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About the Passion Translation

The Passion Translation New Testament Isaiah
This article is provided by BroadStreet Publishing Group, the publishing house for The Passion Translation.

The Passion Translation is a groundbreaking attempt to re-introduce the passion and fire of the Bible to English readers. The Passion Translation is a new, heart-level translation that expresses God’s fiery heart of love to this generation using Hebrew, Greek, and Aramaic manuscripts, merging the emotion and life-changing truth of God’s Word.

Dr. Brian Simmons—linguist, minister, Bible teacher, and former missionary—serves as lead translator for The Passion Translation. As a missionary, he and his wife, Candice, pioneered church plants in Central America. As a linguist, Brian co-translated the Paya-Kuna New Testament for the Paya-Kuna people of Panama. He and his wife have started numerous ministries, including a dynamic church in West Haven, Connecticut. He is also a gifted teacher of the Bible. Simmons has authored several books and serves churches worldwide through his teaching ministry.

Brian began his biblical studies with The New Tribes Bible Institute and continued on to earn his doctorate with Wagner Leadership Institute, with a specialization on prayer.

While Brian serves as the lead translator for The Passion Translation, the translated text and the numerous footnotes are evaluated by respected scholars and editors to ensure The Passion Translation is faithful to the original text and heart of God.

So why another translation?

Many wonderful versions of our Bible now grace our bookshelves, bookstores, software programs, even apps on our phones. So why add one more? The reason is simple. God longs to have his Word expressed in every language in a way that unlocks the passion of his heart. The goal of this work is to trigger inside every reader an overwhelming response to the truth of the Bible. The reader will discover the deep mysteries of the Scriptures in the love language of God, the language of the heart.

God refuses to meet us only in an intellectual way.

God also wants to meet us heart level. So, we must let the words go heart deep—bringing words that go through the human soul, past the defenses of the mind, and into the spirit. There is a language of the heart that must express the passion of this love-theology. That’s why The Passion Translation is an important addition to peoples’ devotional and spiritual life with Christ.

Bible translations are both a gift and a problem.

They give us the words God spoke through his servants, but words can become very poor containers for revelation—they leak! Over time the words change from one generation to the next. Meaning is influenced by culture, background, and many other details. You can imagine how differently the Hebrew authors of the Old Testament saw the world from three thousand years ago!

There is no such thing as a truly literal translation of the Bible. Why? There is not an equivalent language that perfectly conveys the meaning of the biblical text except as it is understood in its original cultural and linguistic setting. Therefore, a translation can be a problem. The problem, however, is solved when we seek to transfer meaning, and not merely words, from the original text to the receptor language.

That’s the governing philosophy behind The Passion Translation:

to transfer the meaning of God’s original message found in the biblical languages to modern-day English. We believe that the meaning of a passage should take priority over the form of the original words. This way, every English speaker can clearly, naturally encounter the heart of God through his message of truth and love.

To transfer the meaning of the biblical narrative from one language to another requires interpretation. Undoubtedly, the process of Bible translation cannot be considered a perfect science, but more of an artistic, Spirit-led production. Dr. Simmons has sought to faithfully carry over the meaning of the Hebrew, Greek, and Aramaic into modern English along with the nuances of the Scripture’s poetry and prose to make it come alive to the reader.

If you’re hungry for God and want to know him on a deeper level, The Passion Translation will help you encounter God’s heart and discover what he has for your life.

Passion Translation app

THE PASSION TRANSLATION & OLIVE TREE BIBLE APP

The Passion Translation for Olive Tree Bible App

Now, the Passion Translation New Testament 2nd Edition contains not only the ENTIRE New Testament, but also Psalms, Proverbs, and Song of Songs!

