Is The Passion Translation Really a Trustworthy Bible?

Today, the Bible has become more accessible than ever before. With Bible apps on our phones, we can carry dozens of Bible versions in our pockets and move from one translation to another with just a few taps.

But have you ever paused to ask whether all these “Bible versions” are actually trustworthy translations of God’s Word?

I believe that for many of us, we assume that if a Bible version appears on a Bible app or is quoted in church, then it must automatically be accurate and safe to use. After all, why would something untrustworthy be used or made available? But the truth is, not everything labelled a “Bible” is necessarily a faithful translation of the Scriptures. 

One such version that has become increasingly popular in churches today is The Passion Translation (TPT). You may have come across it on social media, heard it quoted in sermons, or used it in your study. Unbeknownst to many, is that there are serious concerns about how it was produced, who produced it, and how closely it reflects what the Bible actually says.

So let’s take some time together to look more closely at The Passion Translation to examine whether it is a translation that we can trust for teaching, doctrine, and daily study for spiritual growth.

What Is The Passion Translation (TPT)?

The Passion Translation presents itself as a modern, easy-to-read Bible translation that aims to “unlock the passion of God’s heart and express his fiery love—merging emotion and life-changing truth,” according to its official website. It promises to help readers encounter the heart of God, know Him more intimately, and fall in love with Him all over again [1].

And to be honest, when you first read it, you will quickly notice how expressive it is. The verses feel warm and full of emotion. And I can see how, for some, it may feel refreshing compared to older Bible translations. 

However, as I alluded to earlier, unlike most trustworthy Bible translations, this one raises serious concerns. But before we look at them, it helps to first understand what makes a translation trustworthy.

What Makes a Bible Translation Trustworthy?

Not every Bible version is the same, but certain qualities help us recognize whether a translation can truly be trusted. We will not look at them exhaustively, but simply highlight a few important ones:

1. It Is Translated from the Original Manuscripts

The Bible was originally written in Hebrew, Aramaic (small portions), and Greek. A trustworthy Bible translation, therefore, carefully works from these original languages, using the earliest and most reliable manuscripts available. Faithful translators go back to these source texts to ensure that what we read today accurately reflects what God originally inspired.

2. It Is Produced by a Team of Qualified Scholars

Reliable Bible translations are not done by one person. Instead, they are usually developed by a team of qualified scholars who are well trained in the original biblical languages, as well as in areas such as anthropology (understanding cultures and people), manuscript studies (how ancient texts are preserved and compared), and linguistics (how languages work) [2]. 

These scholars work together, check one another’s work, carefully review, and correct mistakes. But the process doesn’t stop there. Faithful translations also go through multiple rounds of revision, testing, and evaluation, often over many years. And drafts are reviewed again and again, 

This teamwork and thoroughness matters deeply because handling God’s Word is a serious responsibility. Anyone involved in translating Scripture must do everything possible to preserve the integrity of what God has communicated, so that believers receive His Word accurately and faithfully.

3. It is Transparent and Accountable

A trustworthy Bible translation is open about who translated it, what manuscripts were used, and what translation philosophy guided the process. And in some cases, reputable translations usually provide a clear preface explaining their method, the scholars involved, and how translation decisions were made.

This transparency allows pastors, teachers, and scholars to evaluate the work and hold translators accountable.

When a translation lacks transparency, when readers cannot clearly see who reviewed the work, how decisions were made, or what standards were followed — it becomes difficult to trust its accuracy. And this matters because God’s Word shapes what we believe, how we worship, and how we live.

Now that we have a basic idea of what makes a Bible translation trustworthy, the next question naturally becomes: How does The Passion Translation measure up against these standards?

Well, one of the most important places to begin with is the person behind the translation. Who produced it? What training do they have? What beliefs do they hold to? These questions matter because every translator brings their background, theology, and assumptions into their work. So with that in mind, let’s take a closer look at the man behind TPT.

Who Translated The Passion Translation?

His name is Brian Simmons. He describes himself as a missionary and pastor and even goes by the title apostle. On his bio, he talks about his years of ministry, especially his Bible translation work among unreached peoples.

When you listen to his testimony, He also shares about powerful spiritual experiences that he says shaped his calling and ministry. And this is where his connection to what is referred to as the New Apostolic Reformation (NAR) becomes apparent.

In case the term is new to you, the NAR is a global charismatic — or more accurately, hypercharismatic — movement that places a strong emphasis on modern-day apostles and prophets, along with ongoing revelation from God. This movement has raised serious biblical concerns because of its teachings and practices, and it has played a major role in spreading the kind of hypercharismatic theology that has increasingly made its way into churches around the world.

