The Message Bible

[ash]

What's your view on the MSG Bible? Is it legit? Is it a grey area? Is it perfect for today's language? Does it make sense to you? Have you heard of it? What are your thoughts are on this...?

[Josh]

I would approach it with extreme caution.

I remember studying a few passages in it a year or so ago and finding quite a few verses that were a little shakey, at best. I wish I could remember them right now... I'll go back and check later to see if I marked any of them.

I'd probably suggest skipping it, quite honestly, but, if you really want to check it out, at least use it as a secondary source. Your primary Bible for reading and studying should be one with a more rigid translation; the NIV is probably the most popular, though I myself prefer the slightly more literal translation of the NASB. Both are fine choices for your main Bible, though.

 

[beautifulmess]

I received one for Christmas and I've been enjoying it. I don't think it should replace the Bible you use to study with but I think it's nice to simply just read.  

[DvChWi]

I pretty much agree with Josh in this one.  I think it is quite dangerous to replace this with any of the more literal translations, as this isn't really a translation, but a paraphrase.  I once went to a Christian retreat center(run by the Navigators), in which the rooms contained not real Bibles, but copies of the Message.  I found this to be rather troubling.

[Vlad!]

Dv: Perhaps they assumed you would bring your own Bibles.

I'm not quite so wary of new things, and I don't think The Message is bad. I don't think it was written to be a replacement for the more literal translations, and I think it serves an excellent purpose: presenting the Scriptures in a new way.  

[DvChWi]

Dv: Perhaps they assumed you would bring your own Bibles.

 

Fortunately, we did, but I think that they should have had at least some real Bibles in the entire building.

[Josh]

I'm not quite so wary of new things, and I don't think The Message is bad.

Our problem is not with its newness, but with what I feel are significant flaws in its translation. Have you read much of it, Vlad!? Because if not then I'm not really sure how you can determine whether it's bad or not...

[ash]

I don't think it's bad. I'm glad I got one for Christmas. I've grown up with the Living, NIV, and NASB while I was in CAK. I absolutely hated the NASB because I was too young to understand it; and even my parents wondered what CAK was thinking in forcing that translation on us. Anyway, the MSG is a secondary source for me - almost like a devotional but a step above that. It's helped me grasp the meanings of some difficult to get chapters in the OT especially. I enjoy the MSG and I think God worked through Peterson as he wrote it; I'm not saying each word was inspired by God, but rather done with care and concern for His holy Word.    "Lady Wisdom" confused me though as I read Proverbs... quite confusing actually...

Did you find those verses Josh?

[Vlad!]

Our problem is not with its newness, but with what I feel are significant flaws in its translation. Have you read much of it, Vlad!? Because if not then I'm not really sure how you can determine whether it's bad or not...

Well, the translator obviously is going to be letting his interpretation show through the text, but that doesn't bother me too much...I think we all agree that it's no replacement as a primary source for scriptural reading/interpretation, but sometimes seeing the same stuff in a different light can be beneficial.

As for how much I've read, not much more than you have. The online Bible text search engine I use has the Message, and I like to switch over to it sometimes to see what it says. And occasionally our pastor would read passages from it when he thought they were apt. But I don't own a copy myself...

[Josh]

As for how much I've read, not much more than you have. The online Bible text search engine I use has the Message, and I like to switch over to it sometimes to see what it says. And occasionally our pastor would read passages from it when he thought they were apt. But I don't own a copy myself...

But how do you know how much of it I've read?

I actually DO own a copy, and have read a fair ammount in it. It's been a while, but still...

[Vlad!]

I remember studying a few passages in it a year or so ago

I assumed you meant that this was the entirety of your exposure to it

[bethany]

I'm personally a fan of NASB and NKJV, though it seems like everyone only uses NIV these days.  [_[  I think the Message is a nice thing to have around to read and examine things from a fresh perspective. Sometimes you can read something in the Bible a hundred times, and then to hear it paraphrased in modern English can put it in a whole new perspective. Of course, it is ONLY a paraphrase, and as such, it's quite subjective to what Eugene Peterson thinks/how he interprets Scripture, so I would be wary of accepting it on its own basis, and I would never use it as my primary Bible. But as a study tool, or if you want to look at something in a new light ot think about it more, sure, go right ahead.

[RampGal]

Cuz,

     Well, I think if you are a new Christian and don't understand alot of things about God and the Bible, I think it is pretty simple to understand. I have a Message Bible and I like it. It's a version of the Bible that can, I think, give you a new perspective that what you originally had of a certain passage in the Bible. Every Bible is like that. Same with the commentary that  you get in most Bibles. I don't think it should be the only Bible you have. I have several and at certain times one will make more sense or I will get more of a revelation in one than another. That is m opinion. I had other things to say about this, but I lost my train of thouht. .... thanks for listening!


Ab

PS...BTW, if ya'll didn't know, I am Ash's cuz. for your FYI.

[Vlad!]

Well, I think if you are a new Christian and don't understand alot of things about God and the Bible, I think it is pretty simple to understand.

I would be extremely wary of recommending The Message to someone who has never before heard or read the Word. Although it is written in a more 'accessable' language, I'm sure you see how Peterson's own views and interpretations can't help but come through. I respect the endeavor, but I think it's best to start out with the real deal.

