The Highway Forums General Discussion Open Forum The Message

I bought not too long ago a copy of Eugene Peterson's The Message. I was just curious as to what some of your thoughts were about this paraphrase. I use it mainly to read my homework for my Old Testament class at school and I'll occasionally read it for fun. I think it is entertaining at times.

Just curious as to everyone's thoughts. <img src="/forum/images/graemlins/chatter.gif" alt="" />

I heard The Message quoted at a funeral and I didn't like it at all. Have you read the ESV? It is very readable and it is also very accurate. http://www.gnpcb.org/esv/browse/
Susan

Having read from both the Message and the ESV with Kalled2Preach, I must say that I think it's a bit funny too. I can see the benefits of a paraphrase for those who are new to the faith (or who have not been properly taught), but really I don't like paraphrases since I think it insults not just the person reading but the gospel also. I think when the authors wrote what they wrote by the Holy Spirit that they said it in the way it needed to be said and that there are some things that are meant to be "hard" for a reason and other things that are meant to be easily understood for a reason. Commentaries and Paraphrases are alright, but what I want and we all really need is the Bible.

Oh, (Though I chose not to go all out in Christmas celebration) I did receive an ESV for Christmas.

Well, just thought I'd throw in my 2 cents and all that.

-Brother Luke

Well said.

In Him,

Gerry

ESV is one of my favorite Bible versions.

Yeah. Paraphrases are not my big thing either. Just curious.

And I agree with Brimstone to a point. I think, like any book about the Bible, a paraphrase can be useful to some extent. I would never preach from one or use it as my main text. But it does help to get one man's interpretation of the Bible.

My formal education stopped with Hi School graduation so certainly do not consider myself an authority Any progress that may have come my way has been via the "home school" route, but personally I almost detest the Message. I love the ESV and have bought at least 10 and given them as gifts. One gift was to a pastor who loves the Message, and my referring to it as "just a paraphrase" did not make me any points. It may be ok for children (for awhile), but to assume adults must stay at that level, I believe is an insult. When I am studying the ESV I sense the presence of God in what I read. Psychological? Maybe so, but it is a great feeling.

When a paraphrase purports itself to be a "translation" of the Bible, it is lying and/or the translators have denied the doctrine of inspiration to one degree or another. Did not the Holy Spirit inspire the authors? Was not every "jot" and "tittle" the very Word of God written? Then by what authority does any man have the right to cast off the words for some alleged "meaning" so as to make the very revelation of God more "readable"?

Think about this, just for a couple of seconds. <img src="/forum/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" /> How does one come to understand what another is saying? Is it not from the individual words themselves and also in the array in which he speaks them? Thus, if you hold that the "meaning" is most important and not the individual words . . . then from whence does this "meaning" come from, if not from the individual words set in a specific grammatical structure?

One final thought/comment. I am of the mind which believes that in the majority of cases, the inability to comprehend the Word of God is due to the fact that the reader is "dead"... spiritual dead. It is only when the Holy Spirit gives eyes to see, a mind to comprehend and a heart to embrace God's special revelation, that one is able to grasp the truth of which he/she reads.

In His Grace,

I do agree with you, so don't think I am just argueing or something. I do see your point. I just think that, at least for me personally, when it comes to reading my Old Testament homework for school (which is usually a bit more reading than I really have time for) it helps me get the main ideas. I do go back and read it in an actual translation. But I do think that it can be helpful if used in the right context, just like a commentary. Then again, being a fallible human, maybe I am just completely wrong.

I suggested to a pastor that the Msg. wasn't a bible, --just a commentary <img src="/forum/images/graemlins/argue.gif" alt="" />

Off the subject, But the new home page is great

Even more off the subject.... Thanks! It's great to get some feedback of any kind at this point.

The Board's "home page", aka: "Entrance" is highly configurable to the Staff. We might be trying out different things, e.g., including more information, etc., in the future and then running a Poll to find out what people think about it.

In His Grace,

What is the "ESV?"

Extra Sensory Version!

Michele,

You asked about the ESV; it is a relatively new translation that has been well-received by a good number of Protestants. You can read more about it here:

http://www.gnpcb.org/esv/

In Christ

Theo <img src="/forum/images/graemlins/einstein.gif" alt="" />