Posted on 07/17/2017 9:16:56 AM PDT by SeekAndFind
Are you studying intently to really understand a text or to teach others? Then use a solid translation like the NASB ESV or ESV.
Are you sitting on the couch for 15 minutes just wanting to sweep through a couple of chapters? The Message is for those times.
For anyone who has ever read Revelations 22:19 they’ll know “The Message” as the heresy that it is.
To the title, “No.”
It’s got a great Rice Crispy Treat recipe. Other than that, it’s a joke!!
The Message is more a commentary than a translation.
It is the Classics Illustrated version, without the illstrations.
I sometimes find Message “cute”.
But John 1:14 takes it to unacceptable levels:
“And the Word became flesh-and-blood, and moved into the neighborhood”.
John did not write his Gospel to sound cutesy-pie; he wrote it to clarify that Jesus was and is, indeed, God. When such a case is being made, injecting such a cavalier style is not called-for.
No. False prophet, wolf-type. Ignore. (The Message sounds stupid anyway)
Eugene Peterson on Changing His Mind About Same-Sex Issues and Marriage
Apostate.
Ironically, another thread could be done where the KJV onlyites show where (they think) the ESV is heretical.
Excellent point.
My older sister was searching for God, and just couldn’t get past how the Bible was written - even modern translations I got her “The Message” years ago.
She said she really enjoyed reading it - and WOULD read it. “It’s just like a regular book - I can just read it!!” After awhile some gals were ministering to her (she was in prison - DUI) and when they would all use a regular Bible she would pull out “The Message” as well to help her understand it.
She went from most of her life literally wailing (usually drunk) about how could God love her - and she was so scared of going to hell, to on her last days saying “Well, whatever happens I know that God loves me and I’m in his hands.”
I think that “The Message” played a part in that. So even though I think the wording is a bit goofy sometimes, goofy works for some folks.
I’ve never used The Message, and the author’s statements don’t change my mind on that.
As has been said, it’s a paraphrase and not a translation. The problem with a paraphrase is that it’s subject to the paraphraser’s interpretation.
I don’t want a man’s interpretation when I read the Bible. I want God’s interpretation.
I like reading different versions to understand the text. I’ll read NIV, King James, and The Message.
Sometimes, The Message makes it easier to understand.
NO.
I compared them at bibleGateway.com and found them very similar.
Below is that link, NIV vs The Message
https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Revelations%2022%3A19&version=NIV;MSG
I use almost every version at bibleGateway.com at some point or another.
My main bible is NIV and I use NKJV as my most used parallel.
A Hebrew/Greek bible would be best, but I can’t read either. My concordance helps.
The Message is not a translation and should not be used as your primary Bible. However, as a very free paraphrase, it is sometimes powerful and brilliant while at other times it is seriously off target.
That is pretty much my take on The Message. I never use it as a main source but sometimes it gives a fresh perspective or insight on a passage.
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