The Clear Word Bible: An Adventist Doctrinal Paraphrase

The Clear Word Bible: An Adventist Doctrinal Paraphrase

The Clear Word Bible, published in 1994 by Seventh-day Adventist theologian Jack Blanco, is marketed as a “devotional paraphrase.” While it presents itself as a tool to make Scripture easy to understand, it is in reality a theologically biased rewriting of the Bible. Rather than drawing from the Hebrew and Greek manuscripts, Blanco reshapes verses to reflect distinctive Adventist doctrines — embedding denominational beliefs into the very text of the Bible itself.

Doctrinal Bias and Distortions

The most troubling feature of the Clear Word is how it modifies key passages to match Adventist theology, blurring the line between Scripture and commentary:

• Exodus 20:8–10 (The Sabbath Command) — Instead of simply restating the biblical command to “remember the Sabbath day by keeping it holy,” the Clear Word expands it with explicit Adventist teaching about Saturday observance, placing sectarian distinctives directly into the Ten Commandments.

• 1 Thessalonians 4:16–17 (The Second Coming) — Paul’s original teaching about the resurrection is paraphrased in ways that align with Adventist doctrines of “soul sleep” and investigative judgment, reshaping eschatology through denominational filters.

• Daniel & Revelation — Prophetic passages are reframed to fit Ellen G. White’s interpretations and Adventist end-times narratives. Rather than allowing the text to speak for itself, the paraphrase steers readers into a predetermined system.

Reception and Influence

The Clear Word Bible has been embraced in Adventist circles, particularly for devotional and educational use. However, it has little to no recognition outside the denomination. Scholars and other Christians do not regard it as a translation or even as a responsible paraphrase, since its purpose is not to clarify the text but to reinforce Adventist teaching under the guise of Scripture.

Conclusion

The Clear Word Bible is not a translation of God’s Word but a sectarian rewrite. By inserting denominational theology directly into the biblical text, it confuses commentary with revelation. It may serve as a window into Adventist belief, but it should never be treated as Scripture. For those seeking to understand the Bible faithfully, the Clear Word represents a distortion rather than illumination.