Petition Calls YouVersion to Remove the Passion Translation Amid Allegations of Plagiarism and Deception

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A petition has been launched to request that the YouVersion Bible app remove The Passion Translation (TPT) from its platform due to allegations of plagiarism and deception against its creator, Brian Simmons.

The petition, titled “An Appeal to YouVersion to Remove The Passion Translation,” was launched by David Fish earlier this month on Change.org and has received more than 15,000 signatures as of Friday, Protestia reported.

Brian Simmons, who authored TPT, claims that his Bible translation is a "dynamic equivalence" translation that reveals "the passionate heart of God.” However, recent evidence by Christian YouTuber Mike Winger Minor Prophets alleges the translation is based on unethical practices.

For instance, Simmons did not have an official role in translating the New Testament into the language of the Paya-Kuna people despite taking credit for it. While he has used “Dr.” in his publications, he lacks any sort of credentials.

One of Simmons most controversial statements is that an angel “commissioned” him to write TPT, while there are also allegations he plagiarized from other English-language Bible paraphrases, including The Message and The Living Bible.

Fish noted in his petition that TPT has previously been removed from Bible Gateway and calls YouVersion to the same.

“YouVersion is the most widely used Bible app in the world, and its inclusion of The Passion Translation lends the work a credibility the evidence does not support. In view of this, Bible Gateway already made the decision to remove this problematic work from their platform in 2022, ”stated Fish in his petition.

“We are therefore appealing to YouVersion to remove The Passion Translation from its website and app,” he added.

“Maintaining a diversity of translations is a worthy goal, but retaining a dishonest and unethical work does not align with YouVersion's stated culture and mission,” concluded Fish.

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Milton Quintanilla is a freelance writer and content creator. He is a contributing writer for CrosswalkHeadlines and the host of the For Your Soul Podcast, a podcast devoted to sound doctrine and biblical truth. He holds a Masters of Divinity from Alliance Theological Seminary.