Since it is more of a commentary than a real Bible, it does not have the same effect of cutting into the depths of the heart. We no longer need to be slaves to the ways of this world; instead, we can walk according to Gods will and purpose for our lives. The biblical position on controversial social and cultural issues is not immoral, it's not harmful, and it's not unloving. "You do sports together or go shopping together. So, if the Bible is the Word of God, and God is perfect, it follows that the Bible must be perfect, too. Answer Ignorance is the lack of knowledge or understanding. I am not alone. The answer to why people spend so much time studying the Bible is simple: it is the Word of God! The Message Bible is an English-language translation of the Christian scriptures compiled by Eugene Peterson and published in segments from 1993 to 2002. One of those churches is the enormously popular Bethel Church (for a deeper look at Bethels unorthodox heretical practices and their use of The Passion Translation, see my article, Bethel's False Gospel). When did Paul write this? The Message: The Bible in Contemporary Language ( MSG) is a paraphrase of the Bible in contemporary English. I agree The Message and other interpretive commentary, and modernized Scriptures of the Bible, are not best for study. The following article hopes to help you make more suitable choices and get more useful information They attempt to validate their erroneous theological claims by editing the Bible as they see fit. This mistreatment of Scripture can be seen in his misuse of passages such as 1 Corinthians 6:9-10. We love each other, and we're not using or abusing each other.". May your will be done here on earth, just as it is in heaven. Use it, then, in a supplemental way and, where it really nails things or clarifies things, learn from it. Hope youll give us another try and check out some other articles. Okay to get to the point, desire for the truth even if it means finding out everything you ever thought to be true was not, and you will, then asking Yahweh (God) to unblind you and guide you to the truth as you search for it and for protection from satanic deception so you wont be deceived. (See 2 Timothy 2:15.) Eugene Peterson has stayed true to the text and yet made it come alive for today's generation. Arthur L. Farstad writes: As a Bible translator and editor myself, I must disagree. Thats why the bible says were should study to show ourselves approved. Joe, this is an incredible story that you shared. I got some belated support and encouragement. Translation Comparison - Matthew 16:16-18, Good News Translation (GNT): Simon Peter answered, You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.. That's because by itself, the Bible is not a history book. 2 He makes me lie down in green pastures, Our Father in heaven, Translation is from one language to another. Thats my journey at the moment and I am trusting My Lord to guide me, not man! [2] It is a highly idiomatic translation, using contemporary slang from the US rather than a more neutral International English, and it falls on the extreme dynamic end of the dynamic and formal equivalence spectrum. I believe the intent, published by The Navigators, was to produce the late Eugene Petersons work as an evangelical outreach to people who had been preconditioned against Olde English King James style interpretations that got in the way of letting them hear the message. August 23, 2017 you let me catch my breath God's Spirit brooded like a bird above the watery abyss. The Passion Translation (TPT): proclaim the Word of God and stand upon it no matter what! The Message is a spiritually dangerous book, especially for new Christians who dont know anything about the faith or are just starting to investigate it and as it is there is already a huge amount of false teaching out there, like the Word Faith movement, the New Apostolic Reformation, Jehovahs Witnesses, Hebrew Israelites, and so on. There are many issues I have with the Message translation, but for the sake of space I am only listing three of them. Instead, he became way too cute with words in general, taking away from the clarity of the original and even introducing some foreign concepts. I admit it can be useful in bringing clarity to certain passages, but one must learn to work through the actual scriptures, which takes effort, dedication and the guidance of the Holy Spirit. The gospel addresses all of life, both this life and the one to come. ", The Messagereads: "Don't have sex with a man as one does with a woman. And light appeared. So notice: The Bible is not meant to be placed on a shelf, but to be in your hands, to read oftenevery day, both on your own and together with others.". Faith 2) When pastors preach from it, it encourages people to use it, this is dangerous because the Message is full of errors, false doctrine, and occult philosophy. (23 October 2018). Bible translations are usually broken down into three major categories: Word-for-word or Formal Equivalence, Thought-for-Thought or Dynamic Equivalence, and Paraphrase. They must be self-controlled, sensible, well-behaved, friendly to strangers, and able to teach. This mans interpretation is not always correct, nor is it always what the Spirit wants YOU to get from it. 4 Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me. Some new Bibles are dangerous because of the theological bias of their translators. [5] The work was awarded the Evangelical Christian Publishers Association Gold Medallion in 2003 for being the title retailers prized.