Articles by BibleThinker

Open description for time stamps. Welcome to my Passion Project! Where real scholars test the wild claims of Brian Simmons about his new Bible, The Passion Translation, so that YOU can know what’s really going on with this suddenly popular new Bible version.

Today’s video features Dr. Darrell Bock and his thoughts after reviewing the book of Ephesians. Scroll down for links to Dr. Bock’s paper. This same link will have ALL the reviews and papers as they are published. You should see a total of 5 uploaded by mid way through January. After that I will need to wait a while for more scholars to finish their papers and do interviews. I hope to have it all done in the next few months. What was my goal with this? I want the people of Christ to know the truth about this “translation” so that they can love what God has said without Brian Simmons altering it in unjustified ways. However, in the course of researching for this project I’ve uncovered some other very concerning things about Brian Simmons’ teachings including false prophecy and various extreme claims regarding his own spiritual experiences. I’ll be sharing some of this in future videos as well since I have realized that he is not just styling himself as a Bible translator but as an inspired Bible interpreter who is going to release a last days transformation in the people of God so that “everything that can be said about Jesus can be said about you”. Yeah, it’s weird. Stay tuned to my channel for more info on this in the coming weeks.

LINK to all interviews AND papers as they are uploaded. https://biblethinker.org/index.php/th…

A direct download link for just Dr. Bock’s paper https://biblethinker.org/images/Notes…

Here is Dr. Bock’s “The Table” program on YouTube – https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list…

Darrell Bock’s CV https://blogs.bible.org/curriculum-vi…

My website https://BibleThinker.org

Time Stamps
0:00 Intro
0:16 What is My Passion Project?
0:38 Today’s video synopsis.
1:41 Who is Dr. Darrell Bock and why is he reviewing TPT?
2:50 Why it is not truthful to call TPT a “translation.”
4:09 If Dr. Bock was to evaluate TPT as if it were a paraphrase what would he say?
5:15 The CENTRAL issue of Simmons misleading people about using Aramaic in Ephesians.
8:14 How Brian Simmons abuses homonyms which he says are a secret that God gave him.
12:32 TPT changes the focus in Ephesians 1 from God to us. It is too anthropocentric.
13:59 One example of a where Simmons adds a whole sentence to the Bible.
without italics or footnote.
15:50 In Eph 2 Simmons gives us more authority than we have in this passage.
17:32 Another passage where TPT changes the focus from God to us.
19:30 Are getting what Paul really wrote in TPT version of Ephesians? Spoiler: no.
20:38 A number of times Ephesians is changed in TPT from speaking to tho corporate church to individuals.
21:48 How a mistranslation in Eph 5 vs. 11 will can mess up how we apply the Bible.
23:25 How TPT limits what Ephesians is saying about marriage roles.
26:13 Brian tries to use “the Aramaic” to justify his alterations but Dr. Bock says this misleads the reader.
27:17 How TPT mishandled the passage on slavery in Ephesians.
28:45 Another example of taking the issue of slavery out of Ephesians with an unjustified appeal to “Aramaic” that doesn’t exist.
30:40 The danger of TPT.
32:08 Dr. Bock comments on the claims that TPT website makes.
32:46 Dr. Bock reacts to Bill Johnson’s quote endorsing TPT.
33:37 What paraphrase Bible would Dr. Bock recommend?
34:13 The challenge of translation and paraphrase and where TPT fits in that.
35:19 I ask Dr. Bock to comment briefly on The Message. I’m still not very happy with it 😉
36:29 Does TPT distort the Bible even though their web site says they don’t?
37:26 Should TPT be in bookstores, Bible app, and Bible web sites?
39:10 Did God give Brian Simmons secrets of Hebrew and Greek?
41:37 Brian lacks real credentials and claims supernatural gifting. It could be true but it sure

