The Adventist church does not want to own officially The Clear Word “Bible”, (TCW) but it is nevertheless a work of its hands. It was written by Dr. Jack J. Blanco when he was the chair of the Religion Department of Southern Adventist University. It was printed by the denominationally-owned Review and Herald Publishing Association, it is promoted in Adventist journals, including their Adult Sabbath School Lessons1 and it is sold in Adventist book centers.
My copy, which I purchased some years ago, titles this work as The Clear Word Bible. It is now titled The Clear Word. My copy has a jacket on it with the following statements. I have italicized and/or bolded key phrases which, as you continue to study this section, you will see are designed to deceive the reader into thinking this is an accurate rendering of God’s Word in modern English.
For everyone who hungers for a clearer understanding of God’s Word and a richer devotional life…. Imagine how much more you would get out of the Bible if the meaning of every passage was crystal clear…The Clear Word Bible lets the power of ancient texts come through today... The result of this careful paraphrasing is that you find not only more understanding in reading the Bible, you find more joy. As the meaning of Scripture becomes more transparent…every text is phrased to make its original meaning as plain as possible to a modern reader.
As I write this I went to the Review and Herald’s web site2 and searched for “Bibles”. It yielded fifteen different bindings or editions including, The Clear Word Giant Print, The Clear Word for Kids, The Easy English Clear Word, The Clear Word Psalms and Proverbs, three bindings of The Clear Word Gospel of John, Pocket Size and several other editions of The Clear Word, including three black, leather bindings with gilded pages, The Clear Word New Testament, an audio CD read by Lonnie Melashenko (the speaker for the Voice of Prophecy) and the site indicated that an audio CD of The Clear Word Old Testament is in the process of development.
I noticed that the descriptions of The Clear Word today remain very much like the words on the jacket of The Clear Word Bible I purchased some years ago. Here is the advertising copy for The Easy English Clear Word:
At Last God Speaks Your Language. What better way to get acquainted with the English language than to study the world’s greatest book—the Book upon which the culture was founded. This fresh, slightly condensed paraphrase of the Bible conveys the ideas of each Bible verse in the most basic terms. There are no strange idioms, archaic jargon, or big words for scholars. Just pure, simple English to make God’s message plain to those who are not native speakers of the language.3
This very morning as I am writing this, I received a phone call from a person who lives in Canada who is studying with an Adventist pastor. He told me that this SDA pastor gave him The Clear Word for their Bible study.
Could it be that the Adventist church does not want to call The Clear Word an “Adventist Bible” for fear of being exposed as a cult? Could it be, however, it does want its members, including children, the aged, converts in third-world countries who do not read English well, and even evangelistic interests to read and listen to it on CDs? The Clear Word twists the wording of the Bible so that it agrees with the unbiblical teachings of Adventism and Ellen White. In so doing, readers of The Clear Word should make “good Adventists” who will remain loyal to the denomination, believing its teachings are founded on the Bible.
Many believe The Clear Word to be the most corrupt and twisted “Bible” ever printed by a so-called Christian organization.
The lengths to which Adventists will go to find support for their sanctuary theology as outlined in the previous section are amazing. For example, The Clear Word, without any manuscript support whatever, at Daniel 8:14, reads SDA theology right into the text inside the quotes from the angel. Following is this text quoted from the NASB and then from The Clear Word (TCW). I have italicized and/or bolded key words and phrases that have been added, subtracted or twisted to make the text line up with Adventist theology in this and the following selection of comparisons.
NASB: And he said to me, “For 2,300 evenings and mornings; then the holy place will be properly restored.”
TCW: He said to him, “After two thousand three hundred prophetic days (or two thousand three hundred years), God will step in, proclaim the truth about Himself and restore the ministry of the Sanctuary in heaven to its rightful place. This is when the judgment will begin, of which the cleansing of the earthly sanctuary was a type” (Parentheses shown are in the text of The Clear Word.).
Following are a few more illustrations which show how this “Bible” corrupts the Word of God.
NASB: Deut. 14:26, You may spend the money for whatever your heart desires: for oxen, or sheep, or wine, or strong drink, or whatever your heart desires; and there you shall eat in the presence of the LORD your God and rejoice, you and your household.