[6][7]. Almost all of Christianity is deceived and doesnt know the truth. The Samaritans, however, believed that their temple, on Mount Gerizim, was where true worship . Other translations have just one translator, thereby single-handedly taking on a role that is meant for a diverse team of renowned biblical translators of various denominations. Seventh day Adventists is wrong. " MARGARET FEINBERG, AUTHOR OF FIGHT BACK WITH JOY "The Message is original and refreshing. In addition, Matthew 6:20 speaks of the lamp of the body being the eye. Cults therefore suppress personal opinion, critical thinking and free exchange of ideas. will not get you closer to GOD. Especially when our own pastor prayed the Lords prayer in Peterson speak. Firstly, ALL Bibles such as NKJV, NIV etc are paraphrasing. This is a useful place to start, given the controversy currently surrounding this popular, 84-year-old, Christian author. through the darkest valley, However, despite this attractive feature, it is not a translation that should be used for the seriousness of Bible study, as the simplistic use of English in the Good News Translation has come at a price. Learn why this "gospel lite" illusion is such a seductive, powerful delusion for Christians and how you can avoid it in your walk of faith. Many dangerous theological errors are found throughout the GNT, including distortions of the divinity of Christ, removing references to Jesus blood, misrepresentations of Jesus virgin birth, removing references to hell, salvation being distorted, etc. And the word "abhorrent" is as good a rendering of the Hebrew as is "abomination. This was the only Bible they could get. I got the phrase As above, so below which appears in The Message and googled it alongside the word Satanism in the presence of the minister. Rather, it is designed as a reading Bible that can give you a fresh perspective on a familiar phrase or passage.. About ten people in total complained about me that week. He is asking them who directed them to flee from the wrath that is coming. To be fair, a more accurate comparison might be to the Jehovas The King James Version 9 After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. The leader does not state the source of the paraphrased writings so I believe that many are deceived not knowing the Word of God, especially new believers. Not the way man tryed n break it down not like this One such critic is biblical scholar and translator, Andrew G. Shead, who said in his article, Burning Scripture with Passion: A Review of The Psalms (The Passion Translation), that Simmons abandons all interest in textual accuracy, playing fast and loose with the original languages, and inserting so much new material into the text that it is at least 50% longer than the original. Because Eternity Matters Most. He was speaking about HIS physical attributes. He introduced himself as a God of grace in Genesis. The Message Bible is a paraphrase version of the Bible. It is written in a conversational style with contemporary language, making it easier for readers to relate to on a personal level. Youre in charge! Of course, here in America, the Bible has, until recently, been a . The Bible is a dangerous book, though by no means an evil one. Matthew 3:7 Meaning lost: In Matt 3:7, John the Baptist challenges the sincerity of the Pharisees in requesting baptism and warns that they face God's wrath. He guides me along the right paths They still didnt admit that it was a dubious practice to incorporate this book into a church service, but instead gave the reason that it was causing offence in the church. The following translations listed below should be avoided altogether, as utilizing them can lead to grave theological errors, the teaching of a radically different gospel, and a counterfeit Jesus. HE speaks of things to steer clear of because they will more likely than not lead you to sin. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Your email address will not be published. Peterson's Approach Yields a Commentary. Modern language Bibles are the ESV, NIV, NASB, NKJV The Message is one mans ideas on what he thinks the scriptures say and not the actual word of God. I would sit alone on a sofa with no one ready to converse with me. The CEV uses an even more simplified version of English than the GNT. He goes so far as to say it's a form of sacrilege to speak of God in language that is "inflated into balloons of abstraction or diffused into the insubstantiality of lacey gossamer." The result is a strongly sectarian translation that no longer counts as Scripture; by masquerading as a Bible it threatens to bind entire churches in thrall to a false god. The Passion Translation is even promoted by churches that share Simmons own theology (for example removing rebuking and correcting from 2 Timothy 4:2). 