THE CLEAR WORD

The Clear Word is a devotional paraphrase of the Bible, an interpretive text 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 as it is a 'free paraphrase' of the Bible. 

The Clear Word is not a translation, but a devotional paraphrase of Scripture expanded for clarity. It is intended to build faith and nurture spiritual growth. It should not be considered a Study Bible, of which we have many available.

Over the years there have been several modern paraphrases, such as The Message. A paraphrase uses current language to make the text more understandable. 

Compare the same text, Psalm 119: 36, 37, from the King James Version and The Clear Word.

• KJV: "Incline my heart unto thy testimonies, and not to covetousness. Turn away mine eyes from beholding vanity; and quicken thou me in thy way"
• TCW: "Turn my heart toward your law more than toward accumulating riches. Help me not to desire worthless trinkets, but give me more desire for your word"

A statement by the South Pacific Division in response to claims the Adventist church encourages use of The Clear Word above traditional Bible versions:

"The Clear Word Bible is not produced, nor endorsed by the Seventh-day Adventist Church, but is the private enterprise of an individual. The Adventist Church does not use the Clear Word edition, which includes passages from Ellen G. White’s writings, for its worship services and Bible studies around the world, but quotes from well known and well accepted Bible translations in the various languages. In the English language for example, the church uses the King James Version, the Revised Standard Version, the New American Bible, the New International Version, and others." — Australasian Conference Association Limited

God has more ways than we can fathom to reach His children wherever they are. Each translation or paraphrase has proved beneficial in its own way to bring readers, with their own circumstances, a clearer understanding of God’s magnificent gift to a fallen race.

This paraphrase began as Jack Blanco's own devotional journey in seeking a deeper relationship with the One who loved me and gave His life for me. It was simply an extension of what he had been expressing over the years in pastoring, teaching, and in helping people better understand the Word of God by making it more relevant to their lives.

A writer’s own understanding of a biblical text will surface in a paraphrase, but it also occurs in translations written by a group of scholars.
However, every attempt has been made to allow the Bible to interpret itself. For example, Matthew is allowed to interpret Isaiah, for while the Scripture has many writers, it has only one Author. Where a passage was unclear in the original language, personal judgment had to be exercised in consultation with translations, commentaries, and Bible scholars.