Open description for time stamps. I’ve hired a number of scholars to review Brian Simmons’ seriously flawed Bible version. This is my “Passion Project”. Today’s video features Dr. Nijay Gupta and his thoughts after reviewing the book of Galatians. Scroll down for links to Dr. Gupta’s paper. This same link will have ALL the reviews and papers as they are published. You should see a total of 5 uploaded by the beginning of January. After that I will need to wait a while for more scholars to finish their papers and do interviews. I hope to have it all done in the next few months. What’s was my goal with this? I want the people of Christ to know the truth about this “translation” so that they can love what God has said without Brian Simmons altering it in unjustified ways. However, in the course of researching for this project I’ve uncovered some other very concerning things about Brian Simmons’ teachings including false prophecy and various extreme claims regarding his own spiritual experiences. I’ll be sharing some of this in future videos as well since I have realized that he is not just styling himself as a Bible translator but as an inspired Bible interpreter who is going to release a last days transformation in the people of God so that “everything that can be said about Jesus can be said about you”. Yeah, it’s weird. Stay tuned to my channel for more info on this in the coming weeks.

0:00 How Simmons’ secret revelation led to my Passion Project.
1:43 My disclaimer.
2:36 Who is Dr. Gupta and why is he reviewing Galatians?
4:19 Brian Simmons claims to have supernatural secrets.
5:53 Simmons claims TPT is a translation but it is NOT.
8:23 The difference between “official use” and “supplementary” Bibles.
10:51 TPT web site misleads people.
14:38 Does it seem like TPT has gone through the normal scholarly reviews before publishing?
17:02 Outrageous claims Simmons is making about TPT.
20:39 Does Dr. Gupta think Brian Simmons is qualified to make a translation?
22:08 “Unusual decisions” in TPT.
22:37 What Dr. Gupta find “MOST TROUBLING” about TPT (hint: Aramaic).
31:44 Should we just use TPT as a supplementary/secondary Bible?
33:22 Me and Dr. Gupta discuss The Message Bible briefly.
35:01 TPT is a lot like a “Targum”.
37:28 What “positive” choices were made in TPT?
39:02 TPT handles the word “religion” in unusual ways.
40:49 TPT uses “legalism” in unusual ways.
41:02 TPT does confusing things with the word “faith.”
41:56 Slave is mistranslated in a “most egregious” way.
43:47 Simmons’ “natural realm” creates a gnostic-like mistake.
44:29 The cumulative effect the TPT can have on you.
45:34 Artificial insertion of theology into Galatians.
46:50 Didn’t TPT just come out with a new 2020 edition that fixed these problems?
47:08 Dr. Gupta reacts to misleading quotes from TPT website.
49:10 Dr. Gupta reacts to the Bill Johnson endorsement of TPT.
50:38 Is it good for TPT be in apps, websites and bookstores?
51:21 What paraphrase would Dr. Gupta recommend?
52:51 What can you say to someone who loves TPT?
53:42 How do Simmons’ outrageous claims measure up to reality?
56:56 Dr. Gupta’s final word on TPT.
57:50 Plugging some other books by Dr. Gupta.
58:22 We reflect on my Passion Project.
1:00:11 I’ve got a few announcements for you all.
1:01:08 Brian Simmons’ false prophecy.

LINK to all interviews AND papers as they are uploaded. https://biblethinker.org/index.php/the-passion-translation

Dr. Gupta’s gave me links to a few books of his you might be interested in.
1 & 2 Thessalonians https://amzn.to/3akb6vM
Colossians https://amzn.to/2KxJdFD
A Beginner’s Guide to New Testament Studies https://amzn.to/2KaEV7a
Philippians https://amzn.to/37sbiqV

