Rating: 
Summary: Easy to understand.
Review: Thank you Mr. Peterson for a Bible that I can finally understand. It's not that I am lazy, it's just that I sometimes find biblical passages hard to understand and need a little extra help with what the passage is trying to say. My sister actually bought this for me a few months ago and I've been steadily reading it in between my school work and other activities. My friends joke around with me and ask why I'm reading a Bible with contemporary language. They say something like "did you get to the part yet where Jesus checks his email?" or some other obnoxious phrase. They of course have no idea that as they are struggling through their bible verses, I'm crusing towards the finish line. If you find yourself in the same situation as I once did, pick this Bible up! I strongly recommend.
Rating:
Summary: Finally - The Message contains the WHOLE Bible!
Review: I've been so looking forward to the publication of The Message Bible for so long that I wondered how it could ever live up to my high expectations! I've enjoyed reading The Message New Testament and Psalms for quite awhile now. This Message Bible is everything I expected and more. Genesis was the first thing I read and I couldn't believe how it flowed! The stories came alive in such a unique way! I've read Genesis in the NIV (my choice for Bible Study) several times recently, but reading it in The Message Bible gave Genesis a whole new breath of fresh air for me! It might seem like a small thing, but having only the chapter numbers and no verse numbers included really improves the readability. It reads more like a regular book. You don't tend to stop at the end of a subheading like you might normally do. It really is hard to put this Bible down! Perhaps this isn't the Bible you should use for serious studying - but for READING, and getting God's Word into you - it's awesome! As for the paraphrase-type of translation, I have the UTMOST respect for Eugene Peterson's interpretation and scholarship and I know he did not take this responsibility lightly. Peterson is the author of many outstanding books for both pastors and laypersons. Two that come to mind are his excellent "A Long Obedience in the Same Direction" (the title alone deserves a Gold Medallion Award, don't you think?) and "Leaping Over a Wall", which is about the life of David. "Living the Message" is an excellent devotional which has short, easy-to-read, but profound thoughts for each day. I highly recommend The Message Bible - get it for yourself and pick up one for a friend or relative as well! Please check out my other reviews of Christian books and Bibles. I also have a ListMania list called "Great Bibles" that might be helpful. May the Lord bless you as you read His Word!
Rating:
Summary: Caution: Camel Ahead
Review: Let me tell you what I love about this translation. It captures the heart and spirit and soul of these long dead writers and makes the message breathe again. It lets you read a letter from Paul in the New Testament and get a glimpse of what it might have been like to be in that first century church when the parchment was opened and read for the first time - hearing your issues, fears, hopes, and sins being directly addressed. I can appreciate that this is far from a word-for-word translation. But word-for-word translation is not the gold standard of biblical scholarship that many make it out to be. The problem with literal translation is that while you can translate the words accurately, you have just ripped them out of their original context and culture and thrown them 2000 years into the future, and plopped them down on to a page for everyone to ooh and aah over. It's all very academically commendable that you can tell me that "in John Chapter 3 verse 15 Jesus says that 'whoever believes may in Him have eternal life'... that is according to a third century papyrus fragment which is also found in a fourth century uncial; but that third century papyrus also adds in the phrase 'will not perish' - but that isn't found in the fourth century Latin manuscripts, or the early Coptic or Syritic versions, so that phrase was probably added..." Sorry, my eyes just glazed over. My mind was wandering... something about missing the forest for the trees. Someone very wise once warned about being too careful to strain out the gnat, while swallowing a camel... Anyway, my point is, by every account, listening to Jesus speak was a life changing experience. This translation captures that essence - which carries crucial meaning and impact. Think of this contemporary example: Martin Luther King's "I have dream" speech. What makes it so powerful? The words are a part of it, certainly. But there is also the context of that unprecedented moment in time - that gathering. There is the very simple vocabulary he used - that conveys the sense that this man is "of the people". There is the rhythm. Those strong Baptist cadences that signal a call and response. That conveyed the sense that this was not just a political message - this is a spiritual message. All of those woven together, consciously or unconsciously, are used to shape our messages. They say, "THIS SENTENCE IS IMPORTANT. This one, not as important, but stay with me because I'm building to something good." Think of what would be missed if you didn't speak English, knew nothing about the 60's in America, but only had a word for word transcription of that speech. You might scratch your head wondering what all the fuss was about. Get my drift? The truth is, anyone who studies language will tell you that we don't communicate words, or even sentences. We speak, we communicate, in paragraphs. A paragraph is an idea. We use sentences, or fragments of sentences to build paragraphs. If you really want to get to the heart of the Bible (yes, I'm finally coming back to that) you want to grab a hold of the paragraphs. Take those ancient Greek, Hebrew, and Aramaic words and re-arrange them into meaningful paragraphs, one idea building on another, and you will have come back to what the original author was trying to get across. The ancient words are not (pardon the pun) " the message". They are the tools used get the message across to their contemporaries. If we want to experience that same message, we have to blow the dust off these words, and try to reconstruct the inspired, revolutionary, life altering meaning that burned in their author's hearts. The Message is a tool that can help in that regard. It's not the only tool, to be sure - but even if this was the only Bible you ever read, I think I can safely say that you will be the better for having experienced it. Re: 5 stars - I mean, jeeze, if you don't give THE BIBLE five stars, you must have some pretty tough standards...
Rating:
Summary: The Bible?
Review: While Peterson's paraphrase of the Bible does an adequate job of rendering the writings of the ancients into 21st Century, American language, this is not a Bible.
