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Full name The Clear Word Authorship Originally published 1994 Complete Bible published 1994 | 4/5 Google Play Abbreviation TCW Version revision 1996 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Other names The Clear Word "An Expanded Paraphrase" Translation type 100% paraphrase rate, Contemporary Similar The Bible in Living English, Modern Language Bible, Living Oracles, Emphasized Bible, Wessex Gospels | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Between the lines jack blanco on the clear word
The Clear Word, originally published in March 1994 as the Clear Word Bible, is an English-language "devotional paraphrase of the Bible expanded for clarity". It is an interpretive text of the Bible written as a personal devotional exercise by Jack Blanco, former dean of the School of Religion at Southern Adventist University, to be an additional study tool and devotional alongside the Bible. Major portions of the translation are material added by the author. It is printed in chapter-and-verse format, two columns to a page.
Contents
- Between the lines jack blanco on the clear word
- History and reception
- Controversy and criticism
- References
The free paraphrase was initially printed at the school by the Southern College Press of Southern Adventist University and sold in Church-owned Adventist Book Centers. Though The Clear Word is not officially endorsed by the Seventh-day Adventist Church, it is now being printed by the Review and Herald Publishing Association.
History and reception
Blanco originally wrote The Clear Word as a devotional exercise for himself. After friends and family saw what he did, they encouraged him to publish it. The New Testament part was first published and readers widely received and encouraged him to do the whole Bible.
It is considered a free paraphrase of the Bible:
In the preface Blanco explains precisely what he did in producing the paraphrase.
A former President of the General Conference of Seventh-day Adventists, Pastor Robert S. Folkenberg read it and endorsed it. It was also advertised on more than one occasion in the Adventist Review.
Blanco himself states in the preface of the book, "Those who are better qualified have given readers of the Holy Scriptures excellent translations for such purposes and undoubtedly will continue to do so as additional manuscripts come to light."
Controversy and criticism
In response to criticism, the South Pacific Division of the church released the following statement:
David Newman, editor of Ministry magazine wrote a letter expressing concerns about The Clear Word (June 28, 1994), stating that "A cursory examination of the Clear Word Bible reveals the prolific addition of many ideas not found in Scripture."
Others within the church, such as Phil Ward, have expressed criticism in two areas. One that the current publisher does not have a large enough footprint to get The Clear Word out to mainstream Christian book centers, and that the paraphrase has too much extra material in it.