Additionally, we offer:

SEE ALL PASSION TRANSLATION TITLES

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15 Comments

  1. James

    Maybe before you wax to enthusiastic about this “translation” you should read George Athas’s review of it. Here’s what he says at the beginning of his review:

    This translation of the Song of Songs is truly awful. As a professor of biblical studies who works with the original languages, I can assure you that this translation does not reflect either the words or the meaning of Song of Songs, contrary to what it claims. It’s not that the translation is careless—rather, it’s eisegesis. It is imposing pre-conceived ideas onto the text and then claiming that the change is due to the translation strategy. It’s terrible!</blockquote
    Read the whole review here:
    http://readingthepassionbible.com/george-athas-reviews-tpt/

  2. Steve

    I really enjoy the Passion for personal meditation but not so much for study. I think the poetic license is fine although I’m not sure how he came to certain translations of words like Yashar which I believe it normally rendered as upright or righteous into “his Godly lovers”? I mean, that’s a beautiful sentiment and I think accurate, other than in Passages like Psalms 112:2, I don’t know that it really works? But lets not get too Pharisaical about translations and put more of our trust in Holy Spirit to bring out the correct understanding anyway. The problem with so many Christians is that they think they can truly “understand” the word of God with “accurate” translations and end up missing the Spirit of the Word for all the “words” they read on paper. It could be said the Pharisees had the most accurate and well preserved Word of God and new it forwards and backwards, Yet when the person of Truth stood in front of them, they couldn’t recognize him and wanted to kill him. So Don’t get to high and mighty that somehow “YOUR” version is the one version that is sooo pristine and accurate that you don’t even need the Holy Spirit.

    • B

      I am so angry that this translation is infiltrating our churches. Wake up church leaders. This is a false gospel.
      People who are disconnected in their personal relationships are being titilated by a God that is being portrayed as a protector and lover. We need to walk in righteousness and to become more like our Saviour Jesus as we walk out God’s Word. Not sit their treating this like a Mills and Boon novel.
      Psalm 91 and 92 do your own comparisons just on these two scriptures. It becomes clear very quickly that the writer is so disassociated with his I,you, we.
      Now go to the book of Galatians 1:6. I am astonished that you are so quickly deserting the one who called you by the grace of Christ and turning to a different gospel—-which is really no gospel at all. Evidently some people are throwing you into confusion and are trying to pervert the gospel of Christ. But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach a gospel other than the one we preached to you, let him be eternally condemned! As we have already said, so now I say again: If anybody is preaching to you a gospel other than what you accepted, let him be eternally condemned.

      • Vicki Leeke

        The Galatians 1:6 i used is NIV translation.

  3. Steve Mclean

    Sorry, didn’t proof read the first run at this very well, let me try again… I really enjoy the Passion for personal meditation but not so much for study. I think the poetic license is fine although I’m not sure how he came to certain translations of words like Yashar which is normally rendered as upright or righteous etc, into “his Godly lovers”? I mean, that’s a beautiful sentiment and I think accurate, other than in Passages like Psalms 112:2, where I don’t know that it really works? But before we get too Pharisaical about translations and start burning translation heretics at the stake, lets begin to put more trust in Holy Spirit to bring out the correct understanding to begin with. The problem with so many Christians is that they think they need only to “understand” the word of God with the most “accurate” translations but end up missing the Spirit of the Word for all the accurate “words” on paper. It could be said the Pharisees had the most accurate and well preserved Word of God and knew it forwards and backwards, yet when the person of Truth stood in front of them they couldn’t recognize him and wanted to kill him. So Don’t get to high and mighty that somehow “YOUR” version is the one version that is sooo pristine and accurate that you don’t even need the Holy Spirit’s guidance.

    • Tom

      I read these other reviews and am dismayed at their tone. If someone doesn’t like this translation, may I suggest you not read it? To condemn it and make broad comments about others who do enjoy reading it comes across as arrogant and being self-centered.

      I’ve walked with the Lord for nearly 45 years and have found this translation to be a true delight. It so exquisitely amplifies the true Heart of our Father God. And by reading the footnotes, it has greatly helped me to understand so much more of what I’m reading. If some sees themselves as a “bible scholar,” perhaps they would want to go back to the original Greek and Hebrew texts. For the rest of us, I appreciate the Holy Spirit using the team that has given us the wonderful translation. I highly recommend it.

