Introduction
There are a lot of Bible translations. A lot. Naturally, some are better than others. This can be "better" in word-for-word accuracy vs. "better" in the accuracy of the thought being conveyed. The word-for-word translations are highly accurate but can be difficult to read for those who tend not to be highly educated in theology, while thought-for thought-translations can flow more naturally for the casual reader, even though they cannot provide the same level of precision.
It's an ongoing debate in Christians circles, one that we will not settle here.
A third category is a paraphrase, which places readability way higher in priority. Neither word-for-word nor thought for thought, paraphrases are story-based, more aligned with characters and the mood. These are the loosest in terms of accuracy, and generally thought of as not suitable to use for study.
The last category we want to mention is those translations that conform to one's preconceived doctrines. Such a translation comes with an agenda, like the New World Translation of the Jehovah's Witnesses. The NWT was written specifically to reflect the doctrines of the Witnesses.
But even so-called "reliable" translations often have built-in biases themselves, particularly when it comes to Reformed/Calvinistic doctrines. It is not unreasonable to say that pretty much every translation carries some of the doctrinal bias of their translators. But generally, they are trustworthy and usable.
Given this, it shouldn't surprise us that The Passion Translation (TPT), by Dr. Brian Simmons, comes with its own bias. Its bias is a particular brand of charismaticism that comes out of Bethel Church in Redding, California. Bethel is known for its sometimes spectacular claims regarding the manifestation of the supernatural. Some regard Bethel as a cult, while others consider it to be at the forefront of what the Holy Spirit is doing.
This is also a debate we will not settle here.
There are notable connections between Dr. Simmons, Bethel church and its leadership, and Dr. Simmons' educational experience. So the main question we seek to answer is, does TPT carry a doctrinal skew based on its connections to a church? And, does Dr. Simmons have any formal, rigorous training in a recognized institution that would qualify him as a Bible translator?
Wagner University
TPT is the work of one man. So let's look at Dr. Simmons' credentials. His educational experience is as follows:
From 1973 to 1978, he attended the New Tribes Bible and Linguistic Institutes in Wisconsin and Missouri, preparing for his Bible translation and church planting work. His academic pursuits didn’t stop there. From 2003 to 2007, Simmons studied at the Wagner Leadership Institute in Connecticut, earning a doctorate in practical ministry.
The Wagner Leadership Institute is now called Wagner University, founded by the late C. Peter Wagner.
Dr. Wagner is the man credited with coining the phrase and the concept of "New Apostolic Reformation" (NAR) in the mid 1980s, where he postulated the reinvigoration of the five-fold ministries (Ephesians 4:11) in our day, especially apostles. This of course would involve a significant change in the way churches are structured, as well as some significant doctrinal implications. Which is one reason why the NAR doesn't sit well with some.
The NAR moniker has evolved into a bludgeon used by "cessationists" to label and dismiss every sort of charismatic. Thus any connection at all with the NAR is a tip-off for a cessationist that something is amiss. And there are connections. The faculty is a who's who in the charismatic movement.
- Dr. C. Peter Wagner (Deceased)
- Dr. Cindy Jacobs
- Dr. Mark D. Tubbs
- Kris Valloton (Bethel Church)
- Dr. BRIAN SIMMONS (Translator of TPT)
- Dr. Patricia King
- Dr. Bill Johnson (Bethel church)
- Doris Wagner
- Dr. Harold Eberle
- Chris Hayward
- Ken Fish
- Rebecca Greenwood
- David McDonald
- Dr. Lance Wallnau
- Dr. Candice Smithyman
Dr. Simmons is presently one of the faculty. Which of course means that Wagner University is immediately suspect. And Bethel Church and Bill Johnson and Kris Valloton are suspect. Therefore, since Dr. Simmons has connections to these people and organizations, he's suspect.
