Gen Z Bible: Does Translating Scripture into Slang Save or Slay Faith?

Many viewers praise the videos for making the Bible more understandable and accessible to younger audiences, even if it means learning some Gen Z slang along the way. However, not everyone is convinced. A theological scholar raised concerns about the translations' appropriateness and potential to disrespect the sacred text. So, does the "Gen Z Bible" save or slay faith? 

Since posting its first video on August 19, Gen Z Bible Stories has gained millions of views, the account’s most viral video, titled “Annunciation,” retells the story of the conception of Jesus Christ. The video was posted on August 22 and has been viewed over 3.6 million times. In this video, the creator referred to Mary as a "pick-me girl for God," and said that she had "passed God's vibe check," and had been chosen to become "the mother of the main character."

Source: Reddit

The TikToker went on to use other Gen Z  slang terms, such as "body count," which refers to the number of sexual partners someone's had, to continue to tell the story. They also used the phrase “cuffing season,” a term famous by SZA’s song “Big Boy” which refers to the time of year when single people are actively looking for short-term romantic partners to spend the colder months with. In another video, with the title "John's Glow Up," the creator tells the story of how John, one of the Twelve Apostles of Jesus, "entered his prophet era" and told people how to "pass God's vibe check."

The videos have received a good amount of attention. Many viewers wrote that they thought they were hilarious, one referred to the account as  a “masterpiece.” In fact, many viewers even commented that they were not into religion, but they would definitely read the Bible if the stories were told like this and that these retellings had helped them to understand it better. 

Numerous TikTok users also wrote that the videos are helping them to learn Gen Z slang, and one wrote that they felt like they were "learning a new language." Although all these responses paint a picture that says they are interestingly understanding Bible sculpture, one thing that’s not clear is that the account will necessarily convert viewers to Christianity in the long term. 

A professor of Old Testament at Duke University in Nqworth Carolina, Dr. Brent Strawn, told Insider that these videos are examples of the “ongoing work of Bible translation.” He said that the Bible translations get revised often as language is updated and that in some ways, updating the Bible using Gen Z terms is an "extreme" reflection of that. While the professor said that these translations might make some of the Bible material more accessible to people, he also questioned whether this TikTok account has gone “too far,” and touched that the language risks "cheapening" it. "Some of the slang terms might be things that you would use for dating situations," Strawn said. "Is that really the same thing as the notion of the annunciation of the virgin birth to Mary?"

He also came up with a question about the longevity of these videos, given that slang can so quickly become outdated. He said, "Even in a few months, or certainly a year from now, some of these slang terms will have been forgotten and new ones will replace them so that the translation is almost instantly out of date.” The rise of the use of social media has meant that popular Gen Z slang terms are ever-changing and that they can become outdated as quickly as they were popularized. A few slang that were popular less than a decade ago, such as "YOLO," "canceled," and "snowflake," have already been labeled as embarrassing. 

As the "Gen Z Bible" phenomenon continues to gain traction, the question remains: Is this a bridge connecting faith to a new generation, or a shortcut that dilutes its essence? Ultimately, the answer lies in each individual's perspective. Let us know what are your views on this in the comments below!

Frequently Asked Questions 

Q. What does Delulu mean?

Delulu is a slang term that is often used to describe a person being delusional about something or someone they are a fan of, such as an actor or musician. Within social media space, using "delulu" to describe someone means they have unrealistic ideas about their interest.

Q. What does a sneaky link mean? 

Sneaky link is a slang term that is often used by Gen Z to describe a person that someone is secretly hooking up with, and it is commonly used in the context of romantic or sexual relationships. According to Urban Dictionary,  a sneaky link can be a sexual or non-sexual experience or relationship with somebody else that nobody knows about.

Q. What does BFF mean? 

BFF is an abbreviation for best friend forever, a way of referring to a person's best friend.

Q. Who is the creator behind the Gen Z Bible? 

A Gen Z Christian who shared their interpretation of the Bible on TikTok under an account called @gen.z.bible.stories, is remains anonymous, but his popularity is multiplying with each video.

Q. What does YEET mean in slang?

Yeet is a slang term that functions broadly with the meaning “to throw,” but is especially used to describe forcefulness and a lack of concern for the thing being thrown. For example, you don't yeet something if you're worried that it might break.