The Passion Translation (TPT) is a New Testament bible translation with Song of Songs, Psalms & Proverbs, made by New Apostolic Reformation (NAR) apostle Brian Simmons (who works under apostle Ché Ahn). Normally the Bible translations are written by teams of scholars who are very knowledgeable of the original languages. Brian Simmons is not a theologian, doesn’t have knowledge of Hebrew or Greek, he’s the only translator of this version & claims that every book and footnote was evaluated by respected scholars and 5 editors but curiously no names are given.
The name Passion he said, came from an angel named ‘Passion’ which he saw in one of his meetings & the Lord told him this ‘angel of passion’ is with his ministry.
Simmons earned his ‘doctorate’ at the Wagner Leadership Institute (now Wagner University) which is not accredited by the U.S. Department of Education & was founded by C. Peter Wagner to teach exclusively the beliefs of the New Apostolic Reformation (NAR). You can read more about his credentials here.
“I truly believe The Passion Translation has the potential to shape the spirituality of the English speaking church for generations to come.” – Brian Simmons, Stairway Ministries- Our Story
“Brian Simmons is a brilliant man who has been given revelation and insight into a deeper meaning of the Holy Scriptures. God has breathed a passion in Brian to see the rich words of the Bible presented to us in a new light. Reading this translation will enlighten your heart, mind, and spirit as you are summoned into the essence of the Man, Christ Jesus and His undeniable love for you. I highly recommend this new Bible translation to everyone!” – Ché Ahn, in Elijahlist.org. Another NAR ministry.
“With the Mind of a Scholar and Heart of a Lover, Brian Simmons combines the best of both world for us in his devoted translated work in Letters from Heaven. What a marvellous job my friend and seasoned leader is doing for the Body of Christ! I applaud the life and ministry of Dr. Brian Simmons!” – James (Jim) W. Goll
This bible translation as expected is promoted by NAR leaders (Bill Johnson, Michael Brown- who defends kabbalah & Noahide Laws, IHOP, etc.) who also preach from this translation to their congregations. You can see this link with more endorsements which all belong to leaders in the NAR Movement. But The Passion Translation is not really a ‘translation’, since a faithful translation must not add or subtract from the original words, nor change their meaning. Simmons adds ideas, words & concepts that are not in the original, so The Passion Translation or TPT is in reality a ‘paraphrase’ very similar to ‘The Message‘ of Eugene Peterson. His additions are made with the only purpose of reinforcing New Apostolic Reformation Theology, same as Jehovah’s Witness did to their New World Translation.
Mr. Simmons says in 2009 he had a visitation from Jesus in his room, who breathed on him & commissioned him to translate the bible! With so many translations already available, it seems his translation is the only authorized one. He claims to have received “secrets of the Hebrew language” & ‘instant downloads‘ from Jesus Himself for this project. This imply that Simmons had the privilege of been chosen uniquely for this great task, and the Bibles we all Christians had for the past 2,000 plus years are all wrong or incomplete! but also implies that only the NAR apostles have the true Word of God. This is a BIG & serious claim & should not be taken lightly.
Simmons had said before that ‘true scholarship’ must value the Aramaic manuscripts more than the Greek & Hebrew originals & mentioned in the video below the Aramaic language of Jesus & the apostles & called Jesus ‘Yeshua’, which gives us a hint of were he is going with all these. . . an alignment with Hebrew Roots teachings.
In ‘Romans: Grace and Glory’, Simmons gives no indications about which “Aramaic text” he is referring to. However, on his website, the following FAQ is answered (emphasis mine):
What textual source materials were used in composing the Passion Translation?
The Passion Translation is not a revision or paraphrase of another existing version. It is an entirely new, fresh translation from the original Hebrew, Greek, and Aramaic documents. … For the New Testament, he used Novum Testamentum Graece, edited by Nestle and Aland (twenty-seventh edition, 1993) as his Greek base text from which to work, while incorporating insights from the Syriac (Aramaic) Peshitta, as well as the Roth text. –
The Passion “Translation” of Romans: Problems and questions by Anglican Lyonel Windsor.
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1/ Please see more information about Nestle & Aland.
2/ Syriac Peshitta (written on 5th century, way after the Greek New Testament, but also, Jesus didn’t speak Syriac Aramaic Aramaic is a language of many dialects) & Roth text (New Testament by Hebrew Root teacher Andrew Gabriel Roth’s based on same Syriac Peshitta) are both used by Hebrew Root teachers which are introducing Christians into Kabbalah!