My website https://BibleThinker.org

Question Time Stamps for Quick Reference:
0:00 Introduction
1. 0:18 Is the command in Genesis to “be fruitful and multiply” still applicable to us today? Is it wrong for married couples to choose not to have children if they don’t feel the desire or the calling to be parents?
2. 13:43 Am I being too legalistic by not wanting to sing Hillsong, Elevation Worship, and Bethel Music due to the doctrines of the churches they are a part of?
3. 17:50 Can you please talk about your view on Netflix? Should Christians cancel their Netflix subscription?
4. 19:33 Why did the Holy Spirit leave Saul, and why did an evil spirit from the Lord enter into him? Why in the world would God do something that seems to be evil?
5. 22:25 Shmuley Boteach says that the New Testament contains anti-Semitic propaganda, and that Christians should reject those passages as forgeries. What do you think?
6. 24:56 I was raised a Jehovah’s Witness and baptized as a kid, but not in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. How do I know what church to choose now, and who should baptize me? I’m afraid of being misled.
7. 28:06 I have liberal Christian friends who believe they are Christians, but also have many unbiblical beliefs and practices. How should 1 Corinthians 5: 11 affect my relationships with them?
8. 31:52What does the Bible say about the role of church? Should it be focused more on reaching unbelievers, or on teaching believers who then go out and evangelize?
9. 34:28 Do you ever plan to do a deep dive into the authorship of the contested Pauline epistles? I feel this would be a great resource for those in talks with more liberal Christians.
10. 35:24 What are the steps to take while dealing with psychological doubts where no amount of reason helps you feel better?
11. 39:06 Do you think the SDA church (Seventh Day Adventism) is a cult?
12. 39:37 I have family that believes that Jews will go to Heaven even if they haven’t been saved by Jesus. What should I say to them when they say that?
13. 42:37 How does God’s will not infringe on free will? What is the sense of even praying for a situation if it’s already in Gods will?
14. 44:48 Do you believe amillennialism is biblical, and what arguments do you have for or against it?
15. 46:00 I feel called to spread God’s Word but I suffer greatly from Asperger’s Syndrome. Is my fear of crowds, public speaking, and inability to convey a thought coherently a valid fear?
16. 48:10 I got away with felonies years ago. No one got hurt & I have confessed to God & repented. Is the Godly thing to do to turn myself in? I have OCD & can’t tell if I’m feeling OCD or God’s conviction.
17. 48:53 If the Angels weren’t “100% safe” in Heaven seeing as they were able to be seduced by Satan, how can we be certain we will be safe in eternity with God once we go to Heaven.
18. 51:24 I have recently gotten back into full-time ministry. I’m dealing with online “heresy hunters” that badger me through email and such about my teaching. How do you handle these kinds of people?
19. 54:10 Can you talk about why Jesus allowed Simon to help Him carry His cross?
20. 55:45 How much utility should we find in the Church Fathers? I am still Protestant, but want to be consistent with historic Christianity, so should we view the fathers with any extra credibility?

1:00:24 Passion Project Update & Closing Announcements

Here’s my study on Penal Substitutionary Atonement – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O4bTHScjdEo&list=PLZ3iRMLYFlHttVR0rkvhBfA-IKrg5SGcp

Every Friday at 1pm PT
Here’s how you get your questions answered in the Q&A
1) Please reread your question before you ask to ensure that it will make sense to me. Clarity is paramount.
2) Wait till we go live before asking. We don’t take questions until then.
3) Put a “Q” at the beginning of your question.
4) Please only ask once, our mods are checking the chat continually.
5) I’m truly sorry if I’m unable to get to your question. I know its a bummer, but I am doing my

Here’s Tim Barnett’s answer to the challenge! I hope you’ll consider subscribing to his channel. It’s one of my favorite Christian YouTube channels and they are just getting started! https://youtu.be/WWN48lqa-sY

It’s not very easy to deal with so many confusions and misconceptions with only 18 seconds per answer. As I’m typing this I don’t know if Tim made it under 3 minutes or not, so we may all end up atheists anyways. Oh well.

Here’s my video on “Did God create evil?” which explains Isaiah 45:7, among other things. https://youtu.be/GSToZ_4yh54

