Giving Simmons some sort of benefit-of-the-doubt, we’d have to label his work sloppy, at best. Often in this new “translation,” words and phrases are added which are not present in the early manuscripts, and words clearly expressed in the Greek, are removed. This is only one example of the concerning issues found in the installments that have already been printed within The Passion Translation. Removing a term that represents Jesus’ deity makes sense, if in the incarnation you do not believe he was, in fact, divine. However, with this being the case, it should come as no surprise then that The Passion Translation removes the word “Christ” from Philippians 1:1-2. This “anointed one” is very different from the Anointed Messiah that orthodox Christianity teaches. Now, there is a growing faction of the NAR called the Revival Alliance (again see my previous posts for more information), and these apostles teach that Jesus laid his divinity aside in the incarnation and lived only as a man, anointed and in right relationship with God. Different Verses and Different Meanings Lead to a Different Gospel
This friends, is a dangerous and divisive path to wander down.Įven if the concerns regarding the author could be overcome or over-looked, the following must also be considered.ī. This translation promises to unveil “the passion of heart” and to reveal “the deep mysteries of the Scriptures in the love language of God.” Perhaps that doesn’t sound so dangerous, but what it’s implying is that all other Bible translations are lacking something only this version can offer. Because Simmons believes that he has received this special assignment and revelation, it comes as no surprise that the goal of his translation is to give readers an experience with God’s word that no other standard translation offers. He believes he received special revelation from God. There is no confusion about where Simmons feels he received his inspiration and information for this project. All of this points to the unfortunate reality, that Brian Simmons should not be undertaking a project like this at all, and he certainly shouldn’t be peddling his project as a legitimate version or translation of Scripture. Jesus did not actually pen any manuscripts, and the vast majority of New Testament scholars still recognize the early and reliable nature of the Greek manuscripts. Simmons “did not receive his degree from a recognized academic institution, but rather from the Wagner Leadership Institute – an NAR organization that offers courses in subjects like dream interpretation and miracle working.” Furthermore, Simmons seems to also hugely emphasize the fact that Jesus spoke Aramaic, and that this work uses Aramaic manuscripts to bring a better understanding from the heart of God. Don’t be misled or confused by the title “Dr.” before his name. Working alone is concerning enough, but even more so is the fact that Brian Simmons simply does not have the appropriate credentials for this type of project. Trustworthy translations, however, such as the NIV, ESV, and NKJV, all have teams of Bible scholars who work to maintain adherence to the accuracy and integrity of the biblical manuscripts. The site for The Passion Translation often uses plural language describing a team of translators, but the only author ever mentioned is Brian.
Not to say that Brian Simmons doesn’t love Jesus or have ministry experience, but not only does his background not offer the qualifications needed for this type of undertaking, but it’s not a project that should be attempted alone. The Passion “Translation” of the Bible is being completed by NAR Apostle, Brian Simmons, of Stairway Ministries. If you are unfamiliar with this movement you can see my previous posts here. A translation (if it can even be called that), currently underway and gaining popularity, that many Christians are not aware of, is The Passion Translation of the New Apostolic Reformation.
Of course most Christians are familiar with the New World Translation put out by the Jehovah’s Witnesses, as well as the revised King James Bible and Book of Mormon from Joseph Smith. Any movement that then proceeds to create its own “translation” of the Bible, should raise an enormous red flag. If those statements are true, then any theological movement claiming new revelation or needed restoration for Scripture should cause unease.
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