I’m sometimes asked about why I quote from particular translations, and the answer is, it depends. Sometimes it was a particular translation that evoked what I’m writing about. Often, nearly any translation will do, and I copy the one I happen to be looking at.

You may have noticed that The Passion Translation appears from time to time. It’s new for me, and I’m enjoying reading it, and sometimes I’m picking up new insights from either the phrasing or the textual notes. Here’s the translator’s objective:

The Passion Translation (TPT) is a new, heart-level translation, using Hebrew, Greek, and Aramaic manuscripts, that expresses God’s fiery heart of love to this generation, merging the emotion and life-changing truth of God’s Word.

I get a little disappointed when people we have recommended it to won’t even try it if they discover something they don’t like about the (reported) theology of the translator, Bruce Simmons.

I’ve already written about the dangers of rejecting people because of differences in theology. The truth is, my theology is not the standard, and it’s a problem when I act like it is.

Another possible problem with rejecting a translation / ministry / teacher / preacher for the wrong reason popped up while I was listening to a sermon on Psalm 88, a very negative Psalm about life not going right. Other Psalms like that start or end on a positive note. Not this one, it’s complaining all the way through.

What does that have to do with rejecting a translation? I think we would all like things to go well all the time. No illness. No accidents. No relationship issues. We’d also like our translations done by people we agree with 100% on every detail. We might like the same for the books that we read. But life is messier than that.

John spoke up and said, “Teacher, we noticed someone was using your name to cast out demons, so we tried to stop him because he wasn’t one of our group.” “Don’t stop him!” Jesus replied. “For the one who does miracles in the power of my name proves he is not my enemy. And whoever is not against us is for us. (Mark 9:38 – 40, Passion Translation)

For we dare not class ourselves or compare ourselves with those who commend themselves. But they, measuring themselves by themselves, and comparing themselves among themselves, are not wise. (2 Corinthians 10.12, NKJV)

Of course, we wouldn’t dare to put ourselves in the same class or compare ourselves with those who rate themselves so highly. They compare themselves to one another and make up their own standards to measure themselves by, and then they judge themselves by their own standards. What self-delusion! (2 Corinthians 10.12, Passion Translation)

Why did you turn all my friends against me? You’ve made me like a cursed man in their eyes. No one wants to be with me now. You’ve caught me in a trap with no way out. Every day I beg for your help. Can’t you see my tears? My eyes are swollen with weeping. My arms are wide, longing for mercy, but you’re nowhere to be found. (Psalm 88.8, 9, Passion Translation)

(By the way, I believe it’s OK to pick a translation and stay with it and choose not to read another for whatever reason, as long as we understand that no translation of the scriptures is perfect and there’s no virtue in NOT reading a particular translation!)