Question Time Stamps for Quick Reference:
0:00 Introduction
1. 0:09 If aliens do exist, how would that affect the faith of Christians? Would aliens disprove Christianity?
2. 16:19 Regarding 1 Corinthians 7: 14 where it speaks of sanctification for the unbeliever if married to a believer, I have found it hard to understand that passage and was wondering if you could help me.
3. 20:11 Have you heard of the Documentary Hypothesis, and if so, can you tell me your thoughts about it?
4. 22:00 I believe in Christianity, but I have major doubts about Heaven & a fear of death. Can I know for sure while here on earth that it’s true?
5. 27:00 How is Hebrews 13:2 to be interpreted? Have some people literally entertained angels without being aware? Do angels actually interact with creation in a tangible sense?
6. 30:39 I often hear Christians say that when we face big struggles it’s because good things are coming. Is there any Biblical truth to this, or is this just a different version of the prosperity gospel?
7. 32:04 Is “revival” biblical?
8. 33:42 Why does Isaiah 9:6 call Jesus the “everlasting Father”? Oneness Pentecostals keep using this verse against me and I haven’t seen a good response. I don’t want to twist the Bible.
9. 34:56 I have such a sensitive conscience that I feel it’s a burden sometimes. People can’t even remember what I’m apologizing for! How can I change this? Not to be free to sin, but to live.
10. 37:36 Are women allowed to speak at all during Bible study? Such as read the Bible, pray the opening/closing prayer, or give commentary, and just not teach? Or do we have to be completely silent the entire time?
11. 38:07 What are your thoughts on Judges 11 and why Jephthah made his vow and followed through with it, even after God’s Spirit was on him?
12. 43:35 Why don’t we celebrate Jewish holidays? God says in the OT to observe them forever. During the 1,000 year reign with Christ, we all observe them. Why don’t grafted-in Christians observe them now?
13. 46:00 I am trying to disciple my dad and he says he believes in Christ, yet wants nothing to do with Him. What do I do?
14. 47:53 How would you recommend determining credible commentaries, studies, & pastors? I am a new Christian & have concern about being inadvertently led astray by unbiblical interpretations & viewpoints.
15. 49:20 Mike describes himself as “charismatic” a lot. I’m just wondering if he can clarify what he means by that. Does he or his church practice the “gifts of the Spirit,” like tongues, prophecy, etc.?
16. 54:00 How can you know for sure that a loved one went to heaven?
17. 54:44 I have heard the range for Jesus’ death to be between 26-36 (A.D.) with 30 and 33 being the most agreed upon contenders for Jesus’ death. Can we know for certain the exact year He died?
18. 55:58 If God said He would rid all creatures with a flood, what happened to the fish? And if they died, how did they multiply, because fish can’t be on an ark?
19. 56:29 Are “white lies” ok, to spare your spouse’s feelings? For example, when they ask what someone said and you say “I’m not really sure,” but you do remember.
20. 59:09 How much freedom do we have in the marriage bed? Are some sexual acts prohibited even for married couples?

Every Friday at 1pm PT
Here’s how you get your questions answered in the Q&A
1) Please reread your question before you ask to ensure that it will make sense to me. Clarity is paramount.
2) Wait till we go live before asking. We don’t take questions until then.
3) Put a “Q” at the beginning of your question.
4) Please only ask once, our mods are checking the chat continually.
5) I’m truly sorry if I’m unable to get to your question. I know its a bummer, but I am doing my best.
6) If you arrive late we may have already gathered 20 questions. Please check the live chat to see if we are full on Qs. Thanks!

Dr. Tremper Longman tells you what’s up with The Passion Translation. My name is Mike Winger and this is my “Passion Project”. A project where I’ve hired a number of scholars to do reviews of different books Brian Simmons’ seriously flawed Bible version. Scroll down for the links you are looking for!

0:00 The glorious intro
1:50 The reviewer’s credentials
3:30 Is it honest to call TPT a “translation”?
5:45 Dr. Longman’s BIGGEST issue with TPT’s Song of Songs?
8:19 How big of a deal is this really?
10:01 Simmons is wrong about church history.
16:25 Simmons blames DEMONS for people not agreeing with him.
18:57 How much alteration is taking place in TPT’s Song of Songs?
20:01 Is Dr. Longman bothered by translations that aren’t word for word?
20:51 Does Brian Simmons mislead people about The Passion Translation?
22:20 How Brian Simmons uses the etymological fallacy to translate.
25:00 An example of Simmons adding words to the text.
26:52 Simmons’ use of homonyms is unjustified and misleading.
29:34 How you CAN see Christ in the Song of Songs without altering the text.
30:25 How Simmons misuses the Greek Septuagint and Aramaic.
33:36 Footnotes in TPT may mislead people about scholars.
35:31 Should we trust Simmons’ wild claims?
38:47 Factual error #1 – En Gedi means goat, not lamb.
41:15 Factual error #2 – Sharon does not mean “his song”.
44:32 Factual error #3 – Seal does not mean “prison cell”.
46:50 Where does Dr. Longman think Simmons is getting this stuff from?
48:01 How the way TPT was made is different than how most translations are made.
50:52 What degree qualifications does Brian Simmons have?
51:43 Are people opposed to TPT just spiritually dead religious scholars?
52:55 Are most translations bad?
53:56 Should TPT be in churches, bookstores and Bible apps?
55:21 Do you have anything NICE to say about Song of Songs in TPT?
55:44 A deceptive quote from Simmons’ web site.
56:21 Bill Johnson’s endorsement of The Passion Translation
56:54 A misleading quote from the 2020 edition of TPT
57:28 What Dr. Longman would say to a Christian who loves The Passion Translation
58:19 My FAVORITE part of Dr. Longman’s review!
58:55 What you can expect from my Passion Project.
59:22 Special “cameo” from Brian Simmons