CWB: Deut. 14:26, When you get there buy what you want to eat and drink, whether it’s beef, lamb, unfermented wine, or anything else that the Lord approves. (Adds “unfermented” and leaves out “strong drink”, adds “anything else that the Lord approves”.)
NASB: 1 Cor. 10:27, If one of the unbelievers invites you and you want to go, eat anything that is set before you without asking questions for conscience’ sake.
TCW: 1 Cor. 10:27, If unbelievers invite you out to dinner and you want to go, go ahead, Whatever they serve you, select what you can eat and don’t worry about whether it was offered to idols or not. (Changes, “eat anything that is set before you” to “select what you can eat”, thus allowing for the continuation of “clean” and “unclean” in violation of Acts 10, 11; Rom. 14; Mk. 7:19.)
NASB: Lk. 23:43, And He said to him, “Truly I say to you, today you shall be with Me in Paradise.”
TCW: Lk. 23:43, Jesus turned His head toward him and said, “I promise you today, when I return with the glory of my Father, I’ll take you home with me to paradise.” (Allows for soul sleep.)
NASB: Rom. 5:10, For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son, much more, having been reconciled, we shall be saved by His life.
TCW: Rom. 5:10, If God loved us so much that He sent His Son to die for us while we were His enemies, how much more eager God must be to save us from evil through His resurrected Son now that we are His friends? (Omits, “saved by His life”.)
NASB: Gal. 4:10, 11, You observe days and months and seasons and years. I fear for you, that perhaps I have labored over you in vain. (This most likely refers to Sabbath days, new moon celebrations, annual feasts, sabbatical years.)4
TCW: Gal. 4:10, 11, You put a saving significance on observing all kinds of religious holidays, months, seasons and years. (Changes “days” to “religious holidays”, removing the possibility that the Sabbath is in view.)
NASB: Col. 2:16, Therefore let no one act as your judge in regard to food or drink or in respect to a festival or a new moon or a Sabbath day.
TCW: Col. 2:16, Don’t let anyone control your life by giving you a set of ceremonial rules about what to eat, what to drink and what monthly festivals or special Sabbaths to keep. (Adds “ceremonial rules” and changes Sabbath day to “special Sabbaths” thus removing the possibility that the Seventh-day Sabbath could be in view.)
NASB: Phil. 1:23, But I am hard-pressed from both directions, having the desire to depart and be with Christ, for that is very much better.
TCW: Phil 1:23, So I’ve been wrestling with mixed emotions. On one hand, I would prefer to be sentenced to death and in the next moment of consciousness see Christ, which would be much better than staying here in this old world. (Adds “next moment of consciousness” allowing for soul sleep.)
NASB: Mt. 10:28, And do not fear those who kill the body, but are unable to kill the soul; but rather fear Him who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.
TCW: Mt. 10:28, Don’t be afraid that you might be killed. They can kill your body but not your spirit or your loyalty to me. Now if there is something to be concerned about, it’s that you don’t lose faith in God. (Changes soul to spirit which are different Greek words, deletes “able to destroy both soul and body in hell”, changes “hell” to “don’t lose faith in God”.)
NASB: Heb. 4:4, For He has thus said somewhere concerning the seventh day, “And God rested on the seventh day from all His works.”
TCW: Heb. 4:4, That’s why at creation He gave man the seventh-day Sabbath, not only as a reminder of creation week, but also as a symbol of spiritual rest. According to the Scriptures, God Himself rested on the seventh day and enjoyed this special time with man. (Makes the Sabbath a creation ordinance, makes the days of creation a “week” even though creation was finished on the 6*h day.)
NASB: Jn. 10:30-33, I and the Father are one. The Jews picked up stones again to stone Him. Jesus answered them, “I showed you many good works from the Father; for which of them are you stoning Me?” The Jews answered Him, “For a good work we do not stone You, but for blasphemy; and because You, being a man, make Yourself out to be God.”
