Do English Translations Sometimes Promote False Gospels?

Summary

Podcast Summary: Grace in Focus

Episode: Do English Translations Sometimes Promote False Gospels?
Date: March 6, 2026
Hosts: Bob Wilkin and Ken Yates
Duration: ~13 minutes

Episode Overview

Bob Wilkin and Ken Yates tackle a thought-provoking listener question: Do some English translations of the Bible use wording that can unintentionally promote a “false gospel”—specifically, confusion around terms relating to salvation, the soul, and assurance? Using examples primarily from the New Testament, they examine how translation choices, as well as theological preconceptions of translators, can lead to misunderstanding core gospel truths. Their discussion centers on pivotal passages where popular translations may blur the line between justification (being declared righteous before God) and sanctification (living out the Christian life), and how this confusion affects evangelism and assurance.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. The Listener Question and the Problem Passage: James 1:21

• (01:06) Bob introduces Jeff’s question about the phrase “save your souls” in James 1:21 (NKJV):
  “Therefore lay aside all filthiness and overflow of wickedness, and receive with meekness the implanted word, which is able to save your souls.”

• Both hosts agree that James addresses believers (“beloved brethren”), making the typical evangelical reading problematic.

Common Misreadings

• (02:48) Ken: “Most people interpret James 1:21 exactly that way. They say ... you’ve got to receive the implanted word ... in order to be saved from hell.”
• Bob and Ken note that many preachers use this verse to enforce a works-based path to salvation: repent, clean up your life, and be a lifelong follower to “save your soul”—implying eternal salvation is at stake.

Clarity in Greek Terms

• (03:52) Ken: Clarifies “sozo” can mean to save, deliver, or rescue, and “psuche” can mean soul, life, or living being.
• Everyday language supports this; e.g., “souls on board” a ship or plane refers to lives not eternal salvation.

Supporting Examples and Context

• (04:28-05:26) Ken points to 1 Peter 3:20 (“eight souls were saved through water”) showing it refers to physical lives rescued in the Ark—not spiritual salvation.

  “That says nothing about Noah and his family going to heaven... they were saved from physical death.” (Ken, 05:26)

• They stress this usage recurs elsewhere, such as James 5:19-20, always in the context of physical or practical rescue, not eternal destiny.

Main Takeaway

• (06:57) Bob: “Yes, it would be better, at least in 21st century evangelical world if we use different words.”
• The consensus is using "rescue your life" instead of "save your soul" would avoid misleading readers about the passage's intent.

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2. Other New Testament Examples with Translation Issues

1 Corinthians 5:11

• (07:09-08:16) Ken highlights the New American Standard Bible (NASB) and other translations inserting “so-called brother,” absent in the Greek—which literally reads “anyone bearing the name brother.”

  “They're saying a believer can't be an immoral person... they change it from anyone bearing the name brother to any so called brother." (Ken, 08:16)

• NIV Example (08:59): Adds “calls himself a brother.” Both add doubt about the person’s status as a believer, reflecting a theological, not linguistic, decision.

Mark 8:34-38 & Matthew 16 (cf. Luke 9:23)

• Jesus speaks of “saving” and “losing” life (psuche):

  "Whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake and the gospel’s will save it. For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world and loses his soul?” (Mark 8:35-36 NKJV)

• Hosts point out “psuche” is translated as “life” in one verse, “soul” in the next—creating confusion.

  "If that's going to be life, then the next verse should say... what will a man give in exchange for his life? Not what will man give in exchange for his soul." (Ken, 11:20)

• Many preachers interpret this to mean: ongoing lifelong sacrifice is required for eternal salvation—contradicting the biblical teaching of salvation by faith alone.

Acts 27:37

• The shipwreck account: “we were 276 souls on the ship” (actual Greek word: “souls”)—this clearly refers to “persons” or “lives,” not their eternal destinies.

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3. How Mistranslation Leads to False Gospels

• The hosts emphasize that translation choices stemming from tradition or doctrinal stance can suggest a person must do additional works to be saved, or that sanctification and justification are not distinct.

• (12:07) Bob: “Yes, some of our English translations… do lead some to see false gospels being preached.”

