The message : the New Testament

by Eugene H. Peterson

Paper Book, 1996

Call number

225.5/209

Collection

Publication

Colorado Springs, Colo. : NavPress

Description

The MessageMeets You Where You Are.The Messageawakens Bible readers from their sleepy routines, renewing their desire to hear God's voice. Now come and delight in the unexpected passion and personality that fill God's Word!The Messageis a reading Bible translated from the original Greek and Hebrew Scriptures by pastor Eugene Peterson. Thoroughly reviewed and approved by twenty biblical scholars, The Messagecombines the authority of God's Word with the cadence and energy of conversational English.What makes The Messagethe best reading Bible? Discover for yourself! Feel the impact of a Bible translated into conversational English Enjoy reading the one-column design, like books you're used to Relax with the easy-to-read font size

User reviews

LibraryThing member starbox
Exactly what I needed!!
By sally tarbox on 9 March 2018
Format: Kindle Edition
I'm not a Greek or Hebrew scholar, but am going with my gut feeling that if you're studying theology this is NOT what you want, as it's quite a free, modern version of the Scriptures.
HOWEVER I'm reading this as a tired,
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easily-stumbled Christian who looks at her normal Bibles, the formal English, the sometimes unclear phrasing, the formulaic passages that we intone without even thinking ("Our Father, who art in heaven...) At the end of the day, it's so easy to protest "I can't face reading that tonight" and leave Bible standing while I pick up a novel instead.
I acquired this by total chance from charity shop I work at (liberated from box of 'unsaleable' works awaiting recycling!) And it's totally ALIVE, like reading any 21st century work.
Thus the Lord's prayer moves from a tired, stilted drone to the (I think) more inspirational (if free translation) of:
"Our Father in heaven
Reveal who you are.
Set the world right,
Do what's best-
as above, so below.
Keep us alive with three square meals,
Keep us forgiven with you and forgiving others,
Keep us safe from ourselves and the Devil.
You're in charge!
You can do anything you want!
You're ablaze in beauty!
Yes. Yes. Yes."

So to me a work for everyday reading; the 'proper' translations for deeper study. Have ordered the whole Bible in this version.
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LibraryThing member DubiousDisciple
I love this contemporary Bible! It’s not the most accurate translation—it’s really not fair to even call it a translation, but rather a paraphrase betraying Peterson’s religious convictions—but I just find it enjoyable to read. It’s poetic and beautiful. Do not use it as a study Bible,
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but as an inspiring read.

I chose the book of John to highlight some of the translations, so you can get a feel for the wording. These aren’t my favorite passages, but they do highlight what I mean by a “paraphrasing.”

KJV: John 1:12-13, But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name: Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.

Message: But whoever did want him, who believed he was who he claimed and would do what he said, He made to be their true selves, their child-of-God selves. These are the God-begotten, not blood-begotten, not flesh-begotten, not sex-begotten.

KJV: John 1:31, And I knew him not: but that he should be made manifest to Israel, therefore am I come baptizing with water.

Message: I knew nothing about who he was—only this: that my task has been to get Israel ready to recognize him as the God-Revealer. That is why I came here baptizing with water, giving you a good bath and scrubbing sins from your life so you can get a fresh start with God.

KJV: John 3:29-30, He that hath the bride is the bridegroom: but the friend of the bridegroom, which standeth and heareth him, rejoiceth greatly because of the bridegroom's voice: this my joy therefore is fulfilled. He must increase, but I must decrease.

Message: The one who gets the bride is, by definition, the bridegroom. And the bridegroom’s friend, his ‘best man’—that’s me—in place at his side where he can hear every word, is genuinely happy. How could he be jealous when he knows that the wedding is finished and the marriage is off to a good start? That’s why my cup is running over. This is the assigned moment for him to move into the center, while I slip off to the sidelines.

KJV: John 6:43-44, Jesus therefore answered and said unto them, Murmur not among yourselves. No man can come to me, except he Father which hath sent me draw him: and I will raise him up at the last day.

Message: Jesus said, “Don’t bicker among yourselves over me. You’re not in charge here. The Father who sent me is in charge. He draws people to me—that’s the only way you’ll ever come. Only then do I do my work, putting people together, setting them on their feet, ready for the End.
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LibraryThing member tuckerresearch
A horrid modern paraphrase that might give you the "gist" of the Bible, but in effect obscures and makes opaque the true meaning of the Bible. Stick to the KJV and a good literal translation if you don't know Hebrew, Aramaic, or Greek.

Language

Original publication date

1993

Physical description

816 p.; 24 inches

ISBN

0891098534 / 9780891098539

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