3d • Bible Questions
Dangers of Passion Translation
Strengths of The Passion Translation (TPT) from a Reformed Baptist Perspective
Reformed Baptists prioritize the authority, sufficiency, and clarity of Scripture as the inspired Word of God, emphasizing accurate translations that faithfully convey the original Hebrew, Aramaic, and Greek texts without additions or subtractions. From this viewpoint, TPT's strengths are limited and often qualified, as it is more of a dynamic paraphrase than a formal translation. However, some potential positives include:
- Emotional and Worshipful Engagement: TPT aims to "re-introduce the passion and fire" of the Bible through vivid, contemporary language that can evoke a sense of awe and devotion. For instance, renderings like Psalm 16:5 as "You are my prize, my pleasure, and my portion" or Psalm 93:1 as "Yahweh now reigns as king!" might help readers connect emotionally with God's sovereignty and majesty, aligning with Reformed emphases on heartfelt worship and the glory of God. This could make Scripture feel more accessible for personal devotion, though it risks prioritizing feeling over fidelity.
- Christ-Centered Highlights in Places: In certain passages, TPT emphasizes messianic themes that resonate with Reformed theology's focus on Christ's fulfillment of the Old Testament. Examples include Psalm 22:31b as "And they will all declare, 'It is finished!'" (echoing John 19:30) and Psalm 110:1 as "Jehovah-God said to my Lord, the Messiah," which can underscore the redemptive arc of Scripture. However, this is selective and not consistent enough to outweigh concerns.
- Fresh Insights on Grace in the New Testament: Some passages, like John 15:2 (Jesus "lifting up" unfruitful branches) or Romans 8:26 (the Holy Spirit as a "super-interceder"), provide a grace-oriented rendering that might aid in understanding God's unmerited favor, a core Reformed doctrine. Footnotes occasionally offer helpful Aramaic insights, though these are speculative.
Overall, these strengths are minor and contextual; Reformed Baptists would generally prefer translations like the ESV, NASB, or LSB for their literal accuracy, viewing TPT's appeal as better suited to supplemental reading rather than primary study.
Weaknesses of The Passion Translation from a Reformed Baptist Perspective
Reformed Baptists, rooted in sola scriptura, view TPT as deeply problematic because it deviates significantly from the original texts, introducing additions, omissions, and alterations that undermine the Bible's inerrancy and authority. Created by a single individual, Brian Simmons, without a scholarly team, it reflects personal biases tied to the New Apostolic Reformation (NAR) movement, which conflicts with Reformed Baptist commitments to historic orthodoxy, cessationism, and confessional standards like the 1689 London Baptist Confession. Key weaknesses include:
- Lack of Accuracy and Fidelity to Original Manuscripts: TPT is not a true translation but a paraphrase that expands the text by up to 50%, adding words and ideas absent in the originals. For example, in Psalm 18:2, "horn" (qeren, meaning strength) becomes "Salvation’s Ray of Brightness / Shining on the hillside," fabricating etymological links (e.g., falsely equating "praise" and "shine"). It selectively uses non-standard sources like the Syriac Peshitta or conjectured Aramaic for the New Testament (originally Greek), leading to speculative renderings.
- Theological Biases and Sectarian Influences: Additions impose NAR/hyper-charismatic emphases, such as inserting "demon spirits" into historical contexts (Psalm 106:34–39) or shifting focus to emotionalism and intimacy (e.g., "embrace" and "sobs" in Psalm 18:1–6; expanding "faithful ones" to "lovers" in Psalm 95:7). It promotes egalitarian views not in the text and includes bizarre claims, like Simmons' visions of brain enlargement or angelic guidance, which Reformed Baptists would see as extra-biblical and potentially deceptive.
- Omissions and Alterations That Distort Meaning: TPT eliminates Hebrew poetic parallelism, turning poetry into prose (e.g., Psalm 18:4–6), dehistoricizes events (e.g., "inherit the land" in Psalm 37:9–11 becomes "live safe and sound with blessings"), and softens doctrines like human sinfulness (e.g., Psalm 18:21's "I am not guilty" to "I’ll not sin"; Psalm 51:4's "Everything I did, I did right in front of you"). This severs the text from its inspired form, threatening to mislead readers and bind churches to a "sectarian translation."
- Idiosyncratic and Unreliable Process: As a one-man project, it lacks accountability, contrasting with committee-based translations. It's been removed from platforms like Bible Gateway, and critics note inconsistencies that could imply works-based elements (e.g., James 2:24 addition). Reformed Baptists would argue this violates the perspicuity of Scripture, making TPT unsuitable for teaching, preaching, or serious study.
In summary, while TPT might offer occasional inspirational phrasing, its weaknesses far outweigh any benefits from a Reformed Baptist standpoint, potentially leading believers away from the pure Word of God. It's often recommended to avoid it in favor of more faithful translations.
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Dangers of Passion Translation
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