In light of that, it’s not surprising that many leaders within this movement openly support Simmons’ work and use The Passion Translation in their churches and ministries.

Simmons Testimony on The Passion Translation

When asked about the TPT, Simmons says that this translation was not just a scholarly task but a “divine calling.” He claims that back in 2009, Jesus personally appeared to him, commissioned him to create this new translation, and promised supernatural help and insight into translating the Scriptures. One account even reports that he was “transported” to heaven, met Jesus in a heavenly library, and received “the spirit of revelation” to guide his work [3].

If you ask me, this alone should cause anyone’s antennae to go up. But here’s where the real concern comes in:

Brian Simmons has openly admitted that he has basically no formal training in the original languages of the Bible. In his own words, he said, “I had minimal background in biblical languages, so yeah, it was something that, honestly, something the Lord has really helped me with.” [4]

That matters because,  as we have seen, credible Bible translations are usually done by teams of scholars with proven expertise in ancient Hebrew, Aramaic and Greek. TPT, on the other hand, was mostly done by one person. A person who has no recognized academic qualifications for such a significant undertaking.

Beyond that, there are also questions that arise when one looks more closely at how Simmons has described his own background and experience in Bible translation. On his website, his work with an indigenous community in Panama (alongside New Tribes Mission) can give the impression that he functioned as a trained biblical translator. But members of the organization say that he was not serving as a linguist or Bible translator, but rather as a church planter [5].

When you put together his own admission that he doesn’t have the training needed to translate the Bible, along with what seems to be an exaggeration of his credentials on his website, these issues become hard to overlook.

For that reason, every Bible-reading Christian and especially every church leader should seriously pause before treating The Passion Translation as though it were a trustworthy and reliable version of Scripture.

Related: Are There Apostles Today? Examining Apostleship in the Hypercharismatic Movement

Why You Should Be Wary About Using The Passion Translation

Now that we know what makes a Bible translation trustworthy,  who Brian Simmons is, and why a translator’s background matters, let’s look at how TPT itself measures up against the standards of a trustworthy translation.

1. It Adds Words and Ideas That Aren’t in the Bible

One of the most serious concerns with The Passion Translation is that it frequently adds words, phrases, and ideas that aren’t in the original text. These additions aren’t just poetic or stylistic. They are often hypercharismatic “buzzwords” closely aligned with the New Apostolic Reformation (NAR) theology.

By “hypercharismatic,” I mean a stream of Christianity that places a strong emphasis on the prophetic, new revelations, spiritual encounters, miracles, signs and wonders, deliverance, and the supernatural. Many of the phrases TPT inserts reflect these emphases. Usually, these words that are meant to inspire spirituality,  emotion, and depth but which are not in the original Bible text.

For example, verses may suddenly include words like“supernatural,” “activate,” or “realm” — terms that carry a distinctively NAR theological flavor. The problem with this is that readers may come away thinking these ideas are actually Scripture, yet they have actually inserted by the translator.

To show you what I am talking about, take a look at the screenshot below that I took from Mike Winger’s video on this subject. Compare the number of times each word appears in older translations with the times it appears in the TPT:

From this, we can confidently conclude that TPT is not a neutral Bible translation; it is a Bible with an agenda to push NAR (hypercharismatic) ideas and doctrines. It is meant to shape the reader’s understanding of Scripture to align with the theology of modern apostles and prophets.

This contrasts sharply with what we discussed earlier about trustworthy translations, where scholars carefully work to preserve the integrity of God’s message. The TPT, unfortunately, does not follow this approach, which is why its additions are especially concerning.

Not to mention, the Bible itself warns strongly against adding to God’s Word:

“I warn everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this scroll: If anyone adds anything to them, God will add to that person the plagues described in this scroll.” (Revelation 22:18)

Do not add to his words, lest he rebuke you and you be found a liar. (Proverbs 30:6)

“See that you do not add to the word I command you and do not subtract from it…” (Deuteronomy 4:2)

These verses remind us that altering Scripture, even with good intentions, is a serious matter. TPT’s repeated additions show a clear pattern of moving beyond what God has revealed, which should give every believer pause.

Specific Examples: How TPT Adds Words and Ideas Not Found in the Original Text

To make all of this even clearer, let’s look at some specific examples from Scripture. We’ll compare the same verses side by side using the NASB, the NLT, and The Passion Translation.

I chose these two translations for a reason. The NASB is a word-for-word translation, which means it stays very close to the original Hebrew and Greek wording. The NLT, on the other hand, is a thought-for-thought translation. It is designed to be easy to read and understand while still faithfully communicating the original message of the text. 

Hopefully, these examples will help you to see exactly how TPT adds words and ideas that aren’t in the original text.