      • Joyce Humphries

        Amen!! Thank you Tom! I love the Passion, it really gets the heart of God and who He really us is. It’s becoming one with God. And that is what I truly want and desire. It goes to the core. God bless you.

  4. ZORAN SULC

    So when there are several very accurate translations of the Bible produced by fully qualified scholar you think the Holy Spirit directs people way from them to an inaccurate one – interesting theology. And insisting on accuracy is getting “high and mighty”” – no wonder so many areas of the church are becoming more apostate and lazy – don’t disturb me with truth when this makes me feel so good!

  5. Zova

    Someone named B mentioned in the comments above: People who are disconnected in their personal relationships are being titilated by a God that is being portrayed as a protector and a lover.

    I wonder what this person thinks of our Savior. Or what the definition of Savior is? Of course he is a lover and a protector.

    This translation does one very important thing: it accurately displays the nature and character of God.

    Remember in Espesians God reminds us that the Lamb was slain before the foundations of the world.. our lover and protector had a plan for sin. This translation will enrich your reading of the word. It will also give you ample direction about the original word meanings in Greek and Aramaic. This translation will only make you a better seeker of the word and most importantly, with guide you to the fathers heart and intentions toward you as a child of God.

  6. Naila Noreen

    Greetings and Blessings,
    I am Naila Noreen from Pakistan. I am a member of CHRIST APOSTOLIC CHURCH translation team and we translate Biblical Documents. With the money we get from this work we run our Ministry and the following activities of our Ministry:

    CHRIST APOSTOLIC MINISTRIES OF PAKISTAN

    1: ALPHA OMEGA BIBLE COLLEGE OF TOBA TEK SINGH

    2: CHRIST APOSTOLIC HIGH SCHOOL

    3: CHRIST APOSTOLIC CHURCH OF PAKISTAN

    4: CHRIST APOSTOLIC TRANSLATION TEAM

    We offer our services to translate your wonderful material at low rates. We translate from English langauge into Urdu, Punjabi and seraikie hope u will consider our request. We are working as a team in the different areas of Pakistan. We invite you to join us with the love that Jesus have beared in our hearts.

    In Jesus
    Naila Noreen

  7. Dwight

    The Passion translation is on par with the Book of Mormon who according to the author received special instructions from Jesus Himself to better create another translation. Unfortunately It really isn’t a translation, but more of a paraphrase of author that is supposed to have a better meaning. IT lacks scriptural integrity as there is no one person who knows Hebrew, Greek, and Aramaic and he not only expounds upon the text, but changes the meanings of the text to better match his own personal belief.

  8. Promise Adebisi

    I have greatly enjoyed the passion translation. I won’t be surprised the so called scholars speaking against it, this translation lift the lid and veil off the compound words that used to shield the truth. I can begin to see clearly what the Jewish Scholars made of Jesus new teachings, rather than talk down something you are yet to understand, why not gracioulsy accept the effort made, this will enable the Holy Spirit open more understanding for you.. This Translation has helped me tremendously in my preaching on my Facebook Page “Preach the Word”, and I have no shame, commending the effort of the team who did the book writing, it is really of the Holy Spirit, there is sure more room for improvement, but surely this will birth other breed of Passion Bible interpreters.

  9. Connor

    my heart say to Jesus Christ we need freedom and Rights to. we are a christian family and my friends to my passion about Jesus Christ to love them and separate us by them I am Connor Wellsfry I always invite my friends to know Jesus Christ and the Holy spiritual hearts together that’s why I always did god is good so I wanted to connect with Jesus my relationship is hurting my girlfriend Claire her heart she love me or not I like to read your bible of the passion can I read it with my friends and my girlfriend to. I am fighting hard with jesus christ every day at work to.