"The
Message" is not a translation of the Bible, nor can it
strictly be said to be a paraphrase of the original
languages of the Bible.
(Quoted from: "What
is The Message (MSG)?" by Got Questions
Ministry)
I used to enjoy reading from "The Message" Bible
written by Eugene Peterson. I remember when I used to
laugh with my friends as we found the word "coffee" in
the MSG Bible (Job 7:10 MESSAGE, Luke 17:8 MESSAGE).
However, wanting to take "The Message" Bible as a
paraphrase of the Bible It drove me to compare it to
the teaching of the Bible. In doing so I found some
problems with Peterson's rendering and paraphrase of
the Bible (resources at the bottom for examples).
Why was "The Message" written? According to Eugene H.
Peterson (zondervan.com,
biblegateway.com) he says: "I hoped to bring the
New Testament to life for two different types of
people: those who hadn't read the Bible because it
seemed too distant and irrelevant, and those who had
read the Bible so much that it had become 'old
hat.'" If the Bible is becoming an 'old hat' for
people it's not the Bible but the person that is
becoming an 'old hat' by not allowing Gods word to
change them from the inside out. God's Word will never
be outdated.
I think there is more behind "The Message" and
Peterson's agenda then we know about. Also, I realize
that just as there are both good and bad commentaries
on the Bible there are also good and bad paraphrases of
the Bible too. However, let us remember that what we
believe about God is derived from what we read in His
word. If one reads an incorrect one, then it logically
follows that what one believes about God will also be
in error. Do you care about God's Word? Please
for your benefit, check out the resources below for
further information on "The Message" Bible.
"What
is The Message (MSG)?" by Got Questions
Ministry
"Analysis
of The Message" by Justin Peters
"What
kind of message is The Message?" by Berit
Kjos
"Why The Message should not be used" by David
Simon
"Translation Comparison Charts" by A. Philip Brown
II
"The Message Bible: An Unedifying Mess" by Jay
Atkins (videos below)
Press on in Love & Go Serve Your King,
Tim
Molter