TCW: Jn. 10:30-33, You see, my Father and I are so close, we’re one. Then the Jewish leaders left Solomon’s Porch and went searching for stones to kill Him, as they had before. When they came back, Jesus faced them and said, “I have done nothing but good to people, and I did all this under the direction of my Father. For which of these good works are you going to stone me?” They said, “We’re not going to stone you because of the good you’ve done, but for blasphemy. You’re only a human being, yet you keep calling yourself the Son of God.” (A careful reading of these two verses shows its subtle deception. The Clear Word, by adding “are so close…” implies that the “oneness” with the Father is the oneness of a close, working relationship, where the NASB indicates the oneness is one in essence. Note also that the Jews clearly understood what Jesus was saying. “You make yourself out to be God”. TCW changes this to “you keep calling your self the ‘Son of God’” thereby diminishing Christ’s full deity and allowing for Arianism.)
NASB: 2 Pet. 1:1, Simon Peter, a bond-servant and apostle of Jesus Christ, to those who have received a faith of the same kind as ours, by the righteousness of our God and Savior, Jesus Christ. (Greek syntax indicates that “our God and Savior” is the same person as Jesus Christ showing Christ’s full deity.)5
TCW: 2 Pet. 1:1, This letter is from Peter, a servant and apostle of Jesus Christ, to those who have received the same precious faith as we have, the good news about what God has done for us through our Savior Jesus Christ. (Makes “God” and “our Savior Jesus Christ” separate persons allowing for Arianism.)
NASB: Jude 9, But Michael the archangel, when he disputed with the devil and argued about the body of Moses, did not dare pronounce against him a railing judgment, but said, “The Lord rebuke you.”
TCW: Jude 9, In contrast to these ungodly men is the Lord Jesus Christ, also called Michael, the archangel in charge of the entire angelic host. When He was challenged by Satan about His intentions to resurrect Moses, He didn’t come at Satan with a blistering attack nor did he belittle him. He simply said, “God rejects your claim to his body.” (Adds “the Lord Jesus Christ” and makes Christ, Michael the archangel in harmony with early Adventist teachings and the writings of Ellen White.)6
NASB: Rev. 1:10, I was in the Spirit on the Lord’s day, and I heard behind me a loud voice like the sound of a trumpet.
TCW: Rev. 1:10, One Sabbath morning when I had gone to the rocky island shore to meditate and worship, I suddenly heard a voice behind me that sounded as loud as a trumpet.” (Omits “I was in the Spirit”, changes “Lord’s day”7 to “Sabbath morning”, adds “to meditate and worship”.)
There are literally hundreds of such corruptions in The Clear Word.8 This is serious error. The Bible is replete with commands NOT to alter the Word of God.
You shall not add to the word which I am commanding you, nor take away from it, that you may keep the commandments of the LORD your God which I command you (Deut. 4:2).
Every word of God is tested; He is a shield to those who take refuge in Him. Do not add to His words lest He reprove you, and you be proved a liar (Prov. 30:5, 6).
…Scripture cannot be broken (Jn. 10:35).
Sanctify them in the truth; Your word is truth (Jn. 17:17).
I testify to everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this book: if anyone adds to them, God shall add to him the plagues which are written in this book; and if anyone takes away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part from the tree of life and from the holy city, which are written in this book” (Rev. 22:18, 19).
God’s Word is true, therefore, changing it results in lies and error. What honest Christian would want to change God’s Word? What true Christian church would allow for such deception? None!
The Clear Word manufactures support for Adventist’s sanctuary theology, abstaining from the use of wine or strong drink, required Sabbath observance in the new covenant and continued enforcement of clean and unclean meats. It compromises the biblical teachings of the days of creation, the nature of man in death as the separation of body and spirit, deletes hell, distorts the gospel of Christ and substitutes the Sabbath for the Lord’s Day.
If the above corruptions were not enough, The Clear Word equates Jesus with Michael the archangel and compromises the full deity of Christ some 27 times. This is no little matter to be swept under the denominational rug. The full deity of Christ is a cardinal doctrine of the Christian church. To reject the full, eternal, deity of Christ is one of the chief characteristics of a cult. While SDAs Fundamental Beliefs statement on the nature of Christ may be correct, the fact that the SDA church continues to promote this corrupt “Bible” shows the far-reaching subtle deception that is still present in this organization.