You can download Dr. Longman’s paper as a Microsoft Word document for free right here. https://biblethinker.org/images/Notes/FINAL_Longman_TPT_-_Song_of_Songs.docx

If you want to read it on my website instead of downloading it, this link will work. https://biblethinker.org/index.php/our-media/message/review-of-tpt-song-of-songs-by-tremper-longman/read

This is the playlist where I will eventually upload all the interviews as they become available. There should be 5 coming over the next couple months and I hope to eventually add more as I’m able to get more scholars involved in the project. https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLZ3iRMLYFlHuv-ISp_iIw1WL8zaEm86L8

I want to give thanks to those who have donated to this ministry to not only enable me to continue teaching regularly online but to go above and beyond by doing this special project and to make everything I do totally free.

Question Time Stamps for Quick Reference:
0:00 Introduction
1. 0:09 One of my pastors used TPT on Sunday. What should I do? I would like to give him the benefit of the doubt that he just doesn’t know much about it, but I’m not happy at all that this “thing” (can’t even call it a translation) was used in my church. WWJD?
2. 5:14 Have you any solid information on Nicky Gumbel, Alpha, and The Message Bible (which he recommends)? Couldn’t find it in a search here, and some friends think he’s OK!
3. 10:29 What is the best way for me to prepare to one day be a pastor? I am 20 years old and attending college and then seminary. Any suggestions for the years of preparation ahead of me?
4. 13:30 How do I organize my prayer life and find ways to serve the Lord in quarantine?
5. 15:58 How would you respond to an abusive father who pushes the narrative to “honor your parents” (when he really means submit/worship) and disregards the Scripture to “leave and cleave”?
6. 19:20 How do you go about finding scholarly articles for the studies you are doing? I have begun doing my own study going through Matthew, and some scholarly work would be really helpful!
7. 21:26 What does the bible say about “listening prayer”? Should we spend time in silence listening for God’s voice?
8. 24:09 Why did God not desire for the people to “return and be healed” in Isaiah 6?
9. 29:23 What did Jesus mean by turn the other cheek, give away your tunic, and go an extra mile in Mathew 5: 38-42? What about self-defense, or when being taken advantage of?
10. 37:02 Is accepting Jesus in our life the only way to Heaven? For someone who has never heard the Gospel or has seen harmful representations of it (i.e. JWs), will they also be given grace?
11. 41:00 How do I help my mother in law she says she has been ordained as an elder in the church and she is excited about it? thanks.
12. 42:47 How do I find God? Praying and reading the Bible got me nowhere in 5 months. And church is not available at the moment. New Age gave me comfort while searching, but Christ only gave me confusion.
13. 47:10 How do we study the Bible properly?
14. 48:06 Is there any evidence on the inspiration of the canonization of the Bible? or is the canonization something that was helpful but not inspired and thus inspired texts beyond the Bible could exist?
15. 52:28 Why did god create the tree of the knowledge of good and evil if His foreknowledge knew they would sin?
16. 54:46 In Mark 8:5-9, why does Jesus ask for bread in vs. 5, and why do they bring the fish to Him in vs. 7? Does it mean Jesus cannot create food “out of thin air,” but He needs something to start with?
17. 57:36 Do you view the early chapters of genesis as mythology or as history? I know it’s not a key issue, but would love your opinion!
18. 59:46 If I have turned away from the Lord after being close to him is there any chance of coming back to him? I basically lived like the world for a year and a half and don’t know if God is done with me.
19. 1:01:05 Any tips on how to start believing? I’ve been atheistic all my life.
20. 1:03:08 Our church believes you have the Holy Spirit once saved but can receive a prayer language through a separate experience called the baptism of the Holy Spirit. Is this scriptural?
Bonus Q: 21. 1:05:08 Should a Christian take the Covid vaccine?