Wagner University, then, is primarily concerned with training Christians in a particular doctrinal and ministry viewpoint. There are several available courses of study at Wagner University:
- Wagner School of Ministry
- M.A. in Apostolic Leadership and Applied Ministry
- M.A. in Spiritual Healing, Deliverance & Warfare
- M.A. in Women Leadership
- D.Min. in Apostolic Leadership and Applied Theology
It seems clear that all of their courses of study are geared to NAR philosophy.
Dr. Simmons noted that he earned a doctorate in practical ministry from Wagner. But as we can see, there is only one doctoral offering at present, called "Apostolic Leadership and Applied Theology." It seems Dr. Simmons' credential is for a course of study not currently offered.
Since we don't know what's involved in obtaining a PhD from Wagner University, let's look at the current avenue available to obtain a PhD. The core coursework is as follows:
- Thy Kingdom Come: Dominion Mandate
- Apostolic Leadership
- Marketplace Ministry and BAM Movement
- Action Research for Final Dissertation
- Revival, Reformation & Social Transformation
- Heaven’s Economy and the Great Transfer of Wealth
- Missiology: World Evangelism and Church Planting Movement
- Church Planting and Church Growth
- Strategic Spiritual Warfare
- Final Dissertation: Transform Your World
It seems obvious there is a tilt toward various NAR doctrines, which would no doubt suit many people just fine. These courses in their own context might be valuable, particularly if one is looking to be a part of ministering in this branch of the charismatic movement. But we spent some time looking through the University's website but could find no coursework regarding Bible translation or Studies in Greek or Hebrew. Nor could we ascertain the rigor of the coursework. After all, Dr. Simmons calls himself "Doctor" with a earned PhD. Is it a real, recognized PhD in a field related to Bible translation? At this point, we would say no.
So let's look back farther.
New Tribes Bible and Linguistic Institutes (Ethnos360)
New Tribes Bible and Linguistic Institutes is now known as Ethnos360, which is essentially a missionary linguistic training school. By any standard this is good and noble work, but we need to know if the linguistic portion of their educational work involves Greek/Hebrew scholarship. Sadly, such coursework doesn't exist in their current offerings. We were unable to ascertain what the Institute might have offered 20 years ago, but given that Dr. Simmons has extensive background in missions, it seems reasonable to surmise that the Institute's scholastic orientation back then remains largely the same today: Missions, with linguistics training for equipping the missionary with language skills for field use.
Interestingly, their doctrinal statement denies what they call the "sign gifts." This of course is in direct opposition to Wagner University and Bethel Church. This suggests that either Dr. Simmons underwent a significant change in his past, or Ethnos360 wants to distance itself from Dr. Simmons. In any case, it seems that Ethnos360 did not provide Dr. Simmons with relevant training to be a Bible translator.
The Passion Translation
Our last ray of hope is that TPT itself had some experts involved at some level. The TPT website tells us this:
Finally, the translation was theologically reviewed by professionals such as Rick Wadholm Jr. (PhD), Gary S. Greig (PhD), Jacqueline Grey (BTh, PhD), Jeremy Bouma (MTh), David Housholder (Fulbright Scholar in New Testament), Stephen D. Renn (BA[Hons]; DipEd; MDiv; MA [History]; EdM), Justin Evans (MTh; MA), and others.
Rick Wadholm Jr. is a legitimate Bible scholar, albeit a sympathetic one with a Pentecostal background. However, his expertise is the OT. At the time it was introduced, TPT was pretty much only the NT. Not sure why an OT scholar is listed as a reviewer.
Gary S. Greig - Similarly, he's a legitimate Bible scholar with a Pentecostal orientation, and connections to C. Peter Wagner.
Jacqueline Grey - She has a PhD in "Burning Tongues: Voicing a Pentecostal-charismatic Hermeneutic of the Old Testament." We're not sure what that means.
Jeremy Bouma - Master's in Theology - Historical Theology, that is. Not translation or ancient languages.
Stephen D. Renn - Finally we find a man with relevant experience. He edited an expository dictionary of the Bible.
