The Message is not only a poor paraphrase, but it is, in fact,heretical. It wasnt too long ago that we were stuck in this stagnant life of sin, but thankfully, God has given us a new life through Jesus Christ. It confirms science, reveals the Messiah, and proves that it is supernatural in origin. - is the Word of God? Schedule II: Drugs with some medically acceptable uses, but with high potential for abuse and/or addiction. For many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and shall deceive many. This is why HE he stated that the Sabbath was made for man, man wasnt made for the Sabbath. (To get more detail on The Living Bible, see Michael Marlowes detailed review here on bible-researcher.com). Because Eternity Matters Most. To be fair, a more accurate comparison might be to the Jehovas I believe that Gods people searchin n praying to Holy Spirit to guide us in understanding. 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. Related articles What Must Someone Believe in Order to Be Saved? Notify me of follow-up comments by email. 26 Comments I am not alone. One of the most dangerous Bible revisions on the market today is "THE MESSAGE." This horrible PERversion which butchers the Word of God was published in 2002. . Bible translations will vary between these three categories and it is important to know which translation falls into which category, along with other attributes that will make the translation either a faithful representation of the original, infallible, and inerrant Word of God or a misleading book posing as a Bible. Theological Reasons. Church officials must be in control of their own families, and they must see that their children are obedient and always respectful. 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. Do you believe that the KJV did not paraphrase. This raises questions about how accurately The Message reflects the original intent of Scripture. you let me catch my breath For a fair assessment of Dr. Peterson's comments and retraction this week, see Bill Muehlenberg's article here. 5) Contemporary English Version (CEV) - This translation is another work by the American Bible Society, commonly referred to as the Bible for Today's Family. 6. [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". The Message is a tool that, while not subjectively perfect for some, is quite ideal for others. You are right-on! It is specifically targeted toward U.S. English . We must reject contemporary culture, not change to fit in. English Standard Version (ESV): Or do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? I hope this list has been helpful and will steer you in the right direction as to which Bible translations are profitable for training you up in righteousness. 1 Because the Lord is my Shepherd, I have everything I need! Where is Sunday on the calender? Hostility to it is hostility to the. I got some belated support and encouragement. This phrase is used to describe someone who is wicked and deceitful, as snakes are often seen as symbols of evil in the Bible. Eugene Peterson created The Message, a Bible translation which emphasizes the need to trust God rather than focus on material possessions or appearances. 1 The Lord is my shepherd, I lack nothing. Arthur L. Farstad writes: As a Bible translator and editor myself, I must disagree. Jesus promises his disciples a reward in heaven for being persecuted and falsely accused in his name. Thought-for-thought presents the intended meaning of the author, which the original audience would have understood during the time the writing was originally created. Earth was a soup of nothingness, a bottomless emptiness, an inky blackness. The Passion Translation (TPT): proclaim the Word of God and stand upon it no matter what! 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." On the two occasions when I have since heard it used, the speakers havent disclosed the name of the book they are reading from. 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. True to your word, These drugs can be obtained through prescription. I have enjoyed listening to Peter Hobbs reading message audio on youtube. None of those individuals ever identified themselves to me and to this day I dont know who they were. Biblical scholars can do real spiritual harm by casually dismissing the texts that students hold dear. 2-3 He lets me rest in the meadow grass and leads me beside the quiet streams. Matthew 5:11-12 A historic first: Vietnam allows Franklin Graham to hold evangelism event with 300 churches, Teen who had breasts removed says health system lacks 'standards of care', School district rejects student-teachers from Arizona Christian University, Its smut: Kid reads sexually graphic book he got from school library to school board members, Ukraine war exposes weaknesses in Russia and the West, ChatGPT, consciousness and the human mind, Saving a Sick America: A Prescription for Moral and Cultural Transformation, Eugene Peterson and Jesus Cannot Both Be Right, Eugene Peterson Retracts Support for Gay Marriage, Says He Was 'Put on the Spot', Vicky Beeching on Eugene Peterson Controversy: 'American Christians' Opposition to LGBT Equality Tied to Money', U2's Bono Teams Up With Pastor Eugene Peterson to Release Documentary on the Psalms. Solomon had clear instruction from the Lord not to marry foreign wives, but he chose . Therefore My people go into exile for their lack of knowledge; Millions of evangelicals and other Christian fundamentalists believe that the Bible was essentially dictated by God to men who acted as human channelers. We are in a dark time. This eventually led to the Reformation led by Martin Luther. Required fields are marked *. Further the Message adds to the text (something forbidden by scripture) there is nothing in there speaking about any of Gods attributes at the end to the prayer, and I have no idea where he got that Yes. Your email address will not be published. I think we judge too harshly. 