⏱️ Estimated Reading Time: 3 min read
Listen or Watch
Scripture Has the Final Word
The Protestant Reformation confronted a fundamental issue of authority. Every teacher, tradition, council, and confession must remain accountable to God’s Word. Sola Scriptura recognizes the value of faithful pastors and the historic church while affirming that Scripture alone is our final infallible authority.That conviction remains essential today. Spiritual experiences, influential teachers, cultural pressure, and claims of new revelation must all be tested by Scripture.The Passion Translation as a Case Study
Dave considers Brian Simmons’s account of a supernatural commission and explains why no claimed spiritual experience places a translation beyond biblical examination. The central concern is whether a rendering faithfully communicates the biblical text or introduces the translator’s interpretation into it.The episode examines five passages:- John 1:14: The wording of John’s declaration that the Word became flesh.
- Romans 1:5: Added imagery in Paul’s teaching about grace and apostleship.
- Galatians 6:1: The description of spiritual believers restoring someone caught in sin.
- 1 Timothy 2:12: How adding “newly converted” affects the apparent scope of Paul’s instruction.
- 1 Timothy 6:16: How introducing “his fullness” qualifies Paul’s statement about God’s invisibility.
Revelation, Illumination, and Scripture’s Sufficiency
The episode also addresses modern apostles and prophets, claims of continuing revelation, and the theological concerns associated with the New Apostolic Reformation. Dave distinguishes revelation from illumination: the Holy Spirit enables believers to understand and apply the truth God has already given in Scripture.Putting Biblical Discernment into Practice
- Test every teacher and spiritual claim by God’s Word.
- Use trustworthy Bible translations and read passages in context.
- Distinguish biblical commands from pastoral counsel and personal judgment.
- Help people who use the Passion Translation with patience and clear biblical explanation.
- Grow deeply in Scripture rather than becoming consumed with controversy.
Key Scriptures
2 Timothy 3:16–17; Mark 7:8–13; 2 Peter 1:21; 1 John 4:1; John 1:14; Romans 1:5; Galatians 6:1; 1 Timothy 2:12; 1 Timothy 6:15–16; Hebrews 1:1–2; Ephesians 2:20; John 17:17; 2 Timothy 4:2; Romans 8:1.
Dave Jenkins is happily married to his wife, Sarah, and lives in beautiful Southern Oregon. He is a writer, editor, and speaker who loves Christ, His people, the Church, and sound theology.
Dave serves as the Executive Director of Servants of Grace Ministries and the Executive Editor of Theology for Life Magazine. He is the Host and Producer of the Equipping You in Grace Podcast and a contributor to and producer of Contending for the Word.
He is the author of The War of Worldviews: Truth, Lies, and the Battle for the Christian Mind (Theology for Life, 2026), Contentment: The Journey of a Lifetime (Theology for Life, 2024), The Word Matters: Defending Biblical Authority Against the Spirit of the Age and The Word Explored: The Problem of Biblical Illiteracy and What To Do About It (House to House, 2021).
You can connect with Dave on Facebook, X (Twitter), Instagram, YouTube, or subscribe to his newsletter.
When he is not engaged in ministry work, Dave enjoys spending time with his wife, going to movies, sharing a meal at a favorite restaurant, or playing a round of golf with friends. He is also a voracious reader, particularly of Reformed theology and the Puritans, and is often found working through a stack of new books from a wide range of Christian publishers.
Dave earned his M.A.R. and M.Div. from Liberty Baptist Theological Seminary.
