Wycliffe Disputes Claims By TPT Creator Brian Simmons That He Was Involved in Their Translation
Wycliffe Bible Translators USA has disputed claims by The Passion Translation (TPT) author Brian Simmons that he was involved in translating the Kuna translation in Panama in the 1980s as previously claimed, with Wycliffe Chief Communications Officer Vicky Mixson sharing in a statement, “It would be inaccurate to describe him as a translator or a “co-translator.”
“Apostle” Dr. Brian Simmons is the author of The Passion Translation, which is a single-author “translation” of the scriptures favored by Bethel Chuch and New Apostolic Reformation adherents. Simmons has claimed that Jesus appeared to him during a trip to heaven and gave him “secrets” of the Hebrew language, telling him to make a new translation. (He named his bible after the angel that took him there.)
Despite using the title of ‘Dr.,’ this designation wasn’t based on his scholarly prowess.
Instead, he received it from Wagner Leadership Institute – an NAR organization founded by C. Peter Wagner that offers courses in subjects like dream interpretation and miracle-working. Here, folks can get a “Masters of Spiritual Healing, Deliverance, and Warfare” or a “Masters of Apostolic Leadership and Applied Ministry.”
Simmons claimed during a conversation with Sid Roth that one time, he was so full of the Holy Spirit that God “literally” melted a wall in his house. He further claimed that following this incident, he went shopping where anyone who came within 12 feet of him fell to the ground, including knocking out 60 children. Simmons claimed that Jesus showed him John 22, an extra chapter of John that’s not in any bible, and claimed he went on a chariot ride with a famous prophet all throughout New England, flying through the sky and hovering above houses.
As part of his testimony, however, Simmons has claimed over the years to have been the co-translator of the Paya-Kuna Bible in the 1980s, repeatedly taking credit for its release and leveraging his involvement as the basis and qualifications to create TPT.
An archived version of his About section on his website reads:
He told CBN in 2014:
He told ThinkTheology in 2016:
And his bio at the The Passion Translation Bible School reads
In fact, he claimed on the Gil Hodges podcast that he specifically translated a few chapters of Genesis of the Paya-Kuna Bible.
However, after being asked about this for years, Wycliffe has issued a statement regarding Simmon’s involvement as the book’s co-translator, offering this brutal takedown:
It would be inaccurate to describe him as a “translator” or “co-translator” on any project supported by Wycliffe USA, as he was not involved in linguistic analysis or translation.
His unofficial role as a comprehension checker required familiarity with the local language but no formal training.
They also add:
Based on our understanding, Mr. Simmons left Panama and Ethnos 360 six years before the Border Kuna New Testament was published in 1993, and he would have had no input on the final translation.
The statement in full:
As to his own TPT “Bible” Simmons claims
I believe I got baptized in the spirit Revelation in that Library room of Heaven… Every time I open the Bible I get fresh insight, It speaks to me, it goes beyond the mind. I get dreams and revelation from the Lord that is clear and prophetic…There is a breath upon this work that goes beyond a human translator. It is the word of God, it’s God-breathed, and He is wanting this God-breathed word to come alive in this last days. He wants to give us a Revival Bible and I believe the Passion Translation can really be part of that.
Simmons gets all testy when people call it a paraphrase and not a translation, but what does he expect with passages like these provided by Sara Boyd that are added in and are drenched in NAR terminology and doublespeak, not to mention the running commentary found in thousands of footnotes?
Galatians 2:19
ESV: For through the law I died to the law, so that I might live to God.TPT: It was when I tried to obey the law that I was condemned with a curse, because I’m not able to fulfill every single detail of it. But because the Messiah lives in me, I’ve now died to the law’s dominion over me so that I can live for God in heaven’s freedom!
ESV: Let the one who is taught the word share all good things with the one who teaches.
TPT: And those who are taught the Word will receive an impartation from their teacher; a sharing of wealth takes place between them.
ESV: I love you, O Lord, my strength.
TPT: Lord, I passionately love you! I want to embrace you, For now you’ve become my Power!
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