Simmons also claims that one night while sleeping he had an ‘out of body experience’ and found himself in the library in heaven & encountered Jesus who allowed him to choose only two books, but he saw & also wanted a book with the title John chapter 22 but Jesus told him : “Brian, I cannot let you take that book, you are not ready for that book, but I promise that I will bring you back one day and I will give you that book” Simmons says if he could just take this book back to the natural realm (NAR teachers love the word realm) it would trigger awakening in all the nations of the earth & make the name of Jesus famous!!?? I’m not kidding ! You can hear him in Sid Roth’s “It’s Supernatural”, which by the way is another NAR ministry:
This is very dangerous beloved! In other words Brian Simmons has received unique & new divine revelation that has given him special insight & AUTHORITY to change the Word of God & to reveal more changes very soon. This contradicts God’s Word! Deuteronomy 4:2; 12:32, Proverbs 30:6, Galatians 1:8-9 ;Revelation 22:19; Acts 17:11. Not even the Apostle Paul who (after persecuting the Church & conversion) received revelation from Jesus changed any doctrine, all that he learned was in accordance with what the rest of the apostles already had. It is important to understand that our foundation was already laid.
For no other foundation can anyone lay than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ. 1 Cor.3:11
The bible uses a building analogy. It is impossible to change the foundation of any building, if we do, the entire building will crumble down. The Foundation (1 Cor.3:11), the Rock (Matt.16:18, 1 Cor.10:4), the Cornerstone (Isa.28:16, Acts 4:11) is Jesus Christ the Son of God, then the apostles & prophets were the first stones of that foundation, (Rev.21:14, Ephe. 2:19-22, & 3:5) then we believers or members of the house of God are the building, continually being build upon, but the foundation cannot be altered or changed, it was laid once for all.
If Simmons & NAR leaders want credibility, then anyone, Mormons (Joseph Smith angel’s visitations), Jehovah’s Witnesses, the Gnostics Jewish converts that the apostles opposed, etc. would also had credibility, anyone could claim their twisted doctrines to be the truth. But all of them contradict God’s Word & they contradict one another. This is what happens with men ideas & experiences, this is one reason why we need to hold firm unto the Word of God. There are not contradictions in the Word of God & we are to keep it unchanged.
Beloved, . . I found it necessary to write to you exhorting you to contend earnestly for the faith which was once for all delivered to the saints. . . But you, beloved, remember the words which were spoken before by the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ. Jude 1:3, 17
Here are some Bible verses that emphasize that we should continue or hold fast to the same doctrine of the apostles, which is simply what Jesus taught them:
Acts 2:42, 2 John 1:9-11, 1 Cor. 15, Jude 1:3, Ephesians 4:14-16, 1 Tim. 4:1-2, 1 Tim 1:9-10; 6:3; 2 Tim.1:13; Titus 1:9; 2:1; 1 Timothy 6:3-5; 1 Tim 4:6; 1 Cor.11:1-2; Galatians 1:6-10, Romans 16:17, 2 Tim.4:3-4, 2 John 1:9, 2 Thess.3:6, 2 Cor. 6,; Col.2:8, etc. See more here.
Next are some examples, comparing Authorized King James (AKJ) to The Passion Translation (TPT), but in the links you will find more bible versions:
The heavens declare the glory (H3519) of God; and the firmament sheweth his handywork. (AKJ).
God’s splendor is a tale that is told; his testament is written in the stars. Space itself speaks his story every day
through the marvels of the heavens. His truth is on tour in the starry vault of the sky, showing his skill in creation’s craftsmanship.
-You will notice he added much more that is not in the original. The Hebrew word H3519 is always translated glory in King James & all the new popular versions. But Simmons uses the word ‘Splendor‘ which also happens to be the name of the main Kabbalah book (Zohar) which is the Hebrew word H2096 (1)= shinning, splendor, found only 2 times in the bible. But he is a bible translator & doesn’t know this? Most NAR leaders also teach about the gospel in the starts, so he is really pushing NAR doctrines here.
‘and saying, The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand: repent ye, and believe the gospel’ (AKJ)
His message was this: “At last the fulfillment of the age has come! It is time for the realm of God’s kingdom to be experienced in its fullness! Turn your lives back to God and put your trust in the hope-filled gospel! (TPT)
-Simmons love to use the word realm a lot, same as Kabbalists/Gnostics. In the TPT the word realm is found 196 times when it is 0 times in the Authorized King James, New King James or ESV.
Search the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me.(AKJ)
“You are busy analyzing the Scriptures, frantically poring over them in hopes of gaining eternal life. Everything you read points to me” (TPT).
-This same verse they use often to discourage bible study but to encourage their God encounters.
Let him that is taught in the word communicate unto him that teacheth in all good things (AKJ)
And those who are taught the Word must share all good things with their teacher; a sharing of wealth takes place between them. (TPT).
Next you can also find a video that exposes some of the problems with The Passion Translation & Simmons credential in assisting translation in Panama . This pastor (like most pastors today) uses the ESV version which we don’t recommend for bible study (see the link to find the reasons), but he explains very good points & does an excellent presentation:
You can read more information in:
Simmons Praying for the Mark of The Christ?
A New NAR Bible (Part 1) — ‘The Passion Translation’
One More Translation: One More Step Away From The Truth