If you’d like to understand translation philosophies more deeply and how they affect the Bible versions we read, I’ve tackled this in detail in this article: A Simple Guide to Choosing an English Bible Translation

Example 1: Philippians 1:2

NASB:
 “Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.”
 NLT:
 “May God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ give you grace and peace.”

TPT:
 “May the blessings of divine grace and supernatural peace that flow from God our wonderful Father and our Messiah, the Lord Jesus, be upon your lives.”

The NASB has 11 words here, and the NLT keeps close to that number even while making it easier to read. But TPT nearly doubles the word count and adds words such as “blessings of divine grace,” “supernatural peace,” and “our wonderful Father”.

Example 2: Luke 11 (The Lord’s Prayer)

One major critique (and one of the reasons Bible Gateway removed TPT from its listings) is that it greatly expands the Lord’s Prayer in Luke 11, making it much longer and more descriptive than the biblical text [6].

NASB/NLT:
 “Our Father in heaven, hallowed be Your name…” (standard Lord’s Prayer)

TPT:
 “Our heavenly Father, may the glory of Your name be the center on which our life turns. May Your Holy Spirit come upon us and cleanse us. Manifest Your kingdom on earth. And give us our needed bread for the coming day…” and so on.

Example 3: Luke 1:37 

NASB:
 “For nothing will be impossible with God.”
NLT:
 “For nothing is impossible with God.”

TPT:
 “No promise of God is empty of power, for with God there is no such thing as impossibility.”

TPT adds the idea that “no promise of God is empty of power,” which isn’t present in other translations. While it may sound comforting, it’s safe to conclude that it goes beyond what Jesus actually said.

Example 4: Mark 1:15

NASB:
 “…the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the gospel.”
NLT:
 “…the kingdom of God has come near. Repent and believe the good news!”

TPT:
 “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…”

Again, here the TPT inserts phrases like “realm” and  “experienced in its fullness” and “fulfillment of the age”.

A Sectarian Translation…?

Because of the kinds of additions and interpretive language we’ve just seen, many Bible scholars and reviewers have issued strong warnings against using TPT. With some scholars even going as far as placing TPT in the same class as sectarian (or cultic) translations, like the New World Translation (NWT) used by Jehovah’s Witnesses.

A sectarian translation is a version of the Bible that’s been shaped to fit the beliefs of a particular group. It might add extra words, change phrases, or include explanations that support the specific teachings and doctrines of that group.

To help you visualize this, let’s look at Wesley Huff’s Bible translation spectrum infographic below. It places translations on a continuum from literal and faithful to highly interpretive or sectarian.

On this spectrum, TPT sits toward the far right, among translations that take significant liberties with the text. Its position is a clear signal that it should not be relied on for teaching, doctrine, or serious study.

2. Using Aramaic to Justify Adding to Scripture

You might be wondering, “If TPT adds so many extra words and ideas, how does Brian Simmons justify doing this?”

Simmons explains these additions by saying that he translates many passages from Aramaic manuscripts, which he claims reveal deeper spiritual meanings that ordinary Greek-based translations supposedly miss [7].

He has even stated that, for centuries, it has been believed that the New Testament was first written in Greek, but that “some scholars” are now increasingly leaning toward the idea that the original New Testament manuscripts were actually written in Aramaic or Hebrew, and that many of the Greek texts are merely later copies.

At first glance, this can sound convincing. But when we look a little closer, serious problems begin to emerge.

The first problem is that Simmons never identifies who these scholars are. Without names, credentials, or published research to evaluate, there is no way to know whether these claims are true.

Second, it’s true that Aramaic is one of the languages found in the Bible, but only in very small portions. In the Old Testament, Aramaic appears in parts of Daniel (Daniel 2:4–7:28) and parts of Ezra (Ezra 4:8–6:18; 7:12–26). The majority of the Old Testament is written in Hebrew.

The New Testament, however, was originally written in Koine Greek, which was the common language used across the Roman world during the time of Jesus and the apostles. This means that when translators work on the New Testament, their primary source is always the original Greek manuscripts. Not later translations into other languages, like the Aramaic manuscripts Simmons appeals to.

This is because they are later translations of the Greek New Testament into Aramaic, produced after the New Testament had already been written and circulated in Greek. In other words, these Aramaic texts are themselves translations, not the original source.

So when Simmons uses these Aramaic versions, he is essentially using a translation to create another translation. This adds extra layers of interpretation and increases the risk of moving further away from what the Bible authors actually wrote.

Third, Simmons does not clearly identify the specific Aramaic manuscripts he claims to translate from. This makes it impossible for readers or other scholars to examine the sources, assess their reliability, or verify his translation choices.

