The Books of Hebrews and James (2020 Edition)

The book of Hebrews shines the magnificence of Jesus on every page. Written for every believer today, Hebrews explains the superiority of Christ and how his story is woven into the life and narrative of Israel. This epistle takes us into the holy of holies. Without a veil or anything to hinder our intimacy with God, we come to his mercy-throne, where we encounter enough grace to empower us through every difficulty.

The book of James offers practical truths about what it means to be declared righteous by God. James is rich with life-changing revelation, and we may even consider this epistle the New Testament Proverbs, for much of it speaks of heavenly wisdom from God. James also helps us understand the power of faith to produce good works. Faith works!

Heaven's words are before us. We read them with a spiritual hunger and a passion to embrace truth, then live them out by the grace of Jesus, our Messiah, in whom we find our true life.

Move your heart closer and closer to God, and he will come even closer to you.

James 4:8

BRIAN SIMMONS is the lead translator of The Passion Translation®. The Passion Translation (TPT) is a heart-level translation that uses Hebrew, Greek, and Aramaic manuscripts to express God's fiery heart of love to this generation, merging the emotion and life-changing truth of God's Word. The hope for TPT is to trigger inside every reader an overwhelming response to the truth of the Bible and to reveal the deep mysteries of the Scriptures in the love language of God, the language of the heart. Brian is currently translating the Old Testament.

              After a dramatic conversion to Christ in 1971, Brian and his wife, Candice, answered the call of God to leave everything behind and become missionaries to unreached peoples. Taking their three children to the tropical rain forest of Central America, they planted churches for many years with the Paya-Kuna people group. Brian established leadership for the churches that Jesus birthed, and, having been trained in linguistics and Bible translation principles, assisted with the translation of the Paya-Kuna New Testament.

              After their ministry overseas, Brian and Candice returned to North America, where Brian began to passionately work toward helping people encounter the risen Christ. He and his wife planted numerous ministries, including a dynamic church in New England (U.S.). They also established Passion & Fire Ministries, under which they travel full time as Bible teachers in service of local churches throughout the world.

              Brian is the author of numerous books, Bible studies, and devotionals that help readers encounter God's heart and experience a deeper revelation of God as our Bridegroom King, including Throne Room Prayer, The Sacred Journey, Prayers on Fire, The Divine Romance, and The Vision.

              Brian and Candice have been married since 1971 and have three children as well as precious grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Their passion is to live as loving examples of a spiritual father and mother to this generation.