32).

Two different Greek words are used here for homosexual relationships: malakos and arsenokoites.

A Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament by Walter Baur, et al., defines malakos as "soft, effeminate, esp. of catamites, men and boys who allow themselves to be misused homosexually." It's used to describe "male prostitutes" (or "effeminate" in the KJV) and those that are the more passive (receptive) partner in a homosexual relationship.

The Greek word arsenokoites is defined as "a male who practices homosexuality, pederast, sodomite," and "homosexual offenders" (or "sodomites" in the NKJV) to the more active partner in a homosexual relationship. Both parties in the relationship are seen as sinners before God.

1 Timothy 1:10
For whoremongers, for them that defile themselves with mankind, for menstealers, for liars, for perjured persons, and if there be any other thing that is contrary to sound doctrine. For whoremongers, for them that defile themselves [with mankind], for menstealers, for liars, for perjured persons, and if there be any other thing that is contrary to sound doctrine. (Page 575) Not for the righteous but for lawbreakers - 1 Timothy 1:9-10

The QJV omits the phrase "with mankind," as it implies a homosexual relationship.

The Greek word used here is arsenokoitas (also see 1 Cor 6:9).

The moral law still applies today. The Mosaic law on Leviticus 18:22 and 20:13 are still in force today. See Antinomianism and Homosexuality?

Jude 1:7
Even as Sodom and Gomorrha, and the cities about them in like manner, giving themselves over to fornication, and going after strange flesh, are set forth for an example, suffering the vengeance of eternal fire. Even as Sodom and Gomorrha, and the cities about them in like manner, giving themselves over to fornication, and going after nonhuman flesh, are set forth for an example, suffering the vengeance of eternal fire. (Page 593) Sodom and Gomorrah - Jude 1:7

LGBT asserts this is "nonhuman" flesh since the guests of Lot were "angels."

But, the men of Sodom did not know Lot's guests were angels. The Sodomites in Gen 19:5 say, "Where are the men [not angels] who came to you tonight?"

As one can see there is no treasure at the end of this LGBT rainbow of colorful adding and subtracting from God's Word. LGBT may change some printed words, but the Word endures forever (1 Pet 1:25; Psa 119:89; Isa 40:8; Matt 5:18; 1 Pet 1:23; 2:2; 2 Pet 1:19; 1 John 1:1, 3). Perhaps instead of trying to justify their sinful behavior, the LGBT movement (and especially the editors of the QJV) should spend more time reflecting on God's eternal Word in 2 Corinthians 4:1-2, which says:

Therefore seeing we have this ministry, as we have received mercy, we faint not; But have renounced the hidden things of dishonesty, not walking in craftiness, nor handling the word of God deceitfully; but by manifestation of the truth commending ourselves to every man's conscience in the sight of God.

Only the truth [the full truth and nothing but the truth] can set one free (John 8:32).

Related Links:

Were Ruth and Naomi Lesbians?
Same-Sex Love?
Antinomianism and Homosexuality?
Homosexuality and the Centurion's Servant?
Is Passive Homosexuality Permitted in Scripture? - 1 Corinthians 6:9
No Cake for You?
Practicing Homosexuals Can Go to Heaven?
Was David a Homosexual? - 1 Samuel 18:1-4
Homosexuality or Inhospitality? - Genesis 19:5
Isaiah and Homosexuals? - Isaiah 56:3
God Hates...
Be Ready for the Changeup

Answer by Dr. Joseph R. Nally, Jr.

Dr. Joseph R. Nally, Jr., D.D., M.Div. is the Theological Editor at Third Millennium Ministries (Thirdmill).