• (12:21) Ken’s Principle: “That’s why you should compare translations and also ... look at the context and of course, make sure you start with a solid footing from the Gospel of John… whoever believes in Him will never perish but has everlasting life.”

  • Advice: Use clearer passages (esp. Gospel of John) as a doctrinal foundation and do not let ambiguous or poorly translated verses undermine gospel clarity.

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On nautical terminology:

  “I’ve been told by a guy who was a pilot that they would ask, how many souls do you have on board?... that’s what happens in nautical terms when you say we have so many souls on board.”
  Ken Yates, 04:28

• On theological bias in translation:

  “It’s obvious... the translators here are making a theological decision..."
  Bob Wilkin, 08:08

• On assurance and gospel clarity:

  “Make sure you start with a solid footing from the Gospel of John... don’t let any other verse that’s mistranslated confuse you.”
  Ken Yates, 12:21

• On misunderstanding discipleship as a condition for salvation:

  “If you don’t deny yourself, take up your cross and follow Him, you’re on your way to hell.”
  Ken Yates, 11:47 (summarizing common but mistaken teaching)

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Timestamps for Important Segments

• 01:06 – Main listener question introduced (James 1:21)
• 02:48 – 03:42 – How James 1:21 is commonly misread as teaching works-based salvation
• 03:52 – 05:26 – Greek terms “sozo” and “psuche” explained; 1 Peter 3:20 compared
• 07:09 – 09:13 – 1 Corinthians 5:11, "so-called brother" translation problem
• 09:34 – 11:47 – Mark 8:34-38, Matthew 16, and how “soul” and “life” are switched
• 12:07 – 12:41 – Summary: Yes, translations can promote false gospels; use the Gospel of John as a doctrinal anchor

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Final Thoughts & Recommendations

• Translation choices matter—not just for technical accuracy, but for the very heart of the gospel message.
• Misleading renderings can encourage works-based assurance, muddy the distinction between justification and sanctification, and thus foster misunderstanding or false teaching.
• Compare multiple translations, dig into the Greek, and always prioritize gospel-clear passages (especially in John) when forming doctrine.

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Key message:

“Keep grace in focus.” (Bob Wilkin, 12:41)

Transcript

[Bob Wilkin]

The following is a listener supported ministry from the Grace Evangelical Society.

[Ken Yates]

This is Grace in Focus. And today answering a question about English translations of the Bible. Sometimes do English translations use words that promote false ideas about the gospel? Let's think about this together today and we are delighted you're joining us here on Grace in Focus. This is a ministry of the Grace Evangelical Society. Find [e-mail] we want you to consider coming to our national annual conference this year. The dates are May 18th through the 21st. It's in North Texas at Camp Copas, a beautiful venue with great accommodations. There will be great fellowship, great sessions, VBS for the kids and great recreation. Get all the information you need and get [e-mail] events. And now with today's question and answer discussion, here is Bob Wilken along with Ken Yates.

[Bob Wilkin]

Bob, we got a question from Jeff. He asked specifically about a translation in James, Chapter one, but we're going to also look at some other examples in the New Testament. But let me read James, chapter one, verse 21, and this is in the new King James Version, and it says, therefore lay aside all filthiness and overflow of wickedness and receive with meekness the implanted word which is able to save your souls. Okay? And his question is those last words, save your souls. Now, James is talking to believers, right? A few verses earlier, he goes, we've been born from above by his word. He calls them beloved brethren. In the book, I forgot how many times he, I think he calls them beloved brethren, something like three times, but brethren like a bunch of times. I can't remember the exact number. So he's talking to believers and he says to them, receive the word that is able to save your souls. And his question is, don't. Sometimes our English translations use words that promote false gospels. Because here in James 1:21, someone could read that and say, okay, save your soul. What do we think when we hear evangelical. When we as evangelicals hear the phrase, has your soul been saved? We think, well, that's talking about eternal life.

[Ken Yates]

Well, actually, most people interpret James 1:21 exactly that way. They say you've got to lay aside all filthiness and overflow of wickedness and you've got to receive the implanted word, which is the word you're hearing preached in church in order to be saved from hell. That's the way most people would interpret that verse.

[Bob Wilkin]

So they would say, as a typical evangelistic thing, you've got to recognize you're a sinner. You've got Repent of your sins. You got to lay that aside, the filthiness in your life, and then listen to this word that's being preached to you about making him lord of your life or however.

