All Of It (WNYC)

Episode: A Possible Bible Mistranslation That Changed America
Date: December 6, 2023
Host: Alison Stewart
Guest: Sharon “Rocky” Rogio, Director of 1946: The Mistranslation That Shifted Culture

Overview

This episode explores the controversial origins and impact of the word "homosexual" in modern English Bibles—a topic at the heart of the new documentary 1946: The Mistranslation That Shifted Culture. Host Alison Stewart interviews director Sharon "Rocky" Rogio about her film’s investigation into the first appearance of “homosexual” in the Bible (1946, Revised Standard Version), how this translation shaped American religious and social life, and the deeply personal and political stakes for both the LGBTQIA community and the church. The discussion is wide-ranging, covering historical linguistics, family dynamics, religious authority, and the power of culture and media.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

Rocky Rogio’s Personal Story and Cultural Context

• Growing up in a Christian pastor’s household, Rocky describes homophobia as “always in the air,” not just in explicit rhetoric but in cultural norms and subtle cues.
• The discovery of her identity led to her father trying to “help” her, driven by fear for her salvation—a reflection of deeply held beliefs about queerness and Christianity.

  “He really believed that homosexuals or queer people...do not inherit the kingdom of God.” (04:14)

• The broader 1980s–90s context saw the increasing politicization of homosexuality in America, particularly within the Moral Majority and conservative Christian circles.

  “That’s when we see malice within these translations in the Bible being turned as a weapon against the queer community and being politicized….” (04:54)

The Key Biblical Verse and Its History (I Corinthians 6:9-10)

• Rogio reads and discusses the infamous “clobber passage,” explaining that the term "homosexual" replaced two Greek words—malakoi and arsenokoitai, neither of which exactly translates to “homosexual” as understood today. (See: [05:39])
• The Greek terms:
  • Malakoi: traditionally “soft” or “effeminate”; contextually can mean a feminized man, often in abusive or exploitative relationships.

    “Malakoi could be...just translated as ‘soft’...or really a coward.” (08:02)

  • Arsenokoitai: a compound meaning “man-bed”; context and scholarly consensus indicate reference to exploitative, abusive, or transactional sex, not necessarily committed, consensual relationships.
• These words have a complex history, rarely used in ancient literature, suggesting ambiguity.

  “If anybody says they know exactly what the word means…they don’t, because it’s never defined.” (09:03)

• The film’s research tracks how the mistranslation cascaded into other passages and mainstream religious teaching.

The 1946 Translation Committee & Their Motivations

• The committee (22 scholars) aimed to modernize the King James Bible, not necessarily to target gays.

  “…they really didn’t [have malice]. There wasn’t any discussion around it at all.” (12:27)

• The cultural context in 1940s America—where homosexuality was considered a mental disorder and tied to criminality—influenced their “modern” choice of words.
• After being challenged by a young seminary student (David), the committee acknowledged the issue and later revised the translation to “sexual pervert,” which remained problematic.

Kathy Baldock & Ed Oxford: The Lay Researchers

• Neither Kathy nor Ed are institutional academics, but both are deeply invested believers. They opened the Yale archives for the first time since their creation and tracked down key correspondence about the translation.

  “Isn’t that pretty amazing? Two lay people were the ones to open those archives at Yale University for the first time since they had been sealed.” (16:56)

• Kathy’s journey began through friendship with a lesbian woman—“I just don’t understand why God couldn’t love my gay friend”—while Ed’s was motivated by his experience as a struggling queer Christian, leading to profound archival research and collaboration.
• Ed’s personal collection of Bibles and dictionaries became central to their search for answers.

Reverend David: The Letter Writer

• In 1959, seminary student David (later Reverend David) wrote to the translation committee challenging the use of "homosexual," arguing for a more nuanced translation.
• The committee responded with respectful correspondence and willingness to reconsider the choice upon future revision cycles (10-year contract clause).
• David’s journey, including coming out in his 80s, forms a deeply human centerpiece in the film:

  “I was called to ministry because I was gay.” (22:16; Reverend David, film excerpt)

• Rogio emphasizes the power of representation and the pain of isolation felt by queer people in the mid-20th century:

  “He thought he was the only queer person in the world… Representation is so important.” (24:02)

• David’s later-in-life coming out and involvement with the film is described as his “second calling.”

Impact, Backlash, and Community Reception

• The film has generated both intense conservative pushback and profound support, particularly from queer Christians, but also from former opponents:

  "It's more frustrating to get the pushback from all of the conservatives. It would be one thing if they watched the movie and then gave their critiques … just watch the movie would be my thing." (27:13)

• Some LGBTQ+ people are critical, uneasy about redeeming or revisiting religious narratives; Rogio empathizes with their pain but urges engagement for cultural change.
• The film’s impact includes helping people shed shame about their identity and sparking regret or reflection among straight Christians who once shamed loved ones.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On pervasive cultural homophobia in church:

  "It just was in the air. It's always been in the air...the understanding that homosexual was bad, dirty, wrong, disgusting, definitely not welcome."
  — Rocky Rogio (04:01)

• On the translation committee’s intentions and legacy:

  “They really didn’t. There wasn’t any discussion around it at all. So we don’t really know what made them turn to that, except for looking into the culture…”
  — Rocky Rogio (12:30)

• On the meaning of malakoi and arsenokoitai:

  “If anybody says they know exactly what the word means, as Kathy says in the film, they don’t because it’s never defined...”
  — Rocky Rogio (09:03)

• Letter from Reverend David (film excerpt):

  “After much study in this matter, I have come to the conclusion that homosexual is not only an inadequate translation of these two Greek words…”
  — (19:58, film narration)

• On deep personal reconciliation for queer people of faith:

  “I used to think I was called to pastoral ministry in spite of being gay. And I decided…that I was called to ministry because I was gay.”
  — Reverend David (22:16, film excerpt)

• On the importance and goal of the film:

  "We made a film that empathetically and graciously goes through the motions to again engage in a conversation, whether you're atheist, Christian, hurt by the church, LGBTQ conservative. To get to the bottom of this so we can all recognize that we're equal participants in this thing called life and we need to do better with how we use the Bible against people."
  — Rocky Rogio (25:37)

Timestamps for Important Segments

• [01:57] – Introduction to the film and main controversy
• [03:34] – Rocky shares her experiences growing up as a pastor’s daughter
• [05:39] – Reading and breakdown of I Corinthians 6:9-10
• [07:33] – Explaining the original Greek terms and their history
• [11:58] – The 1946 translation committee, their motivations, and the cultural moment
• [16:56] – Kathy Baldock and Ed Oxford: their lay research and finding the Yale archives
• [19:58] – Reverend David’s original letter and its importance
• [22:16] – Reverend David on his “second calling” (film excerpt)
• [23:35] – Discussion of David’s lifelong reconciliation of faith and identity
• [26:33] – The film’s reception, backlash, and community responses

Conclusion

This episode offers a compelling look into how a single word’s appearance in a widely read translation of the Bible shaped American attitudes, policies, and lives for generations, and how recent research—led not by academics but by passionate lay people—has reopened critical questions about the intersection of faith, language, and identity. Rogio’s 1946 aims to spark not only debate but healing, encouraging listeners of all backgrounds to re-examine inherited certainties and open themselves to new histories and possibilities.