An example of interpreting, or rather reinterpreting, a verse in Genesis is the recent New American Bible (NAB) and New Revised Standard Version (NRSV) revisions of Genesis 1:26: “Let us make man” (in Hebrew, hā’ādām). NAB renders it “human beings” and NRSV, “humankind.” The translators reexamined the verse drawing on ancient parallel texts and pointed out, quite correctly, that “man” in this verse refers not to an individual male (the most common meaning of “man” in English), but to humankind, a less common meaning in English.

Recently, another controversy has sent readers to the creation accounts in Genesis. This controversy is not about inclusive language as in 1:26, but about the phrase that follows in Genesis 1:27, “Male and female he created them.” Why the fresh interest? Because many people, especially among the young, assert that their gender identity does not correspond with the sex registered for them at birth, and they now seek to act in accord with their actual gender identity.

[I’ll assume the best of intentions from Fr. Clifford, but this is a comparison between an apple and an orange. “Let us make man” can certainly be interpreted as a linguistic reference to humankind. “Male and female He created them” is a clear reference to not just human biology but biological reality in general among animals as well. It may not address *feelings* but it addresses the reality of God’s creation in specific scientific terms. This isn’t a case of the literal obscuring a historical or spiritual context, which does happen, especially in Genesis and more generally with the Pentateuch. This is a case of scripture describing a literal fact that is not subject to time: a truth as well as a Truth, so to speak. To deny this is to deny any enduring truth or wisdom in scripture and instead to present it as malleable and dispensable to suit one’s whims.

It is good to operate in love for those who are separated from the Word. But it is not love to indulge that separation, nor is it love to indulge a separation from reality. — Ed]