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Letting the "Power of the Ancient Texts Come Through"
"The Clear Word lets the power of ancient texts come through today. As the meaning of Scripture becomes more transparent, you see more of God's grace. His love shines through even in difficult Old Testament passages."1
Although Adventism lagged behind Mormonism, the Watchtower, and Christian Science in the publication of their version of the Bible, they have made up for lost time by outperforming these other organizations with numerous printings and changes. Since its first printing in 1994, The Clear Word Bible has been reworked into no less than seven unique versions of the Scriptures.
The seven versions are: The Clear Word Bible, ©1994,2 The Clear Word, ©1994,3 The Clear Word, ©2003,4 The Clear Word, ©2004 (Pocket edition),5 The Easy English Clear Word, ©2005,6 The Clear Word for Kids, ©2005,7 and Savior (The Clear Word version of the gospels, combined into one narrative), © 2008.8 The Clear Word Bible, original edition, has never been recalled or rejected by the Seventh-day Adventist organization. Although some changes have occurred to the text, the church has not publicly called for the original to be removed from circulation. Because the changes to the text in many cases are not directly doctrinal, recalling the early editions would not change the status of this work.
After receiving criticism for the title, the publisher removed the word "Bible" from the original The Clear Word Bible, and the words "An Expanded Paraphrase" were added to subsequent printings. These subsequent versions are not just reprintings with modifications to the title. They are different versions containing numerous changes to content throughout the books. Most modern publishers will be honest with their readers, indicating changes to content or revision of materials when books are reprinted. The Review and Herald Publishing Association, however, provides no statement to this effect, leaving the reader to believe that he/she has the same document in hand with only modifications to the title. In the publishing world, this lack of disclosure is tantamount to lying.
What is truly shocking, however, are not the changes, but the problematic passages that have remained. Although the back cover of The Clear Word indicates that the author/paraphraser is allowing "the power of the ancient texts [to] come through", he does not indicate that the texts are coming through a very strong Adventist theological lens, replete with quotes and paraphrases from the writings of Ellen G. White.
Clear Word Exposed
"The Clear Word lets the power of ancient texts come through today. As the meaning of Scripture becomes more transparent, you see more of God's grace. His love shines through even in difficult Old Testament passages."1
Although Adventism lagged behind Mormonism, the Watchtower, and Christian Science in the publication of their version of the Bible, they have made up for lost time by outperforming these other organizations with numerous printings and changes. Since its first printing in 1994, The Clear Word Bible has been reworked into no less than seven unique versions of the Scriptures.
The seven versions are: The Clear Word Bible, ©1994,2 The Clear Word, ©1994,3 The Clear Word, ©2003,4 The Clear Word, ©2004 (Pocket edition),5 The Easy English Clear Word, ©2005,6 The Clear Word for Kids, ©2005,7 and Savior (The Clear Word version of the gospels, combined into one narrative), © 2008.8 The Clear Word Bible, original edition, has never been recalled or rejected by the Seventh-day Adventist organization. Although some changes have occurred to the text, the church has not publicly called for the original to be removed from circulation. Because the changes to the text in many cases are not directly doctrinal, recalling the early editions would not change the status of this work.
After receiving criticism for the title, the publisher removed the word "Bible" from the original The Clear Word Bible, and the words "An Expanded Paraphrase" were added to subsequent printings. These subsequent versions are not just reprintings with modifications to the title. They are different versions containing numerous changes to content throughout the books. Most modern publishers will be honest with their readers, indicating changes to content or revision of materials when books are reprinted. The Review and Herald Publishing Association, however, provides no statement to this effect, leaving the reader to believe that he/she has the same document in hand with only modifications to the title. In the publishing world, this lack of disclosure is tantamount to lying.
What is truly shocking, however, are not the changes, but the problematic passages that have remained. Although the back cover of The Clear Word indicates that the author/paraphraser is allowing "the power of the ancient texts [to] come through", he does not indicate that the texts are coming through a very strong Adventist theological lens, replete with quotes and paraphrases from the writings of Ellen G. White.
Clear Word Exposed