Four Critical Problems Bible Scholars Find in Popular Passion Translation

Faith Facts

• Bethel Church has stopped selling The Passion Translation amid plagiarism concerns and theological inaccuracies
• Biblical scholars and apologists have documented significant departures from original Greek and Hebrew texts in The Passion Translation
• Critics warn the translation prioritizes subjective interpretation over faithful rendering of Scripture

A growing number of Christian leaders and biblical scholars are raising serious concerns about The Passion Translation, a modern Bible version that has gained popularity in charismatic circles. The concerns have become significant enough that Bethel Church, a prominent charismatic congregation, recently stopped selling the translation altogether.

The decision came after allegations of plagiarism surfaced and theological questions mounted about the accuracy of the translation. For Christians who hold Scripture as the inspired and authoritative Word of God, these concerns warrant serious attention.

Lack of Proper Credentials

The Passion Translation is primarily the work of one man, Brian Simmons, who claims to have received a divine mandate to produce this version. However, biblical translation requires teams of scholars with extensive training in ancient languages, textual criticism, and theology.

Traditional translations like the King James Version, New International Version, and English Standard Version were produced by committees of dozens of scholars with doctorates in biblical languages and related fields. This safeguards against individual bias and ensures accuracy to the original texts.

Significant Departures from Original Text

Biblical scholars examining The Passion Translation have documented numerous instances where the text departs significantly from what the original Greek and Hebrew actually say. These aren’t minor differences in wording—they represent additions, omissions, and alterations that change the meaning of Scripture.

For example, critics have noted insertions of concepts not present in the original languages, expansion of verses to include interpretations as if they were Scripture itself, and theological slants that reflect charismatic theology rather than what the text actually states. When God’s Word is treated as raw material to be reshaped according to one translator’s vision, the result is no longer faithful translation but interpretation masquerading as Scripture.

Plagiarism Allegations

Recent investigations have uncovered evidence suggesting portions of The Passion Translation may have been copied from other modern translations without proper attribution. If these allegations are substantiated, they represent a serious ethical breach.

The integrity of Bible translation depends not only on linguistic accuracy but also on honesty in the translation process. Christians deserve to know that the Bible they’re reading represents honest scholarship, not borrowed work presented as original.

Theological Concerns

Perhaps most troubling are the theological issues present throughout The Passion Translation. Critics have identified a consistent pattern of the translation imposing charismatic theology onto passages that don’t support such interpretations in the original languages.

This includes amplifying themes of mystical experience, personal prophecy, and emotional encounter in passages where the original text emphasizes doctrine, obedience, and sound teaching. The result is a Bible that tells readers what they might want to hear rather than what God actually said.

The Christian faith rests on the foundation of God’s revealed Word. The apostle Paul warned Timothy to “rightly divide the word of truth” and to guard the deposit of faith entrusted to him.

When a translation departs from accuracy to the original languages, when it elevates one person’s interpretation to the status of Scripture itself, and when it reflects the theological preferences of its translator rather than the inspired text, it fails the basic test of what a Bible translation should be. Believers should approach The Passion Translation with extreme caution and instead rely on translations produced through rigorous scholarship and faithful commitment to accuracy.

For those seeking accessible modern English combined with faithfulness to the original text, well-established translations like the ESV, NIV, NASB, or CSB offer far safer alternatives. The stakes are simply too high to risk a translation that puts personal interpretation above the actual words God inspired.

Let us know what you think, please share your thoughts in the comments below.