My most recent video on The Passion Translation. https://youtu.be/2EtXBxAuZ3g
But interviews with scholars are coming very soon!

Every Friday at 1pm PT
Here’s how you get your questions answered in the Q&A
1) Please reread your question before you ask to ensure that it will make sense to me. Clarity is paramount.
2) Wait till we go live before asking. We don’t take questions until then.
3) Put a “Q” at the beginning of your question.
4) Please only ask once, our mods are checking the chat continually.
5) I’m truly sorry if I’m unable to get to your question. I know its a bummer, but I am doing my best.
6) If you arrive late we may have already ga

This is a clip from one of the most important videos I’ve made, here’s the full video – https://youtu.be/VIgVAlI8T2c

Christopher Hitchens is an icon to many atheists. He was an entertaining mix of brilliant, snarky, irreverent and British. One thing he is well-known for is debating theists and making fools of them, at least from the perspective of some people. I was always struck by this particular challenge that he threw out regularly in debates. Hitchens was so proud of it that I once heard him encouraging crowds of atheists to use this challenge as well. He felt that it really proved something, and I dare say many atheists agreed. What’s really odd to me is that none of his debate partners (to my knowledge) ever offered a good response to his challenge. This is odd because the primary moral of loving God with all our heart, mind, soul and strength answers this atheist dilemma quite well. It not only answers the question it gets right to the heart of what an atheist has lost when they have sadly embraced a false worldview which rejects God’s existence. To any atheists that have read this far I’d like to say that this isn’t meant to be a smackdown or a slap in the face. Rather, this is meant to open a door to the possibility that the most important thing in life is being robbed from you, and your atheism is the robber.

After I uploaded this video a friend sent me a clip of William Lane Craig answering this challenge 10 years ago! I was surprised to see how similar his answer was and now I’m wondering how much my own answer may have been influenced by Craig’s but without me remembering it. Obviously we are both influenced by the teaching of Jesus, but still, It seems likely that I heard this somewhere along the way and forgot. Anyhow, here is Craig’s answer (he is always brilliant). https://youtu.be/qqt3Ie8l-fo

This was my favorite interview so far on The Passion Translation. I’m really hoping that those who are open to hearing the evidence will consider ditching Brian Simmons’ Passion Translation. The evidence is mounting up more and more that this is not a good or faithful Bible translation. As scholars weigh in on this work it’s only becoming more and more evident that my early concerns about it were well-founded. I’m hoping that my brothers and sisters in the charismatic movement will have ears to hear this and that organizations like YouVersion, Bible Gateway and various Christian bookstores would stop carrying this problematic and misleading “translation”. Stay tuned because I will start posting interviews with scholars VERY soon which will help to drive the final nail in the coffin of The Passion Translation. I love the word of God way too much to just stand by and tolerate such alterations being made to what God has said.

Jesus, save us from modern morals! Actually, that’s pretty much what He does when a scribe asks Him to tell us the most important command in the Law. Jesus brilliantly and simply sums up not only the Law of Moses but the moral duty of mankind with two simple statements. Love God with all and above all and love others as yourself. Our job is to let this truth invade all our moral reasoning and to make sure we don’t turn it into a cliché and rob it of it’s beauty and life changing results. The way this truth saves us from modern morality is by installing love of God above love of self or others. Yeah, that’s the part everyone gets wrong. But Jesus sets us right. To me, one of the most remarkable things about all this is that love and relationship is at the heart of the moral purpose of mankind. We exist for love. We literally have love as our highest and constant moral duty toward God and others. Wow. I’m literally blown away by this but how could it be any different? After all, God IS love. Let that sink in.

Man, I LOVE this study through Mark! This is part 49, see the WHOLE Gospel of Mark playlist here https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLZ3iRMLYFlHuGenHwUdeiQ5M-uj5XW4sF