And to those of you suggesting that if we really want to read the Bible, we should put this down and turn to the King James Version or the New Living Translation, you are misguided. If we really want to read the Bible as God intended, we would all learn to read Hebrew, Aramaic, and Greek. These are the languages that the inspired authors wrote in. The simplest of people can learn these languages in only a few short years and when we read the Bible in its original languages, we will not be dependent upon any mediators (translators/interpreters) in hearing the Word of God.
All sarcasm aside the KJV, NIV, and similar translations are not accessible to everybody, nor are they flawless renderings of God's Word. If you struggle with the language of the normal versions, read the NLT, or if you want to read the Bible in extremely accessible language, read the Message. Don't be fooled into thinking that this is not the Word of God.
Rating:
Summary: Very Refreshing
Review: THE MESSAGE is a great addition to the Bible translations commonly accepted today. His writing is enjoyable and the common language used really lets the reader see the text in the light that it was written in. The back of the book jacket says that the Bible was not written in scholarly Greek, but in a common, conversational tone -- in the language of the streets and the marketplace. The way The Message was written makes the New Testament infinitely more accessible. I believe Eugene Peterson _did_ translate directly from the Greek, and not from another English translation of the New Testament, therefore, I think this translation rings very true to the original text. (I'm not a Bible scholar, however). One characteristic that occasionally bothers me is the overabundance of idioms -- English cliches. Phrases like "you can't see the forest for the trees" distract rather than inspire me. It should also be noted that verses are not numbered, as in traditional translations, although the chapters are designated. This isn't a complaint, but an interesting feature. I highly recommend THE MESSAGE -- it's a revolutionary way to read the Bible. You can read it on its own, or with another translation of the Bible as a companion. If you know someone who is having trouble "getting into the Word," then definitely let them know about The Message.
Rating:
Summary: just bought it .
Review: okay i just bought this (paraphrased)bible about 2 hours ago. which would be 6:55 p.m. 4/17 .. i work at a bookstore and i noticed this new bible. the cover caught my attention right away and i wanted to know what it was about. i wanted something that would help me get me through the bible. i had tried once before to read the niv bible . i only got halfway through it, before putting it down. and that was a few years ago. I have a few diffrent views and beliefs than most christians, but I want to read His word , i want to read something that i can understand better. I am reading some of these reviews and a few people are complaining about how his paraphrase is way diffrent from the original text. the funny thing is .. there a lot of people who i have spoken to who feel the same way about diffrent versions of the bible , like kjv, nkjv, niv, nlt, nrsb, etc.. some people will only read certain ones because they feel the other versions aren't telling the real truth. with that said. the editors specifically write in the intro of this (paraphrased) bible, "that this is a reading bible , and is not intended to replace study bibles"when you come across ideas , or words that you don't understand, don't hesitate to get some help from someone who may have spent more years reading the Bible than you have. And at some point along the way, you may find it helpful to get a standard study Bible to facilitate further study. Until then, just pray as you read through the Bible , asking God to have his way with your life." there it is folks. it is recommended that you have a study bible. so it even admits that this isn't something to replace the actual Bible. i am more than happy to have bought this paraphrase feeling like i will get through the whole Bible a lot more easier now, with some help from a guy who wants more people like me get to know Gods' word. i will write further reviews on this as i get through the reading. so stay tuned in.
Rating: 
Summary: For mature readers only...
Review: My recommendations if you must read "The Message": 1) Read with a mature Christian
2) Always read side-by-side with a real translation
3) Use as a study aid, not a Bible
4) Do not use for memorization A paraphrase is a restatement of a text in different words, hopefully to clarify the meaning of the original. Although "The Message" succeeds at this in a number of places, it fails in far too many--either to clarify or to restate the original meaning. Having said the above...I do believe that the author created this work with good faith and intent. He is a good writer with a flair for the poetic, which I appreciate. His "take" on some passages has led me to research them in the original texts and reflect on them further, which certainly benefits me. As I said, my recommendation, if you are going to use "The Message," is to use it with great care.
Rating: 
Summary: The Bible says???
Review: I have been reading "The Purpose Driven Life" by Rick Warren, who often quotes this very loose paraphrase, preceded by the words "The Bible says." I have been comparing what "The Message" says to what the Bible actually says; and in the majority of instances they are not even close. What Eugene H. Peterson says may or may not be true, but to call this the Bible is not accurate. This is one person's interpretation of the Bible. I am a seminary graduate. I have studied Greek and Hebrew. I can say without reservation that this is NOT a translation from the original languages.
Rating:
Summary: Did someone call this accurate?
Review: This is absolutely awful. It is neither a translation nor a paraphrase of the Scriptures. A paraphrase should be an easy to read rewording of a text, which does not alter the meaning of the text. Just consider what Peterson does to John 1:1, "The Word was first, the Word present to God, God present to the Word. The Word was God." In case you are thinking I am just a narrow-minded KJV only person, (which I am not), here is John 1:1 in the translation known as GOD'S WORD, "In the beginning the Word already existed. The Word was with God, and the Word was God." As you can see, Peterson takes a passage that is easy to read and understand in ANY translation and makes it more unclear, not clearer. It is the Holy Spirit's job to illuminate His word to us so we can understand it. Beware of thinking a translator can do the work of the Holy Spirit. Peterson has utterly failed to produce an accurate rendering of the Scriptures. He should apologize to everyone who purchased this pathetic work, and refund their money.
Rating:
Summary: Great Book!
Review: The whole point of the Bible is to teach us what we need to know. You can't do that if you do not understand the Bible. Eugene H. Peterson puts it in context for today to better understand God's word.
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