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Summary: Pure excellence
Review: The idea of the bible being written by God through humans has long been put aside - except by a few very vocal people in certain parts of the US and other countries. We have then a collection of 66 books which show how the religious feelings of their authors had influence on their lives.
Mr Peterson has done an excellent job of putting the meaning of these books in to contemporary English. All pretentious churchy language is gone. And his English, like that of the best of the more formal translations, lets women be women and people be people rather than letting everything be masculine. The resulting text is refreshing and very appealing, often giving new insights into the contents of the various bible books. It is not at all surprising that this translation appeals to the youth of today.
Using The Message as your basic bible version is not a bad idea. Should your church recommend a different version for study, then use The Message to clarify the bits that the other version does not make clear. The more you get to know the bible, the more you will appreciate the efforts of Mr Peterson in making it accessible to just about everyone who speaks English and who does not have a hang-up about the possible corruption of what God supposedly wrote. The statements of faith which are the books of the NT spring to life and their relevance for today becomes apparent. Buy it! Give it as a gift!
Rating: 
Summary: It's a Summary, not a Translation
Review: This is NOT the word of God. It is a combination summary/commentary written on a 6th grade level. It may be an excellent choice for someone who is "almost" interested in checking out what the Bible says (like I was 14 years ago when I bought The Book), but it is not an accurate translation. Perhaps it is a good stepping stone to get conversation/thought started with a seeker. It certainly is not the least bit intimidating.
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Summary: Introduces unbiblical ideas into the Scriptures
Review: I agree that the Bible should be translated using modern-day English. And doing so can produce an accurate and readable version. But what Peterson does is re-write the New Testament so that it expresses its ideas in the manner in which he thinks these ideas would have been expressed if the New Testament were written today. To do this requires completing ignoring all details of the Greek text and simply re-writing the Bible. And by doing so, there is the very real possibility that ideas foreign to the Bible will be inserted into it.One of the worst examples of this problem occurring is in Acts 1:20: The Message has "It's exactly what we find written in the Psalms: 'Let his farm become haunted so no one can live there.'" Meanwhile, the more literal NKJV has, "For it is written in the book of Psalms: 'Let his dwelling place be desolate, And let no one live in it'.'" First, The Message states that Judas owned a "farm," thus indicating that he was a farmer. But the Greek word here simply means, "dwelling place" as the NKJV has it. And there is no indication elsewhere in the Scriptures as to what Judas' occupation was. So the idea of Judas being a farmer has been inserted into the text. But that's not the worst unbiblical idea in this sentence. That comes with the word "haunted." The word haunted means, "inhabited or frequented by ghosts: a haunted castle" (Webster's). So it would seem in Peterson's world there are ghosts haunting the homes of people who die tragic deaths. It is true this is popular mythology, but it is just that, mythology. In the Bible and thus in the real world, there is no such thing as ghosts! This is very important. There are many people today who believe in such things as ghost, and even live in constant fear as a result. But becoming a Christian and believing Biblical teachings should deliver a person from such superstitions. However, the Message would not be able to deliver such a person, but would probably help to confirm them in their superstitious and fearful ways. So the Message is a very readable and expressive book. However, the Message completely ignores the original words and grammar of the text and instead re-writes the Bible. In doing so, it inserts ideas that are foreign to the actual Word of God. As such, the Message is not a book one could relay on for help in understanding the Word of God. The above was adapted from my book Differences Between Bible Versions. My book contains more on The Message, along with reviews of over 30 other versions of the Bible.
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Summary: The Perfect Size and Binding On an Excellent Translation
Review: My title said it all. If you like The Message, small books, and leather bindings, this is a keeper.
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Summary: You Will Not Find A Better Contemporary Translation
Review: Okay, so you've had it with those other translations. Perhaps the idea of reading the Bible through has made you throw your hands up in defeat. Perhaps you've read it through and would simply like to draw it into yourself more deeply. Or perhaps, like me, the Bible has been a constant (yet fractured and fragmented) companion that you'd like to get to know better. Quite frankly, I'm usually too tired to give the Bible the intellectual energy that most translations demand. The easier translations have no bite. But this one does. Point blank, read it. You will not regret it. It will open your eyes, thrill you, touch you, convict you, and comfort you. I particularly recommend this to those who thought they would never read the Bible and to those who think they know it. You won't regret it.
Rating: 
Summary: Overall, an excellent parallel reading material
Review: An excellent modern interpretation of the new testament. The book sets Biblical truths in a modern context. Excellent as parallel reading material for your regular devotions, but shouldn't be used as a replacement for your regular Bible, because some details are left out in translation.
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Summary: You mean Jesus didn't speak English?
Review: The negative reviews for this translation remind me of the American congressman in the 1980's who said in response to the debate to make English the offical language of the USA, "If English was good enough for Jesus, it is good enough for me." This is the first translation that has really spoken me and I am not an uneducated guy; I enjoyed Latin and Anglo-Saxon in college and am comfortable reading all the obsolete pronouns and verb forms of the King James Version, but it was all just words. I read once where the word that Jesus used for God translates into English as 'daddy' and not 'Father'. That touched me. And years later when I was first exposed to this version, I had the same feeling.
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Summary: An interesting new way of reading the Bible
Review: To say the least, this is a very cool and often fun translation of the Bible. To go a step further, I've found it to be a great resource in ministry, especially with teens. The contemporary language adds new dimension to the scriptures and provides a new perspective on things I've read numerous times before. The Message reads like a book and I've sometimes found it frustrating that it doesn't have numbered scriptures for quick reference, but that is a small issue compared to the what the author has accomplished. I highly recommend this book for your bookshelf, especially if you are involved in ministry of any type. I especially recommend this book for New Christians as an added resource for their Bible studies.
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Summary: The Ultimate Non-Shakespeare Bible
Review: Tired of all the "Thees" and Thous?" Get this Bible. Eugene Peterson has done a masterful job of translating God's Word into something that can be read and enjoyed. (It's about time) It's a fun read...very dramatic and creative without ruining the integrity of the timeless truths of God. To those who say, "The King James Version is the official version of the Bible sanctioned by God," I say, "Phooey!" God's Word is meant to be understood and "The Message" does that. (Besides, Jesus never said "Thee" or "Thou." Ever.)
Rating:
Summary: A fine companion piece
Review: Pastor Peterson hasn't created the perfect modern day biblical translation. That job is still yet to be done. While we do lose much of the poetry we are used to, Peterson does render the New Testament in a completely accessible form that frequently reads like a living and breathing contemporary novel. He should have employed a few more collaborators and editors on the work, but it is still an impressive achievement and a good read. Should this be the only text one studies with? Of course not. But it does serve as a starting off point for one's religious exploration and study. "The Message" of Salvation through the living Christ rings loud and true in this new translation. I do disagree with some of the negative reviewers. I certainly grasped in this translation, Christ's true divinity. I also grasped for the first time, a real sense of Paul and his position of doctrine and devotion. I reccomend the book not as an end all and be all, but as fine, accessible introduction.
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