[Ken Yates]

Basically, you're starting on the path of following him for the rest of your life, right? And that's how you save your soul. And what Jeff, I think, says in his question is. He would prefer to translate it rescue the life or something.

[Bob Wilkin]

Yeah, he says in the question, wouldn't it be better to instead of save, put rescue, and instead of soul, use the word life?

[Ken Yates]

Okay, so, yes, it would. However, I would say that the Greek word here, sozo, does mean to save or deliver or rescue or rescue any of those. And the word psuke does mean soul or life or living being. However, it's very common in both nautical terms and in terms of aeronautics to refer to the passengers on board a ship or the passengers on a plane as souls.

[Bob Wilkin]

Right? Like there were 400 souls on board.

[Ken Yates]

I've been told by a guy who was a pilot that they would ask, how many souls do you have on board? When they were flying a transport ship, and they would use the word souls. And I understand that's what happens in nautical terms when you say we have so many souls on board, or if people die at sea, how many souls were lost? If you would turn to First Peter 3:18. Because in First Peter, Peter uses the words save and the word soul, and he's talking in nautical terms, 1st Peter 3:18.

[Bob Wilkin]

For Christ also suffered once for the sins that he might bring us to God being put to death. You're talking about a little bit.

[Ken Yates]

Oh, I'm sorry, 21.

[Bob Wilkin]

Yeah, 21 while the Ark was being prepared. This is in verse 20, in which a few, I.e. eight souls were saved through water.

[Ken Yates]

Eight souls were saved through water. That says nothing about Noah and his family going to heaven. It says nothing about them being born again. It says they were saved from physical death, their lives were saved.

[Bob Wilkin]

Or to use Jeff's thing, their lives were rescued.

[Ken Yates]

Their lives were rescued, delivered. And the same exact expression occurs at the end of James in chapter five, verses 19 and 20. And again, it's talking about rescuing a life from premature death. And by the way, I would say the implanted word in James 1:21 is the word we hear preached each week.

[Bob Wilkin]

Right? And he's talking to believers. Right?

[Ken Yates]

So in other words, you're going to hear the word taught over and over. And as you hear the word taught, you need to apply it. And if you apply it then that's going to deliver you from this evil world we live in. And the consequences of the evil world.

It's coming. It'll be here before you know it. What am I talking about? The Grace Evangelical Society's National Conference 2026, May 18th through the 21st at Camp Kopos, an absolutely beautiful campground in North Texas. Right. Lake with lots of recreation, great food, a great place to stay, wonderful fellowship and wonderful free Grace Bible teaching. Information and online registration [e-mail] events first timers waive registration fees. Faithalone.org events and so to answer Jeff's

[Bob Wilkin]

question, yes, it would be better, at least in 21st century evangelical world if we use different words.

[Ken Yates]

Maybe we could use a few other examples. Do you have any other examples?

[Bob Wilkin]

Well, you mentioned one where the translations, a lot of times our English translations will give a confusing.

[Ken Yates]

Yeah, 1 Corinthians 5:11.

[Bob Wilkin]

Right.

[Ken Yates]

And I specifically mentioned the New American Standard Bible, which is the one when I came to faith, I used that for quite a few years. And what is, how does it translate First Corinthians 5:11?

[Bob Wilkin]

Well, Paul here in First Corinthians 5 is talking about associating with immoral people. And he says, but actually I wrote to you not to associate with any. And the New American Standard says any so called brother if he should be an immoral person or covetous or an idolater or a reviler or drunkard or a swindler, not even to eat with such a one.

[Ken Yates]

And the words so called are not in the Greek. The Greek says anyone bearing the name brother or anyone named brother.

[Bob Wilkin]

But it's obvious, and this is Jeff's point, that the translators here are making a theological decision, right?

[Ken Yates]

They're saying a believer can't be an immoral person, a believer can't be an idolater. And so as a result, they change it from anyone bearing the name brother to any so called brother.

[Bob Wilkin]

Right?

