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Summary: "Hooked on it" "A Page-Turner"
Review: I can relate to the descriptions other readers have used for "The Message": hooked on it, a page-turner... I, too, read the Bible in many different translations and paraphrases, even in another language, but got tired of reading it. I had the sense that "I have it memorized, why bother reading it again?"
Thank you, Eugene Peterson, for revitalizing my interest in the Bible through "The Message". Even the introduction to each book is wonderful to read. I'm getting new insights, new impressions, and best of all, a new sense of how vital my interactions with God can be. Thank you, thank you, thank you!
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Summary: This makes the Bible accessible to anyone
Review: This is the best way to make the Bible accessible to young readers or readers whose first language is not English. Some folks will say that the translation is not literal enough, but I think Peterson has done a marvelous job of making the Bible lucid in modern language without distorting the truth. Newcomers to the church may be turned off by the language of the KJV, and pastors may be turned off by the language of the Living Bible. "The Message" is a very happy medium.
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Summary: A fresh vision revitalizes the Truth
Review: I bought this Bible for my self because my Pastor in Church was using it and I loved they way it read. Now, I am buying another one for my Dad who is 74 and still Pastoring. My only regret is that they don't have it online at gosplecom.net with all the other versions - I hate typing it in to share with all my friends.I was raised quoting scriptures as young as 3 years old. Memorizing the Bible was primary in our household as we made money for certain passages (we were very poor so sometimes it was only 5 cents but we thought we were millionaires). At Sunday School, we memorized scripture every week and got a peice of candy or a ribbon or something. At the age of 13, I became a christian and started reading the bible for myself. I tried to read it through every year marking whatever seemed relevant to my life at that time and re-reading it over and over. This continued along with going to church for years. When the NIV came out, I changed from the King James but kept reading. Then I started having problems reading any Bible - it seemed so stale (I know this was a condition of my life, not the Bible). About 2 years ago, I recieved prayer that I could once again read my Bible. I started reading again here and there but wasn't really excited about it. Now, since getting the Message Bible, I love reading it so much, I find that I get hooked into reading more than I anticipated. When I had some scriptures to look up, I got the NIV, Amplified, and Message Bible to see how close they were. There was only one scripture out of 50 that I couldn't find the wording that I was looking for (or its similarity). I recommend it to all my friends and relatives. In fact, I am giving out some scriptures for Christmas this year.
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Summary: This IS a bible and it's WONDERFUL
Review: I'm somewhat dismayed at the reviews that are not calling "The Message" a bible. It's a beautiful and very understandable translation of God's Word. Could it possibly be that the King James and some of the more modern translations have mis-translated some of the original greek and hebrew and, perhaps, Peterson translated the words correctly? Why automatically believe that Peterson's translation is wrong because other translations say something different. I think that what sometimes is happening is people will look at the translation(s) that they like and when they see a verse translated differently within "The Message", they automatically will assume that the translation within "The Message" is wrong simply because it doesn't agree with the translation of the bible that they normally use. Could it POSSIBLY be that the translation that a person normally uses mis-translated the verse? No translation of the bible is perfect since the translators of all bibles (King James, NIV, really all of them) were people who were, indeed, fallible. They made their best efforts. Having said all of that, I find this bible to be simply wonderful. To me, this bible reads like a highly well written novel! In fact, in evenings when I'm not careful, I get hooked on it and I'm tempted to read it well into the night. It is exciting! Besides all of this, it certainly has given me added insight into how I am to live my life in accordance with God's written word. This translation has helped me to rethink various situations in my life and has also shown me ways to make some course corrections in my life and it has done all of that in a style that grips me and makes me read it hour upon hour. I can't put it down! It's a great book!
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Summary: The Message: The Bible in Contemporary Language by Eugene H.
Review: Growing up in the church, I am used to the language of King James and the terminology within it, but my husband is a new Christian and feels overwhelmed by the thought of daily study when he has no idea what he is reading. This book has really been a blessing. Even I am seeing things in scriptures I never saw before because it is presented in the language I speak every day. We translate the Bible into so many languages, why not contemporary english? The only way to leave the text completely in the original wording is for all of us to learn Hebrew and Greek. A great tool for anyone who wants to understand God more.
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Summary: Don't Study With This ...RELAX and ENJOY With This...!
Review: This is a great work. I love it and have spent a great deal of money on different editions. However, I agree with the person who wrote that it is more a running commentary than a Bible unto itself. I don't, however, agree that it "talks down" to the reader... rather, it seeks to bridge the culture gap AS WELL as the language gap. As such, we measure this work by its accuracy in INTENT rather than word-for-word correctness. This should be a Bible for those intimidated and those overly-familiar. It speaks to all but particularly those of us in either camp ...it often happens simultaneously, strangely enough!
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Summary: Very enjoyable and helpful
Review: When I'm feeling a little out of it, I read this fresh transliteration as a faith- invigorator. it gives new insight.
useful as a companion to the more literal translations.
Nothing is worth more than knowing the Bible and really understanding what it means.
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Summary: There's Fresh Bread Here
Review: At last, it's here, the whole Bible in the Message paraphrase! I have no complaints except that I often wish Peterson had used verse numbers. Yes, the Message is intended to be read as the Bible was read long ago, but verse numbers do give the journey some "mile markers". I like to read the Message side by side with a standard translation and it can be a little akward finding the place, but so well worth the effort. Peterson's paraphrase is a labor of love, and I'm so very thankful he has completed this work. Contrary to what some might imagine, this work does not "dumb down the Bible", but rather Peterson uses the language of our day, much as the Bible was first recorded - in everyday street language. I'm sure some scholars may well have fits over real or imagined translation and contextual errors, but the world shall go on. I highly recommend this paraphrase to anyone who wants or needs a fresh look at this sacred text.
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Summary: Great!
Review: An excellent, readable version of the Bible. A great companion to "study" Bibles, it presents the Scripture in new, thought-provoking, everyday language...while staying true to the original message of each verse. A keeper!
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Summary: A Great translation of the Bible
Review: I love the message, contrary to popular opinion, Eugene Peterson has done an excellent job. I believe he has faithfully tranlsated the Scriptures. It is a great Bible to read for devotions, but i also admit that you need a bit more depthy Bible to study from. But it is a breat of fresh air when you read it. I can feel the emotions through the words chosen by Eugene Peterson. I am able to give it to non-Christians to read and they love it because it appeals to them. It is an excellent paraphrase and just because it's a bit different to normal translations, it is still great for getting the overall message of the Bible. Keep an open mind while you read it, because it will challenge you, but don't right it off just because it's a bit different.
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