Religious Question Discussion Question

Rev. Paul Hudec, PhD, MAPS

Week 5 Lecture on Literalism: corn

In a recent Sunday’s first reading from Joshua (5:11) a reference was made to roasted grain and in older translations the word corn is used. For those who have some background in agriculture or remember the European arrival in America, the discovery of corn was a surprise since corn is not native to Europe nor in the Middle East. While the domestication of corn took place about 6,000 years ago, it remained in the American hemisphere. So, what does this do for our translation of corn in Joshua 5:11?

Is this a translation issue?

Is this an interpretation issue?

Is this even important?