'Blasphemous' Lord's Prayer Revised After 50 Years, Disputes
French Catholic bishops have reworded a nearly 50 year-old version of the Lord's Prayer previously considered blasphemous, ending years of quarreling about the translation, according to French 24.
The current French translation reads, "Et ne nous soumets pas à la tentation," or "Do not submit us to temptation."
The translation's controversy stems from a reading that made the line, in theologian Frédéric Louzeau's words, assert that "God, who is infinitely good and the source of all goodness, could drive man to evil or sin."
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Indeed many argued that it contradicted orthodox Christian theology that believes God to be wholly and infinitely good.
A revised version of the prayer reads, "Et ne nous laisse pas entrer en tentation," or in English, "And don't let us enter into temptation."
However, the new translation will not be utilized in Catholic churches until 2015.
Eric Denimal, a theologian, told Belle News that despite the fuss, the prayer's exact words matter less than the heart of the person praying.
"Whatever way the phrase is pronounced, what counts ultimately is the authenticity of the relationship between the person praying and the God he is addressing," he said.
The previous version of the text emerged out of an effort for Protestants and Catholics to create a common version of the prayer for their congregations. Yet Protestants never ended up saying the Catholic rending, but instead recited, "Let us not enter into temptation."
The newest version is the result of a 17-year Bible translation process approved by the Vatican in July.