The title page of The Clear Word states that it is:
An expanded paraphrase of the Bible to nurture faith and growth.
Doubtless The Clear Word will nurture faith and growth in the “Adventist message”, but certainly not in the apostolic faith that was once and for all delivered to the saints.9
Could it be that Dr. Jack J. Blanco has such faith in the writings of Ellen G. White as a continuing and authoritative source of truth that he actually believes his work is the way God wants it and thinks The Clear Word is actually an improvement on the Bible? Could it be that the reason there is no wide-spread outcry among the membership of the Adventist church demanding this work be removed is because many see no error therein? Could it be this is the end result of holding the writings of Ellen White as an authoritative source of truth and as an inspired commentary on the Bible?
Many Adventists believe that the Writings of Ellen White are “an inspired commentary” on the Bible. An illustration of this is the large King James Version “Study Bible” which is also printed by the Review and Herald Publishing Association and sold in Adventist bookstores. In it are hundreds if not thousands of references to the writings of Ellen White. These are listed in marginal columns often with key statements by Ellen White printed below the Bible text. On the introductory page, “About the Study Bible”, we find these words.
But God in his goodness has once again caused “the testimony of Christ” to be confirmed in his church, so that we “come behind in no gift; waiting for the coming of the Lord Jesus Christ” (1 Cor. 1:6-7). His last day remnant people have had restored through the ministry of Ellen G. White, “the testimony of Jesus” which is “the spirit of prophecy” (Rev. 12:17, 19:10). To combine this inspired commentary with the Scriptures themselves is the purpose of this present volume. It is the heartfelt and earnest prayer of the publishers, that this inspired Word, with its accompanying inspired commentary, will go out into all the world and prepare a people for the great day of God.” (emphasis added)
The only conceivable rational for the writing and continued promotion of The Clear Word is the acceptance of the writings of Ellen White as “a continuing and authoritative source of truth” and as “an inspired commentary of the Bible”.
Purposeful changing of the biblical text in The Clear Word to support the unbiblical doctrines of the SDA church and Ellen G. White is inexcusable. These changes have been made without any manuscript support, often in violation of Hebrew or Greek syntax and the accepted definition of Hebrew or Greek words. This was done by one who was the chair of the Religion Department at a leading Adventist University, who holds a Doctorate of Theology in New Testament. Considering what was written on the jacket of my copy of The Clear Word Bible as presented above, this must be seen for what it is: purposeful, blatant, deception of the worst kind. This is something only a cult would do when either: (1) it knows that its teachings cannot be supported by honest contextual study using a legitimate Bible; or (2) it actually believes The Clear Word is an improvement on the Bible based upon Adventist’s other source of truth— the inspired commentary of Ellen White. †
Endnotes
- There is a full-page advertisement for The Clear Word in the third quarter, 2006, Adult Sabbath School Bible Study Guide which is copyrighted by the General Conference of Seventh-day Adventists. See: http://www.absg.adventist.org/Archives.htm
- http://www.reviewandherald.org
- Ibid.
- See R.C.H. Lenski, Commentary on the New Testament, Galatians, p. 213, 214; Frank E. Gaebelein, The Expositor’s Bible Commentary, Vol. 10, p. 476; John Calvin, Calvin’s Commentary, Vol. XXI, p. 124, 125.
- R.C.H. Lenski, Commentary on the New Testament, 2 Peter, p. 252.
- Testimonies for the Church, Vol. 3, p. 220.
- The Lord’s Day was a common designation for Sunday in the early church. See D.A. Carson, From Sabbath to Lord’s Day, p. 221-250.
- See Stephen Pitcher’s online book Adventism’s The Clear Word Analyzed, https://lifeassuranceministries.org/adventisms-the-clear-word-analyzed/
- Jud. 1:3.
- 7. Promote The Clear Word - July 23, 2026
- 6. Judgment Started October 22, 1844 - July 16, 2026
- 5. Sunday Observance, the Mark of the Beast - July 9, 2026