Rating: 
Summary: Just horrible
Review: All of have to say is that this translation is very bad and even insulting to anyone with an IQ over 50. The author tries to claim that the Bible was written in the language of the street of the common people. This simply isn't true, anyone with background in Greek or Hebrew knows that the Bible contains many complex phrases and words that weren't used by the common peasantry of the time (this can be deciphered just by looking at ancient Hebrew and Greek texts written by common folk as journals and letters of correspondence) and in fact some of the Hebrew words can't be translated into English because of their ancient complex forms (many scholars are left to guess at the actual meanings of some of these words by the context their used in). Peterson is by no means a scholar himself and his translations shows it. There are many times through out the text that he completely gets the translation wrong or misconstrued and in many instances it seems like self censorship because many of the original Hebrew meanings of the Old Testament texts conflicts with the Christian New Testament texts and thought. Not only that but they way he writes this Bible is extremely rudimentary, not only does it seem like he didn't review the ancient Hebrew and Greek texts it looks like he just took modern translations (which are far more superior than "The Message" in every single way) and made them simpler or more conflated by mixing in his own views and slang words that have no context with the very complex and precise Hebrew and Greek words at the time. Needless to say if I could give this book negative stars I would.
Rating:
Summary: A Different Gospel
Review: First, I was deeply grieved by a youth pastor below who used The Message as his primary translation. He would do well to read what a real Bible translation has to say about "tying millstones around the necks" of youth and the warning for not many to aspire to teach, for they will receive a stricter judgment. I was also nauseated by people who wrote that they were bored with the same "tired old verses". God's Word, tired and boring?? No way. It's the deceptive, selfish human heart in our material, entertainment age that demands entertainment at the cost of real human souls. Dumbing down and watering down the Word of God to appeal to people who have the capacity for intelligence but are too lazy to apply their intelligence to study and comprehension? If your teens are having a hard time understanding the Bible, parents and pastors, try spending some time with them and explaining it. Or encourage them to apply themselves in school.Galatians 1:8
But even if we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel to you than what we have preached to you, let him be accursed. I hope that Eugene Peterson does not find himself gnashing his teeth on judgment day as Jesus pronounces "I never knew you. Depart from me you worker of iniquity." I pity those teachers who follow in the footsteps of Mr. Peterson, who had added and subtracted from the Word of the Almighty God. The Message is filled to the brim with New Age references, a politically correct agenda and an obscuring of the message which is necessary for salvation. If a person is not familiar with New Age terminology, as many Christians are not, then they are ripe for the picking. Jesus is referred to as "the Master". The Master is a new age expression. New Agers believe that many "enlightened masters" have come to planet earth- Buddah, Krishna, Mohamed and Jesus being a few. Christians know that Jesus isn't merely an enlightened master, He is Lord and the only way to salvation. The Bible says that people who are not saved can not say that Jesus is Lord. Neither does the Message say it. What does that tell you? Here is a comparison of the NKJV version and The Message. If you want to compare the Message against any other version or verse, you can go to biblegateway.com and reference any version you like. Romans 10:9-10 (NKJV)
9that if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. 10For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. (How is the NKJV too complicated for anyone who comprehends English to understand? But look at how the Message adds many words and yet complicates and obscures the message, not simplifying as was it's stated purpose.) Romans 10:9-10 (The Message)
9Say the welcoming word to God--"Jesus is my Master"--embracing, body and soul, God's work of doing in us what he did in raising Jesus from the dead. That's it. You're not "doing" anything; you're simply calling out to God, trusting him to do it for you. That's salvation. 10With your whole being you embrace God setting things right, and then you say it, right out loud: "God has set everything right between him and me!" Why does Mr. Peterson feel it necessary to change the "Jesus is Lord" to "Jesus is my Master"? It doesn't clarify anything. 2x he tells the person to make a confession other than what the real Bible says. This example is not even the worst of his mistranslations, additions, insertions of personal opinions not marked as thus, subtractions and twistings of scripture. The Bible says that Sexual immorality, adultery and homosexuality are sins, but The Message removes these references in favor of "sex without commitment and intimacy". Or sex without love. In other words, a non-discerning person (and believe me, if they think this is an honest translation they are sorely lacking in discernmenet) will be led to believe that sex is OK as long as they feel love, commitment and intimacy; whatever that means to them. This "bible", if it can even be called such, is preparing the church for the great apostacy when so called Christians will abandon real salvation for the one world religion. I was downright shocked when I read this book and then angered that so many are willingly swallowing the lie. Don't become one of the fooled, it's not only your soul at stake but also your family and friends, whom are in your realm of influence.
Rating: 
Summary: Thank you, Lord, for The Message
Review: For 35 years, as a Christian, I have soaked in, and absorbed The Word of God from King James to New American, so, I guess one could say I have a loving knowledge of "The Bible". This said, I recommend to anyone, the content of The Message. Personally, I don't care if this be the only translation that anyone ever picks up. If the Spirit of God uses it to convey one bit of Truth to your soul and spirit, then, hallelujah! Receive it and keep going. God has used it so often in my personal quiet time, to clarify and shed new Light on the Truth of a long-loved passage, that I can only express joy that it has come to us in these days that can otherwise look so dark. Read The Message. In my opinion, it's The Word.
