Three of probably the most mistranslated phrases in Scripture — based on ‘deconstructionist’ TikTok

(RNS) – Popular activities for this (mostly) vaccinated summer include visiting densely populated beaches, hanging out indoors with crowds of over 50, and discussing Biblical Greek translations online.

On TikTok, more than 49 million users viewed the hashtag #deconstruction – a term that embodies a kind of re-analysis of traditional doctrines that is particularly popular with evangelicals and former evangelicals, but also not unknown to former Mainliners and Catholics.

“There will always be times when an idea you have comes into direct conflict with your understanding of God,” explains creator @johndoenobody in a TikTok video. “You have the choice of either changing your conception or changing your understanding of God.”

Another popular belief hashtag – #BibleTranslations – has roughly half a million views. In this flagged content, a curious viewer can find a range of topics and genres, from serious advice on choosing a Bible translation to light-hearted videos poking fun at the King James Version. But a dynamic subgroup of creators are using the platform to expose what they see as dangerous misinterpretations of biblical texts.

@johndoenobodyHow do we deal with “church violations”? #deconstruction #exvangelical #progressivechristian # jesus ♬ Original sound – John Doe Nobody

Some of TikTok’s deconstructionists are progressive Christian pastors with degrees or ordained ministers. Others have studied their way out of the churches they grew up in and are now religiously independent. Still others share scraps of knowledge that they have gathered while playing the internet on the phone. But whether it’s an atheist or a Christian or somewhere in between, this corner of biblical TikTok shares a common nerdy obsession with getting words right.

Explaining the minutest details of Ancient Greek and Hebrew in the Christian Scriptures might not seem like viral content, but on TikTok it’s the fire of the algorithm.

Here are three of the most commonly “deconstructed” words on the video platform.

hell

One of the biggest trends in deconstructivist TikTok’s biblical translations is breaking down the many meanings of the word “hell”.

JeGaysus, a creator with a loyal following of 180,000, offers his literary criticism of “Gehenna” – a word often translated “hell” – in the guise of a rainbow-cloaked Jesus.

@ jegaysusAlright..if I don’t get my most viral video on fyp, we know there is a bigger problem #hell #deconstruction #itsametaphor #lgbtqia # gehtna ♬ original sound – Gay Jesus-KingOfQueens

Watch the video here

Hell is often portrayed as a big, scary reason not to leave Christianity – you don’t want to bet on eternal life and be on the losing side. At least that’s how Jesseca Reddell felt (@MotherofDogs on TikTok). Reddell helped her overcome her fear of eternal damnation when she left her church as she learned about the various meanings of “HE double hockey sticks”. “Share it with your traumatized friend,” the video caption reads.

@ m0ther0fd0gs_Share w your traumatized friend #foryoupage #foryou #bible #education #christian #DontSpillChallenge #atheist #religion #hell # fyp ♬ original sound – Motherofdogs

Watch the video here

There are many ancient traditions about the afterlife. Written descriptions of the bad place are often intertwined with worldly notions that were popular at the time. So a big question from deconstruction advocates is which word is actually behind the English translation of “hell”. Maybe Gehenna? Possibly Tartarus? Could it be Hades or even Sheol?

Ricky Brock Jr. has a bachelor’s degree in theology which he uses to answer his followers’ questions about the afterlife. Here he explains some of the origins of the concept of hell to help a commentator overcome their fear.

@ captaindadpool86 Reply to @chilled_marble # greenscreen ♬ original sound – CaptainDadPool

Watch the video here

homosexuality

The Greek words translated as “homosexuality” or “homosexual” in contemporary English are as hotly debated among TikTok scholars as “hell”.

Rev. Karla Kamstra offers a little song to summarize her thoughts on where to find the word “homosexual” in the Bible.

@revkarlaThanks @sharynlord for the original sound #revkarla #lgbtq #ally #friends #hypocrisy #religioustrauma #heal #healing # spiritualbutnotreligious ♬ original sound – Sharynlord

Watch the video here

Many creators, like Kamstra above, focus on the Greek word Paul used in 1 Corinthians 6: 9 – arsenokoitai. They indicate controversies in the history of its translation and the various ways the word can be interpreted. The ancient Greek word gets rioted on the daily internet beef, as in Macy Schultz’s video below:

@ macyaschultz1 Reply to @ comrade_snoopy4 You sound so stupid #fyp #xyzbca #lgbtq #politics #trend #bi # mistranslations ♬ Original sound – macy schultz

Watch the video here

Andrew Harrison Cox has a seminar education and now works in a Florida Department of Justice. His videos, like the one below, show the gap between the cultural phenomena Paul refers to and the way we talk about homosexuality today.

@andrewharrisoncoxReply to @the_christian_writer #lgbtqia #queerchristian #queer #lgbtq #christian #sin @ 1946themovie #homosexuality # sexualsin ♬ Monday Jazz – Easy Listening Jazz Instrumentals

Watch the video here

Others specify passages like Romans 1:26 with a more cultural context. Here is the passage (NIV translation, for the record only):

Because of this, God gave them to shameful desires. Even their wives traded natural sexual relationships for unnatural ones. In the same way, men also gave up their natural relationships with women and became inflamed with lust for one another. Men committed shameful acts with other people and received due punishment for their fault.

But according to a TikToker, Paul is referring to certain acts that occur in pagan temples as part of idol worship.

@ 1946themovie Reply to @ thepotatoking12345 They just keep getting younger. #indoctrination #badtheologykills #toxicchristian # romans1 #bible #transition #gay # bi ♬ Spongebob – Dante9k

Watch the video here

These biblical deconstructionists at TikTok have come to one conclusion: They pretty much agree that according to the Bible, homosexuality is not a sin.

Andrew Harrison Cox preaches this message to allay the fear of his followers.

@andrewharrisoncoxReply to @ drowning00000 #homosexuality #homosexualagenda #gay #bi #trans #lgbtq #pridemonth #bible #thebible #queer #thebible # christian ♬ Original sound – Andrew Harrison Cox

Watch the video here

Satan

The Father of Lies offers nearly limitless fodder to TikTok theologians trying to dispel some common misconceptions. The creators discuss the various titles in scripture that have become names for the Prince of Darkness whom we know and abhor today.

The deconstruction of the Devil’s story also attracts creators who normally do not devote their feeds to biblical interpretation or deconstruction content. Like Logan Ford, 25, who claims that Lucifer’s origins were a typo.

@lordfordboredReply to @captainmacfarlane #greenscreen #lucifer #satan #history #bible #books #comics #dc #fyp シ #foryou #lordfordbored #sorrynotsorry # viral ♬ Monkeys Spinning Monkeys – Kevin MacLeod

Watch the video here

And some, like Jeff Baker, pastor and co-founder of Chosen Family Church, manage to put one semester’s biblical criticism of biblical imagery for Satan into a 60-second video:

@ cfc_pastorjeff # stitch with @jegaysus #greenscreen it took soooo long to fit in a minute lol #satan #devil #snakeangels #biblestudy #theology # queerpastor ♬ O-Ton – Jeff from the Chosen Family Church

Watch the video here

If you’re looking for a crash course in pop biblical criticism, fueling arguments online over ancient texts, or just hoping to learn a little Greek in 60 seconds, maybe open up TikTok and start scrolling.