[Ken Yates]

Or a lot of translations. You got an NIV behind you there. You could look at it. But a lot of the translations say that anyone who claims to be, I think the niv, depending on which NIV you look at, it says claims to be a brother, or some of the NIVs say claims to be a brother or sister. And the word claim is not in the text. And the word sister is not in the text. Did you find First Corinthians 5:11 in the NIV?

[Bob Wilkin]

In this NIV, it says as close to what you were saying, but it says but now I'm writing You that you must not associate with anyone who calls himself.

[Ken Yates]

Calls himself.

[Bob Wilkin]

That's, that's adding.

[Ken Yates]

What does he call himself?

[Bob Wilkin]

Calls himself a brother.

[Ken Yates]

Calls himself a brother. So that's calling into question the idea of is this really a brother? And so, yeah, that leads to a false gospel or a false message. And also you brought up the passage in Mark 8. That's also in Matthew 16, Mark 8, 34, 38, about deny, take up your cross and follow me.

[Bob Wilkin]

Yeah. This is another time where the word soul is used and saving the soul. Right. In Mark 8:34, Jesus is talking and says, whoever desires to come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. For whoever desires to save his life will lose it. But whoever loses his life for my sake and the Gospel's will, save it. For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world and loses his soul? Now here he's talking about losing his soul and versus saving his soul. But the word is the same word that you mentioned earlier, which most of the time in the New Testament means life.

[Ken Yates]

Right.

[Bob Wilkin]

And by the way, I was going to say, just as an example, because you mentioned it about being on an airplane.

[Ken Yates]

Right.

[Bob Wilkin]

Well, here in the New Testament, In Acts chapter 27, when Paul is shipwrecked, it says, everybody that was on board made it to the island.

[Ken Yates]

Right.

[Bob Wilkin]

Okay. And it says in verse 37, and in all, we were 276. Now, the new King James version says persons, but the word is soul. Souls on the ship. That's talking about people talking about lives. And it's talking about, in this context, there were 276 lives that were saved from drowning. In this case, were saved from dying, which is what James is talking about as well. But yeah, in Mark 8, 34, 38, we've also got this idea of losing or saving your life and losing your soul. Well, it's the same word, soul and life.

[Ken Yates]

Yeah. It shouldn't be translated differently in 35 and 36. Don't they translate psuche differently? Soul in one and life in the other.

[Bob Wilkin]

Yes. Loses his life or saves his life.

[Ken Yates]

If that's going to be life, then the next verse should say, what will a man give in exchange for his life? Not what will man give in exchange for his soul. You know, I've heard music groups and pastors use this passage to say, if you want to save your eternal soul, if you want to go to heaven when you die, if you want to be a child of God, you've got to deny yourself take up your cross and follow him. If you don't do that, if you don't deny yourself, take up your cross and follow him, you're on your way to hell.

[Bob Wilkin]

And in Luke the parallel passage says, take up your cross daily. Yeah, well, that's kind of tough.

[Ken Yates]

Yeah. A lot of people say you're not born again at a point in time, but over your whole lifetime. And you've got to continuously deny yourself, take up your cross and follow me. Because that's what they think faith is, right? It's all those things. Well, we're out of time.

[Bob Wilkin]

And Jeff, to answer your question, yes, some of our English translations, just because of the nature of either translators or just the language itself, it does lead some to see false gospels being preached.

[Ken Yates]

But that's why you should compare translations and also, you know, look at the context and of course, make sure you start with a solid footing from the Gospel of John, you know what the saving message is. You know, that whoever believes in him will never perish but has everlasting life. And don't let any other verse that's mistranslated confuse you.

[Bob Wilkin]

Great question, Jeff. We appreciate it. And remember, keep grace in focus.

[Ken Yates]

Read many from our library of thousands of free magazine and journal articles [e-mail] resources. That's faithalone.org did you miss an episode of Grace in Focus that you really wanted to hear? Just come to faithalone.org that's faithalone.org we have all our past episodes right there on the site. Our team is really great about answering questions, comments and feedback. If you've got some, we hope to hear from you. Let me give you our email address so you can do just that. It's radioaithalone.org that's radioaithalone.org now friend, we thank you so much for being with us all this week. Now we wish you a great weekend. Come back and join us again on Monday for more Grace in Focus.

[Bob Wilkin]

The proceeding has been a listener supported ministry from the Grace Evangelical Society.