True Nativity Plays Urgently Required

When Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea, it was neither in a town nor a city where He appeared. Even though Bethlehem was the city of David, it was simply a village located in a backwater.  This village was so small and insignificant to have an inn or hostelry, so from a historical perspective and also from an exegetical perspective, it was not in an "inn" that the Son of God was born.

The misunderstanding here is due to the translations in our English Bible's. Luke uses the Greek word, katalyma, which means upper room or chamber so it was wrong to have translated it as “inn,” as was done in Luke 2:7. John Wycliffe’s 1395 translation of Luke 2:7 uses the word "chaumbir."  English Bibles which came after Wycliffe's Bible opted for “inn” rather than “chaumbir”.  Those who are firm supporters of the KJV have been promoting error down through all those years. Only The New English Bible and The Jewish New Testament translate the Greek word accurately. The NEB translates Luke 2:7 as: “... no room for them to lodge in the house.” The JNT renders Luke 2:7 as: “...no space for them in the living quarters.”  They had to use the area used by the animals.

While no doctrinal issue is raised here, it is unfortunate that such inaccuracy has been perpetuated for so long.  There have been numerous nativity plays written for and performed by school children, thus promoting what is factually untrue.  There never was an innkeeper because there never was an inn for anyone to keep in Bethlehem!

For this to stop, someone must have the courage of his convictions, perhaps a well-respected minister whose theological and evangelical convictions are beyond question or suspicion, to stand up and tell the truth.  Perhaps new nativity plays must be written for schools and Sunday schools that will portray accurately what the Gospel record says.  

Is there anyone out there listening and prepared to take action?