This endeavor to translate
Some of the most glorious
And beautiful truths in all the Bible
Is dedicated to every missionary
And Bible translator
Who has ever labored to see
The revelation of the Word of God
Brought into the many languages
Spoken throughout the world.
You are the true heroes.
Translator’s Introduction
What great treasures are found in the Word of God! Every verse of the Bible carries power and revelation. Many don’t even realize what a privilege it is to have the Bible in a readable and understandable form.
For a number of years I was involved in a translation project to bring the Word of God to an indigenous people group. They needed a translation of the Scripture, for their language had never existed in written form. After the linguistic analysis was completed, the task at hand was to bring the power of the original manuscripts of the Greek texts into the Paya-Kuna dialect. It was a joy to have been even a small part in that translation project.
Now, many years later, the burden of my heart remains. We must have the potency of the Bible restored-unfiltered and unveiled-into a dynamic-equivalent version that will explode in our hearts with the wonder of revelation and insight. The Passion Translation continues now with our first installment of Paul’s writings.
What makes The Passion Translation so different?
The Bible is a book of passion and fire. It contains the most romantic, poetic, heart-filling words that have ever been written. To reveal the glory of the Word of God means you must expose the reader to the fire and passion it contains. This has been my desire in going through even the very logical letters of the Apostle Paul.
It has been my desire to leave the passion and emotion of the text unfiltered. How different will the words of the Bible sound to our hearts when read with the fire and passion of its Author. But is it accurate to the original manuscripts? Absolutely! And with none of the flavor removed!
Many new discoveries are being made regarding the original documents and manuscripts that have been compiled to form our Bible, especially the Aramaic manuscripts of the New Testament. Aramaic and Hebrew are related linguistically and both are considered to be emotional and poetic. Greek speaks to the mind while Aramaic and Hebrew speak powerfully to the heart!
For centuries, it has been believed that the New Testament was first written in Greek. (One of the primary stands is that scholars thought it was not feasible that Paul wrote in Aramaic to Greek-speaking communities, since he spoke and wrote Greek.) Some scholars now lean increasingly towards the thought that Aramaic and Hebrew texts of the New Testament are the original manuscripts, and that many of the Greek texts are copies, and a second generation from the originals! This is radically changing translation concepts, and will result in many new translations of the New Testament based on Aramaic.
I have compared both Greek and Aramaic translations in this monumental project, and have used both in Letters from Heaven by the Apostle Paul. You may consider it as an amalgamation of the two. When there is a vast difference in meaning, many times I have resorted to using the Aramaic alternative.
Most of all, God’s longing heart is that we would know Him and love Him. The fact that He wants to be loved, worshipped, and served must burn its way into our hearts through the written, inspired Word of God. May there be a holy fire kindled in your spirit as you read these Letters from Heaven by the Apostle Paul. Fascinating secrets of truth are waiting for you in The Passion Translation!
Brian Simmons