After public outcry, the Australian War Memorial has backtracked a controversial plan to alter the inscription “Known unto God” from the tomb of the Unknown Soldier in Canberra.

Dr Brendan Nelson, director of the Australian War Memorial and former Liberal Party leader, had previously announced plans to replace the inscriptions on the tombs with a quote from Paul Keating’s speech, “We do not know this Australian’s name, we never will.”

Mr Keating’s speech marked the re-internment of the Unknown Soldier, 20 years ago. Mr Keating will also present the commemorative address on Remembrance Day this year, for the 20th anniversary of the tomb’s inauguration.

Some media reports have focused on pressure from Prime Minister Abbott as having been the cause of the change, but they have been unsubstantiated.

The inscription at the other end of the tomb, “He symbolises all those Australians who’ve died in war”, will still be replaced with a quote from the Keating speech, “He is one of them, and he is all of us.”

The phrase “Known unto God” is attributed to English writer, Rudyard Kipling, in his role as literary adviser to the Imperial War Graves Commission. The phrase appears on the headstone of unknown soldiers in cemeteries of war around the world.

However, other media reports have ignored the fact that the quotation is also from the New Testament, Galatians 4:8-9:

“Formerly, when you did not know God, you were slaves to those who by nature are not gods. But now that you know God—or rather are known by God—how is it that you are turning back to those weak and miserable forces? Do you wish to be enslaved by them all over again?”

Centre for Public Christianity’s John Dickson, onsite in the Jerusalem World War I Allied Cemetery earlier this year, explains the origin of the phrase in this video as well as delving into the theological implications of this historic phrase.

Known Unto God from CPX on Vimeo.

Image used under a CC license from obeale.