Justin Evans - This appears to be the man. He's an OT scholar and a Pentecostal.
It doesn't inspire one's confidence, does it? It's reasonable to expect that at some point in the translation process for a new version of the Bible there would be a cadre of experts with relevant training and experience overseeing the process. Unless there's something we missed, we just don't have this here.
Conclusion: TPT is not a scholarly translation.
Example
We have time for but one example for the purposes of today's post, and that is Colossians 1:21-22. We personally have used the older version of the NIV translation for many years, and find it to be a generally competent and readable translation. Here's how it renders the verses:
21 Once you were alienated from God and were enemies in your minds because of your evil behavior. 22 But now he has reconciled you by Christ’s physical body through death to present you holy in his sight, without blemish and free from accusation —
For comparison, here's the King James:
And you, that were sometime alienated and enemies in [your] mind by wicked works, yet now hath he reconciled 22 In the body of his flesh through death, to present you holy and unblameable and unreproveable in his sight:
The literal Greek to English:
And you once being alienated and hostile in mind and in the deeds evil. Now however He has reconciled in the body of the flesh of him through death to present you holy and unblemished and blameless before him
Now for TPT:
Even though you were once distant from him, living in the shadows of your evil thoughts and actions, he reconnected you back to himself. He released his supernatural peace to you through the sacrifice of his own body as the sin-payment on your behalf so that you would dwell in his presence. And now there is nothing between you and Father God, for he sees you as holy, flawless, and restored...
The NIV uses 42 words, while both the interlinear and the KJV use 39 words (There are 35 actual Greek words in the verses). But TPT uses an astounding 71 words. Does it really take double the English words to adequately translate this passage? We don't think so.
In fact, TPT adds completely new information.
First we note that TPT tells us we will receive supernatural peace. However, the verses are about the end of the divide between us and God, that is, there is now peace between the parties. It's not about us receiving supernatural peace, it's about there now being a condition or status of peace.
Second, the verses do not contain the idea of dwelling in his presence. The actual idea is that we are brought before him clean and blameless.
This entire phrase is added. It's made up out of thin air. The concept is not even under discussion. Worse, it presents what we think is a false teaching. Jesus did not pay for our sin. There is not a single Bible verse that says so, TPT notwithstanding. He paid for us:
But there's one phrase, which we've highlighted, that we find particularly egregious:
as the sin-payment on your behalf
This entire phrase is added. It's made up out of thin air. The concept is not even under discussion. Worse, it presents what we think is a false teaching. Jesus did not pay for our sin. There is not a single Bible verse that says so, TPT notwithstanding. He paid for us:
1Co. 6:20 you were bought at a price.
So not only is TPT beholden to a particular brand of charismatic doctrine, it is infected by Reformed/Calvinism! The idea that Jesus paid for our sin is a feature of this theological stream. But to find it reflected in charismatic thought is particularly onerous.
Conclusion
We ourselves are not NAR, but we are charismatics. We have made numerous posts about the shortcomings of cessationist thought, including a multi part series where we take deep dives into various cessationist false doctrines.
We are also not Reformist/Calvinist, and have likewise examined Calvin's most ardent defenders and found their doctrines wanting.
Why did we write? Because TPT is infiltrating many churches that would never consider NAR doctrines. TPT is a suspect translation, but the average churchgoer is probably not equipped to discern the problems. Probably many pastors fall into this category as well.
It should be enough that the translator of TPT lacks qualifications. But most people would not even look that far. Most of the aficionados we have talked to like the "spiritual" way the translation is phrased. They actually think that previous translations purposefully omitted this "Spirit content." This is a sad state of affairs, indeed.
We caution the reader to be on guard regarding this. Holding to the truth is a increasingly difficult endeavor in these Last Days, and using a faulty translation just makes that all the more difficult. But the truth is out there. Find a good translation, but don't feel that you're left out of the trend. You'll be better off in the end.
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