11 Give us today our daily bread. Here's Warren's 10 Scriptural Reasons Why Jesus Calling is a Dangerous Book, reprinted with permission: And Jesus answered and said unto them, Take heed that no man deceive you. It would be smart to not confuse the Message with the actual word of God, it is a commentary and should be treated as such, meaning it is not divinely inspired and is full of errors. Remember, Noah built the Ark, scholars built the Titanic. The purpose of those are the same as the Message, which is to make it more understandable to the reader. Yes. When I first began to object due to the occult phrases and New Age terminology of The Message, in addition to its distortions of scripture my concerns were discussed with the church minister behind closed doors. However, he has noticed that some portions of The Message cannot be linked to anything in the Greek text, indicating that additional meaning was added. We were breathing in polluted unbelief and exhaling disobedience. When bestows glory on anything, its beautiful. - is the Word of God? I reminded the church that Jesus said if we love him, we will obey his commands (John 14:23). (a) (The Message) "Since we want to become spiritually one with the Master, we must not pursue the kind of sex that avoids commitment and intimacy leaving us more lonely than ever - the kind of sex that can never "become one"." (b) Comment: Sexual immorality is reduced to "the kind of sex that avoids commitment and intimacy". Samaritans and Jews also disagreed over their holy sites. The Message Bible Good vs. Preach in the full expression of the Holy Spiritwith wisdom and patience as you instruct and teach the people. For instance, the English Standard Version, a word for word literal translation puts the Lords Prayer, from Matthew 6 as: Keep us forgiven with you and forgiving others. The Message has sold over 10 million copies and has continually ranked among the top five best-selling Bibles. I am thankful that Gods grace is sufficient enough for you, me and Eugene Peterson because God is the only one that knows the heart. Reach out to [emailprotected] when you have time. They concluded that Eugene Peterson had indeed made a decision to insert occultic words into the book but they still chose to read from it! Im not afraid Here's what to do if your recipients are seeing "This Message Seems Dangerous" in emails you send: 1. Your email address will not be published. Evangelical Christian Publishers Association, "Introduction to the New Testament, from The Message", "2006 Christian Book Awards Winners - Bibles category", Eugene Peterson interview at a U2 fansite, The Holy Bible from Ancient Eastern Manuscripts, Jewish Publication Society of America Version, New Jewish Publication Society of America Tanakh, New English Translation of the Septuagint, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=The_Message_(Bible)&oldid=1142387790, Short description is different from Wikidata, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License 3.0, Robert L. Hubbard Jr., North Park Theological Seminary (chair), Richard E. Averbeck, Trinity Evangelical Divinity School, Bryan E. Beyer, Columbia International University, Duane A. Garrett, The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, Donald R. Glenn, Dallas Theological Seminary, Paul R. House, Beeson Divinity School, Samford University, John N. Oswalt, Asbury Theological Seminary, Prescott H. Williams Jr., Austin Presbyterian Theological Seminary, William W. Klein, Denver Seminary (chair), Moises Silva, Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary, Rodney A. Whitacre, Trinity School of Ministry. The Message Bible Good vs. Thank you for your comments on The Message, although not very well versed in the bible something in my gut told me that it was wrong. 6 the end of the Lords Prayer is about forgiving not Gods attributes you may be confusing scripture with the Doxology/song. HE did say murder is a sin, which is ending the life of another human. Your article caught my eye because The Message has never sat well with me, precisely because, as you point out, it is a paraphrase and not a formal translation. Gossip always distorts and exaggerates, and is never a reliable source of truth. The abandonment of the King James Bible by our churches has not been a good thing. God has always been a God of grace. For this truth did not come to you from any human being, but it was given to you directly by my Father in heaven. Message Bible is completely an offline bible without requiring internet connection to study the scriptures. as we also have forgiven our debtors. A book through which God speaks. So, The Messagedoes speak about those who "use and abuse each other, use and abuse sex," but what in the world does that mean? "You have something divine in your hands: a book like fire! Would I use it as my only version? HIS thoughts are above our thoughts, HE himself did not TRANSLATE because they all spoke the same language, but HE did PARAPHRASE to speak to everyone on every level. Paraphrase is often written by a single author who translates the Bible in their own words, sometimes not even using the original biblical languages as a foundation. He is further identified as the son of Amoz (Isaiah 1:1). To