3. It Reads More Like a Paraphrase than a Bible Translation

By now, you should be able to see where and how The Passion Translation falls short of being a true translation of the Bible. And one more way this shows up is in how it often behaves more like a paraphrase than an actual translation. In fact, this may be one of the reasons it has grown in popularity. Many people find it easier to read, which is often a characteristic of paraphrases.

But just in case you are not clear on the difference, A translation aims to faithfully communicate what the original biblical text says. And whether it is word-for-word or thought-for-thought. It aims to stay anchored to what the original Hebrew, Greek, and Aramaic manuscripts say.

A paraphrase, on the other hand, takes much greater freedom. It reshapes the text using the author’s own words, explanations, and interpretations. Paraphrases can be helpful for casual reading or reflection, but they are not reliable for teaching doctrine or careful Bible study, because they mix Scripture with the writer’s personal understanding.

When we look at TPT, we consistently see the marks of a paraphrase. For example:

• It expands verses into long, emotionally charged sentences.
• It adds explanations, spiritual language, and theological ideas that are not found in the original text.
• It often reads more like a commentary of one’s understanding than a translation of Scripture.

We already saw this in the earlier examples. Verses that are short and straightforward in the NASB and NLT become much longer in TPT. What we were really seeing is someone explaining the text in their own words, reshaping it, and layering in their own theology.

This matters because when a paraphrase is presented as a “translation,” readers may unknowingly treat someone’s personal interpretations as if they are the actual words of Scripture. And they can end up shaping their beliefs, doctrine, and understanding based on someone’s ideas unknowingly.

To be clear, paraphrases themselves are not wrong. Some believers find them helpful for devotional reading. The problem with TPT is that it presents itself as a legitimate Bible translation, even though it behaves more like a paraphrase than a translation, and in many places goes even beyond what responsible paraphrasing should do.

4. It Lacks Scholarly Oversight and Peer Review

Another serious concern with The Passion Translation is that it lacks proper scholarly review and accountability. What is usually referred to as peer review.

But what exactly is peer review, and why does it matter?

Peer review simply means that qualified experts carefully examine someone’s work before it is released to the public. In Bible translation, this involves multiple scholars trained in this work reviewing every part of the translation to ensure accuracy [8].

In short, peer review acts like spiritual quality assurance for the Bible we read.

That is why trusted translations like the NIV, ESV, NASB, CSB, and NLT are produced by large translation committees and undergo years of review and revision before publication.

The Passion Translation, however, does not seem to have followed this approach. There is no publicly available evidence of a translation committee that rigorously evaluates and corrects it in the way standard translations do [9]. Instead, what we have are endorsements from pastors and leaders with the same theological inclination as Simmons.

This means there are very few safeguards against personal beliefs, theological leanings, or interpretive creativity shaping the final text. Which is exactly the kind of problem peer review is designed to prevent.

When something as sacred as God’s Word is placed into the hands of one person without meaningful accountability, the risk is simply too high, even if the translator sincerely believes he is doing God’s work.

If You’ve Been Using The Passion Translation…

Based on everything we have looked at, it is my honest conclusion that I would not recommend The Passion Translation for personal study or teaching.

But if you’ve been reading The Passion Translation, please don’t feel guilty or beat yourself up. Many sincere believers use it without realizing how problematic it is. And that’s why I wrote this article to help sound the alarm and bring awareness.

What matters now is that you move toward a faithful translation. Thankfully, God has graciously given the church many reliable Bible translations that faithfully preserve His Word. In case you’d like help choosing a translation that fits your reading level and goals, you can check out this simple guide here: A Simple Guide to Choosing an English Bible Translation

Lastly, I would gently encourage you not to keep this information to yourself. If this article has helped bring clarity, consider sharing it with your friends, Bible study groups, church members, or anyone who may be using The Passion Translation without realizing the concerns surrounding it. Passing this along can help others make informed choices about the Bibles they read and trust.

Endnotes

1. https://www.thepassiontranslation.com/
2. https://biblesociety-kenya.org/bible-translation-process/?
3. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1vMTufSKaY8
4. https://churchwatchcentral.com/2017/07/23/narpostle-brian-simmons-the-william-hung-of-christianity/
5. https://biblethinker.org/is-brian-simmons-qualified-to-make-the-passion-translation/
6. https://www.christianitytoday.com/2022/02/passion-translation-tpt-bible-gateway-remove-charismatic-pa/
7. https://irondukeblog.wordpress.com/2015/08/27/a-new-version-of-the-bible-the-passion-translation/
8. https://www.biblica.com/niv-bible/niv-bible-translation-process/
9. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Passion_Translation