12 And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors. 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. That's not to say that the Bible contains no truths worthy of study. He did not say Peterson did not speak Gods Attributes in his rendition of Lords Prayer, he said the original text did not so there-for Peterson should not have added it to the prayer. Tyndale was killed by the Catholic Church because the Catholic Church did not want the common person to have a Bible. HE speaks of things to steer clear of because they will more likely than not lead you to sin. Isaiah was born in 760 B.C. 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. Why The Message bible should not be used It is not the Word of God! Also Amen means something different in every denomination. Those who promote use of the Message tend to deny the sinful nature of man and the exclusivity of the Gospel of Jesus Christ alone for salvation. but deliver us from the evil one.'". The King James Version 9 After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. He outlined his grace in Leviticus. Authored by Eugene H. Peterson and published in segments from 1993 to 2002. He helps me do what honors him the most. Keep us alive with three square meals. .". English Standard Version (ESV): The saying is trustworthy: If anyone aspires to the office of overseer, he desires a noble task. Taylor also inserts his own ideas into the passage, adding that Jesus will come to you meekly which is certainly not part of the original Greek manuscript. Speakers were lacking in integrity to feed people from this book without first explaining the many problems with it. It is written in a conversational style with contemporary language, making it easier for readers to relate to on a personal level. An overwhelming number of these translations suffer from the strong bias of an unfaithful group of translators. John Clark: Ise, thank you for sharing and for your openness. 1Cor. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. There are words in every language that does and does not exist in another language. God bless. This was the only Bible they could get. Simmons has actually released four installments of his new translation: Psalms: Poetry on Fire. Would I use it as my only version? answer the question why the message bible is dangerous, which will help you get the most accurate answer. He instead uses the 1901 American Standard Version as his foundation. 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. Faith North Korea - In this totalitarian state, the only thing that North Koreans are permitted to worship is the nation's leader, Kim Jong-un. Some scholars, like Michael J. Gorman, consider some of Peterson's idiomatic renderings unconventional. The Message Bible is an English-language translation of the Christian scriptures compiled by Eugene Peterson and published in segments from 1993 to 2002. 11 Give us today our daily bread. Translation is from one language to another. Jews believed the temple in Jerusalem was the only proper place to worship God. In reality, the Lord doesn't need men to make His words more "readable." The Spirit is more than capable of bringing an understanding to anyone as the Lord wills and as we devote ourselves to study of it. This Message book should not be used at all. Even the most liberal seminary would fail a student who turned in an essay full of Message quotes (at least I hope they would). ", 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 am thankful that Gods grace is sufficient enough for you, me and Eugene Peterson because God is the only one that knows the heart. And this is why: so that no one need be destroyed; by believing in him, anyone can have a whole and lasting life. A striving after love, is the ethically more demanding choice (1 Corinthians 13:4), while the other, insisting on the right faith, more likely than not will lead to callousness (Gal 1:6-9). We can get a glimpse of the strengths and weaknesses of The Messageby looking at how Dr. Peterson treated a number of key verses dealing with homosexual practice. As a white male . HE did say murder is a sin, which is ending the life of another human. Look for Part 2 of this article, where we will review the top 5 Bible translations to use. 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. 5. 41,316 Views. Jesus referred to sinners as a brood of vipers to remind people that sin can be deceptive and hard to recognize, and that they should strive for righteousness if they want to avoid Gods punishment. 713 And the word "abhorrent" is as good a rendering of the Hebrew as is "abomination. 3 he refreshes my soul. Where secrecy is removed, gossip is hampered. 2. Keep us safe from ourselves and the Devil. I think my actions sent out a shockwave in the spiritual realm. I reminded the church that Jesus said if we love him, we will obey his commands (John 14:23). 3) The Living Bible (TLB) - First published in 1971, The Living Bible is another paraphrase translation by sole translator, Kenneth Taylor. Of course, I could cite hundreds of brilliant renderings in The Message, and sometimes, when preaching, I'll cite one of them, since it powerfully drills home the point. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Jonathan Kotyk is a student, self taught philosopher, recovering addict and born again Christian. Joe, this is an incredible story that you shared. Jesus saying about having a generous eye probably refers to Gods blessing on those who are generous with their resources and time. This should be emphasized whenever a preacher or teacher quotes from it, I believe. Keep us forgiven with you and forgiving others. Taking away and adding to ie Going to the casino is a sin. I gave the leaders and some church members paper copies of this resource.