Rating:
Summary: Thank you, Lord, for The Message
Review: For 35 years, as a Christian, I have soaked in, and absorbed The Word of God from King James to New American, so, I guess one could say I have a loving knowledge of "The Bible". This said, I recommend to anyone, the content of The Message. Personally, I don't care if this be the only translation that anyone ever picks up. If the Spirit of God uses it to convey one bit of Truth to your soul and spirit, then, hallelujah! Receive it and keep going. God has used it so often in my personal quiet time, to clarify and shed new Light on the Truth of a long-loved passage, that I can only express joy that it has come to us in these days that can otherwise look so dark. Read The Message. In my opinion, it's The Word.
Rating:
Summary: Inspiring and uplifting
Review: I am a book author and poetry writer (777 Things You Can Do In Heaven and such), and I can tell you that this book, Message Remix, is a breath of fresh air. It brings the text to life and makes you want to live it. It is like poetic bible literature. It is not word-for-word, so get another text for study; however, the Message make the bible a really great read.
Rating:
Summary: THE DEAD ARE RAISED...
Review: I am glad to see that the Message Remix will soon be coming out in one of those duo-tone covers. I love my hardcover, but it is not built for the kind of wear I put my Bibles through. And I'd feel like a cad if I ever took the publishers up on the free replacement offer (I did my first copy in while messing around in the wet of Yellowstone).
Now that we've got that out of the way...
I've always been a stickler staying true to the text in translation. I'm not big on "dynamic equivalence." Anyone who (like me) was first taught about Christ in a translation like the NIV or the NLT and who then studied the scriptures in their original languages can testify to the damage that has been done (intentionally or not) to our image of, thoughts about, and even our relationship with God by these slanted "takes on" the Bible.
Bearing this in mind, I have much (MUCH) to say in praise of Mr. Peterson's wonderful Message.
In a sense, The Message, while being one of the most dynamically equivalent translations, is also more faithful to the Word of God than any other translation currently available to English speakers and readers.
God's word was never meant to be the province of those in ivory towers or high pulpits. It was to be the daily bread of people who lived in a hard-bitten, earthy world--people who, as the saying goes, often died with their boots on.
The New Testament in particular is a book for the common man--for all men and women; young or old--everyone.
Each author (recognizing that there is truly only One Author)in the New Testament has their own style: Paul is wordy--making his sylables into theological equations, Luke is refined, Mark is not, James makes up "Greek" words from Hebrew transliterations, John stands alongside David and Isaiah as the greatest poets of the Bible and has the most uncanny way of phrasing things.
Peterson has captured a lot (not all--translators are forced--by their very endevour--to be traitors) of this in The Message. At the same time he manages to let the earthy, down-in-the-dust feel of the this book to shine through.
Someone once said that the Church is not a museum for the saints, but a hospital for sinners. In the same way, the Bible is not a repository of high-flown language and myth. These are words of life from the very mouth of God.
God is speaking through The Message.
In the Middle Ages, illiterate believers gained their knowledge of the gospel from great cathedrals and their stained glass and tapestry retellings of the greatest story.
We once more live in a world that has forgotten how to read the Bible. Too many, through familiarity, have lost the ability to hear God speak through his Word.
I thank Eugene Peterson for allowing God to reach those who were lost. The deaf can hear. The blind can see.
The dead are raised.
Rating:
Summary: Re-Read the Bible Like Never Before!!
Review: I had never heard of "The Message" until we switched churches and our new pastor was quoting scripture from this bible. from the very first moment the verses became alive and resonanted with me long after I read or heard them. Peterson does amasterful job in recreating the bible in modern toungue and making it come alive for the reader. This bible is a great sit down and read all the way through Bible. Stick with a study bible to do serious bible study. But for a refreshiong and uplifting change of pace, I recommend all believers read this translation.
Rating:
Summary: Refreshing and accurate
Review: I have been a christian my whole life, I am a seminary graduate with a masters in theology and I am sick of reading the bible! At least until I got the message. Reading it is a joy, the language is fresh and it reads like a novel. If you want to study the bible get another version or some commentaries - that is not what The Message is intended for. But if you want to read the bible and enjoy it, book by book, in language as good as any best-selling novel, than The Message is for you. By the way I have found the text of The Message to be surprisingly true to the original text. The author apparently ignored the way that english translations have always translated the bible and went directly back to the original. There are several instances where the NIV, NASB and KJV make changes to the text which are not true to the original - but each of these mistakes is not found in The Message. In every instance of contraversial passages I have found The Message to be better than most other translations. I am impressed, and its been a very long time since I was impressed with a translation of the Bible. Enjoy!
Rating:
Summary: Does it really say that?-YEP it does
Review: I have been reading the Bible all my life, started with the KJV in first grade in 1974 and on with the Living Bible and the Good News and NIV and NASB and the Clear Word and the RSV and the SV and so forth, in all that I never really got Paul and if nothing else the Message gave me an understanding and appreciation for Paul that I am happy to have. It is a good read, very approachable. I often read a phrase and say to myself "I better check the NIV and see if it really says that, and every time its there, just the archaic language kept me from seeing it before. A side note to Tiaclare If you had done a in context quote of the Lord's prayer in the Message it reads just fine. Matthew 6:9 and onward says "Our Father in heaven, Reveal who you are. Set the world right; Do what's best-as above, so below..." no implication of man's action only that of our Father.
Rating:
Summary: Great Bible
Review: I have read, or tried to read, many bibles and this one is the best so far. It is easy to read and down to earth. I have been able to understand the word of God much easier and to apply it to my life. Strongly recommended. God bless.
|