see additional comparisons other than what is listed below, visit Bible Gateway, where you can view parallel translations of this translation (and any of the other poor translations featured in this article) with the ESV (or any other reliable translation) side by side. English Standard Version (ESV): preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, and exhort, with complete patience and teaching. He instead uses the 1901 American Standard Version as his foundation. I had to sit through two church services tailored to support the churchs use of The Message. Garbage. Problems With Peterson's Philosophical Approach. Even the most liberal seminary would fail a student who turned in an essay full of Message quotes (at least I hope they would). You can do anything you want! That type of persuasion keeps them in the dark. The Message keeps the language of the gospel compelling and modern. Read full chapter. According to NavPress, publisher of Eugene Peterson's The Message The Bible in Contemporary Language, there have been over 10,000,000 readers of The Message. He translated from the original languages. [2], According to the Introduction to the New Testament of The Message, its "contemporary idiom keeps the language of the Message (Bible) current and fresh and understandable". Notify me of follow-up comments by email. Also, check to make sure your email is well written. Many young people who want to serve on a short-term basis with us in the the Scottish housing schemes are on fire for the poor and passionate about being "missional" and "breaking down barriers.". People come to God on their own terms, and if the Message helps them get to him, then its done its job. Related articles What Must Someone Believe in Order to Be Saved? ", If you're reading The Message, it will go right over your head: "Those who use and abuse each other, use and abuse sex, use and abuse the earth and everything in it, don't qualify as citizens in God's kingdom. I just recently found your article that was written in 2017 as I was searching for errors in the Message. Features [ edit] Surely Peterson should do the same. You should seek understanding through the Holy Spirit, not through the eyes of man. But, to repeat: It should neverbe used as your primary Bible, since it is not a translation of the Bible but rather a free paraphrase of the Bible. Daily Christian Prayers reference. I reminded them that we are told to have no fellowship with darkness (Ephesians 5:11) which should mean we dont use that book as a resource. Song of Solomon: Most Amazing . This has been a concern for my friend Ken Berding, who has been doing detailed work in the Greek New Testament and several English translations. How do we know which book - The Bible, the Apocrypha, the Qur'an, the Book of Mormon, etc. Authored by Eugene H. Peterson and published in segments from 1993 to 2002. I would challenge you not to believe what I say but to look it up for yourself. The most dangerous verses in the Bible will have no bearing on us when we are saved and sure; not placing our faith in the work that we have done, but rather in Christ and His finished work. (To get more detail on The Living Bible, see Michael Marlowes detailed review here on bible-researcher.com). 1:28-32). And not a great church to go to if salvation is paramount. for you are with me; Photo Credit: Unsplash/Tom Morel Read more Sorry, your blog cannot share posts by email. It confirms science, reveals the Messiah, and proves that it is supernatural in origin. Human pride and boasting are utterly foolish and a great danger before this righteous God (2:11-17; 10:33; 13:11; 16:6; 23:9; 28:1-4). But use it with caution: It is, by design, a very free paraphrase. The Message loses the idea of an evil demonic power in these verses. In this case, divination is completely neutral. Witnesses, who also changed the Bible around to fit what they wanted to say, they created the NWT Bible. It certainly waters down the living word and I cant see anything in that text that would convict anyone. The Message is generally avoided but there is no hard and fast rule. Instead of using any of these misleading translations, we would do much better to quote the Word of God faithfully, which is perfect and God-breathed, instead of rewording Gods message to include our biases and personal opinions and beliefs. 10 Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven. I read through your points and paused when I came to your 2nd point bottom of the 2nd paragraph you say that Eugene Peterson did not speak about Gods attributes when saying there is nothing in there speaking about any of Gods attributes at the end to the prayer. If you look up NIV Matt. "The Message offers vibrant language that awakens my heart to the wonders of God's Word again and again. There are sections where the message really brings an idea into easy-to-understand language, but for me there is far too much dumbing down and softening of scripture. He didn't. It is specifically targeted toward U.S. English . Heather, theres more to it than that. Those who use and abuse each other, use and abuse sex, use and abuse the earth and everything in it, don't qualify as citizens in God's kingdom.