Controversial Bible Translation Removes Endorsement from Michael W. Smith
The Passion Translation version of The Bible no longer has the endorsement of Grammy Award-winning singer-songwriter Michael W. Smith.
The endorsement disappeared from The Passion Bible website after Smith faced backlash for his endorsement of the Bible translation, a version that has divided Christians.
In his initial endorsement statement, Smith called the translation “a gift to Bible readers” and “a beautiful marriage of powerful accuracy and readable, natural language.”
“The vivid wording strips away the centuries, reminding me with every phrase that each prophecy, letter, history account, poem, vision, and parable is God’s Word to me today just as much as it was to the original audiences,” Smith wrote.
BroadStreet Publishing Group is the TPT translation’s publisher.
Christians pushed back against Smith’s endorsement, with many taking to Twitter to discuss the decision.
Mike Winger, a pastor from Southern California, tweeted, “I sincerely hope that @MichaelWSmith will reconsider his very troubling endorsement of TPT. Top scholars from a variety of Christian backgrounds unanimously say this is not a reliable Bible translation. And they are not just against paraphrases or persecuting the work as Brian Simmons has suggested.”
I sincerely hope that @MichaelWSmith will reconsider his very troubling endorsement of TPT. Top scholars form a variety of Christian backgrounds unanimously say this is not a reliable Bible translation. And they are not just against paraphrases or persecuting the work as Brian… pic.twitter.com/JiJbkeCNZP
— Mike Winger (@MikeWingerii) May 24, 2023
TPT has faced controversy over the years. Most recently, Bible Gateway removed the translation from its site.
TPT was translated by Brian Simmons, a former missionary linguist and pastor who now leads Passion and Fire Ministries.
After finding out that Bible Gateway had removed TPT from its site, Simmons wrote on Twitter that he was disappointed with the decision and “cancel culture is alive in the church world.”
His tweet has since been removed.
The TPT website states, “There is no such thing as a truly literal translation of the Bible, for there is not an equivalent language that perfectly conveys the meaning of the biblical text except as it is understood in its original cultural and linguistic setting.”
Related:
Michael W. Smith Faces Backlash for Endorsing Controversial Bible Translation
Photo courtesy: ©Getty Images/Terry Wyatt/Stringer
Amanda Casanova is a writer living in Dallas, Texas. She has covered news for ChristianHeadlines.com since 2014. She has also contributed to The Houston Chronicle, U.S. News and World Report and IBelieve.com. She blogs at The Migraine Runner.
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