PS...BTW, if ya'll didn't know, I am Ash's cuz. for your FYI.

'for your FYI' eh? Please don't abuse the language; it's a fragile thing    

[Josh]

Welcome, Rampgal.  =)

I apologize for Vlad! jumping all over you after your first post, but I must confess that I agree with his point about The Message. If one is a new believer, one should familiarize oneself with God's inspired Word, not a paraphrase; then, when one knows the Word well, one can read a paraphrase and decide for oneself whether or not it lines up with the Truth.

[ash]

[Vlad!]

I apologize for Vlad! jumping all over you after your first post...

Ok, fine, I'll try to be civilized

*Ahem* Hello, and welcome to the phorum!  

[ash]

I think you already scared her off Vlad!... what a pity...


(jk)

[CrustytheCannibal]

They probably pushed the NASB on you so hard because many a scholar believes it is the top English version of the Bible to do hardcore study to. The NKJV being at the same level to many. With the NIV below them a bit.

I'm personally on a mission to own all the different copies of the Bible so sooner or later I'll get a Message Bible. But I think for a person new in the Word I'd hand them a New Living Translation or NIV, perhaps even an Amplified Bible.

[dgp11776]

I'm not sure what to think of the Message Bible.  I've read quite a bit of it, and, while it may be easier to read, I remember cringing at some of the translations.  I much prefer to read something like KJV, RV, or NASB and then get the meaning myself or use commentaries.

[RampGal]

I thank you for the welcome. It's greatly appreciated. =) ....And, yes, I do see your point....dgp11776, what made you cringe in the Message  Bible?



P.S...I recommend the Spirit-Filled Bible  and Thank you for such a warm and inviting welcome, Vlad! =D  [_[  

[Nathan]

I think The Message is a useful tool, as long as we don't place it on equal footing with more rigorous translations of The Bible. Have any of you read Luke 3 in MSG? I love John the Baptist.

[murlough23]

I'd be interested in reading The Message. I realize that it is one man's interpretation, but honestly, it seems like a smaller leap to get there from other English translations (or whatever source material Peterson used) than it does to get to King James from the original Greek, Aramaic, Hebrew, whatever.

A friend of mine once gave The Message to one of her friends, who was a new covert. She noted to me that there was a blurb in the book about how it should be used as a supplement for Bible Study, not a replacement for existing translations of the Bible. So I think Peterson was aware that people would be tempted to do that, and didn't want his intent to be misunderstood.

Still, you're on shaky ground whenever you try to "interpret" the Bible. Even if you're being totally literal, that's still an interpretation, because that's what your mind understands certain words to mean.

Whoever decided that any one English translation was truly the inspired Word of God, anyhow? I must've missed the memo on that one.

[Guest]

It's good for being able to read through the Bible and get the basic concepts, but I wouldn't use it for a Bible Study or anything of that nature.

[Vlad!]

It's good for being able to read through the Bible and get the basic concepts, but I wouldn't use it for a Bible Study or anything of that nature.

I can see using it to supplement a Bible study (i.e. read the passage, read it in MSG, read the commentary on it, meditate on the passage, etc.), but not as a primary source of scripture.

[Guest]

I can see using it to supplement a Bible study (i.e. read the passage, read it in MSG, read the commentary on it, meditate on the passage, etc.), but not as a primary source of scripture.

yeah, I can agree with that  

[murlough23]

I can see using it to supplement a Bible study (i.e. read the passage, read it in MSG, read the commentary on it, meditate on the passage, etc.), but not as a primary source of scripture.

You'd be amazed how many people seem to use it as an authoritative translation. That bothers me. Actually it bothers me when people adhere too closely to any one translation. It's all somebody's interpretation, as far as I'm concerned. English doesn't have all of teh same words with the same nuances as Greek, Hebrew, Aramaic, whatever. So it's useful sometimes to have multiple translations handy when the meaning of something hinges on the context of a word or two.

I cracked down on someone for this in Bible Study the other day and she wasn't very happy with me. She was of the attitude that her Bible had a commentary that said such-and-such, so that was the meaning and we didn't have to discuss it any more. She's a relatively new Christian, so I didn't mean to be so hard on her, but I wanted to nip that one in the bud.

NP: "It's a Shame", Third Day

[Vlad!]

One day a couple years ago, two Jehovah's Witnesses came to our door. I answered, and they asked me if there were any questions about faith or the Bible I wanted them to answer. I asked them, partly in jest, "who wrote Hebrews?" One of them immediately opened his bible and showed me in the book introduction where it said that Paul wrote it. I suggested that maybe the introduction was more conjecture than fact, since it wasn't mentioned in the book who the author was. They looked at me blankly for a minute, and then one said "well, it's in the Bible, isn't it? It has to be true!" As though those little blurbs at the front of each book were also divinely inspired.  

[oneafroboy]

Wow. I am simply shocked and appalled. I don't even know what to say.    

[ash]

Haha! That's funny, IMO. That is if I understood it all. It's true, in the heart of Knoxville - mormons and Jehovah's witnesses are EVERYWHERE! It's like this is ther capital or gathering place. But hey, God's watching them, and the prayers of the saints will prevail!