Its always better to refer to Scripture than to quote any pastor, preacher, biblical scholar, theological professor, etc., no matter where they are in their walk with Christ. Photo Credit: Unsplash/Tom Morel Read more Refusing to know God, they soon didn't know how to be human either women didn't know how to be women, men didn't know how to be men. If they dont know how to control their own families, how can they look after Gods people? That's because by itself, the Bible is not a history book. In Matthew 3:7, Jesus speaks to the people and calls them a brood of vipers. 12 and forgive us our sins, just as we have forgiven those who have sinned against us. [2] It is a highly idiomatic translation, using contemporary slang from the US rather than a more neutral International English, and it falls on the extreme dynamic end of the dynamic and formal equivalence spectrum. .". He asked his people to respect his grace in Numbers. Throughout history, power has influenced a lot of good . He didn't. Notify me of follow-up comments by email. I will fear no evil, "You do sports together or go shopping together. God says, in Isaiah 1:18, "Come now and let us reason together." With alcohol use we temporarily and permanently stupefy our reasoning powers. I would question whether Peterson feels the same way. The scene in Oslo after Christian terrorist, Anders Breivik, struck. Just want to point out that Matthew 6 commonly includes a footnote now where it used to continue the prayer. It is far more difficult to treat with love and kindness someone who disagrees with your faith than it is to denounce and dismiss them (as Paul did). I agree The Message and other interpretive commentary, and modernized Scriptures of the Bible, are not best for study. 4 Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me. they comfort me. He helps me do what honors him the most. It's no wonder the Bible consistently warns against it. You are wondering about the question why the message bible is dangerous but currently there is no answer, so let kienthuctudonghoa.com summarize and list the top articles with the question. Favorites and Bookmarks for your favorite bible verses. I I've even cited The Messagein some of my academic, biblical commentary writing. When it comes to 1 Corinthians 6:9-10, The Messageis not clear at all, but I don't think it's because Dr. Peterson was trying to water down the two Greek terms used for homosexual practice. In Luke 9:61-62, we read of Jesus' conversation with a person who wanted to follow Him, but was denied due to this reason. (23 October 2018). Be as shrewd as a snake, inoffensive as a dove. This premise, however, is dangerous and has been the cause of much bigotry, intolerance, injustice and pain.The truth is that there is no proof that this collection of books is the Word of God. One need only look at how the cultural mindset of those who use the Message tends towards a theologically liberal or completely postmodern way of looking at things. Good for you, Simon son of John! answered Jesus. The following is a list of "Bible" translations that should be avoided for any real and faithful personal Bible study (in a separate article we will look at a list of Bible translations that are encouraged for use). Speaking of deception, the Sabbath day is the 7th day. As translated in the ESV, Paul wrote, "Or do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? The answer to why people spend so much time studying the Bible is simple: it is the Word of God! The Message translation additionally suggests that people may reject Jesus teaching because the truth is too close for comfort. He is further identified as the son of Amoz (Isaiah 1:1). Your article caught my eye because The Message has never sat well with me, precisely because, as you point out, it is a paraphrase and not a formal translation. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Readings from the book continued the same as before with the problems swept under the rug. The Message loses the idea of an evil demonic power in these verses. I think we judge too harshly. And the word "abhorrent" is as good a rendering of the Hebrew as is "abomination. 26 Comments
Of course, here in America, the Bible has, until recently, been a . It is written in a conversational style with contemporary language, making it easier for readers to relate to on a personal level. The ESV reads: "You shall not lie with a male as with a woman; it is an abomination. We are called to be His examples, His disciples. Danger #2 "False guilt". I know the author of it got parts of the Bible so right it blows your mind, but there are entire sections where he is dead wrong and injects false doctrine into it. Since you have forgotten the law of your God, I also will forget your children. Lets all be careful and remember William Tyndale who first translated the bible to English but encountered fierce opposition and was killed(burnt at stake) but his work has a very large impact on the King James Version (the most accepted version of the bible) This phrase is used to describe someone who is wicked and deceitful, as snakes are often seen as symbols of evil in the Bible. Solomon compromised with God's way; he decided to give into his wives' idolatrous practices for personal and political peace (1 Kings 11:1-8). One implies that the one being delivered is actually out there engaging the enemy (the devil), while the other gives more of a picture of holing up away from other people and not bothering to engage.
So, if the Bible is the Word of God, and God is perfect, it follows that the Bible must be perfect, too. Youre ablaze in beauty! The Message (MSG): Don't you realize that this is not the way to live? I dont need a thing. Use it, then, in a supplemental way and, where it really nails things or clarifies things, learn from it. but deliver us from the evil one.'". We have to read them for what they say, not for what we want them to say. Because Eternity Matters Most. We must reject contemporary culture, not change to fit in. You have bedded me down in lush meadows, Updated Jan 9, 2023. I am thankful that Gods grace is sufficient enough for you, me and Eugene Peterson because God is the only one that knows the heart. At one point, I emailed as many people in the church whose email addresses I could find, showing the problems with the book. 1:28-32). Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *. Rooted in his "translation" philosophy, Peterson has produced a "Message" which is nothing more than a commentary published as a translation. According to NavPress, publisher of Eugene Peterson's The Message The Bible in Contemporary Language, there have been over 10,000,000 readers of The Message. Gmail's spam filters can pick up on grammar and spelling mistakes. Message Bible is completely an offline bible without requiring internet connection to study the scriptures. This is hazardous work I'm assigning you. Matthew 5:11-12 On the other hand, a man oozing with love and compassion can err by tolerating everything and everyone, thus compromising God's truth. I remember feeling like a pariah with no support or friends in that church for some weeks. That is abhorrent. Translation Comparison - Matthew 16:16-18, Good News Translation (GNT): Simon Peter answered, You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.. Rather, it is designed as a reading Bible that can give you a fresh perspective on a familiar phrase or passage.. I reminded them that we are told to have no fellowship with darkness (Ephesians 5:11) which should mean we dont use that book as a resource. In addition, Matthew 6:20 speaks of the lamp of the body being the eye. 1. And light appeared. Keep pressing into the Lord! How do we know which book - The Bible, the Apocrypha, the Qur'an, the Book of Mormon, etc. I just read your comments on the message bible and I agree that it is dangerous for Christians who are not seasoned in the word. And whenever I see people carrying The Messageinto church services, I groan, since I assume that, for those people, it istheir Bible. Matthew 6:9 New American Standard Bible : 1995 Update 9 "Pray, then, in this way: 'Our Father who is in heaven, Hallowed be Your name. He has found that The Message often adds meaning to passages that are not present in the original Greek text. Ignorant people are either unaware or uninformed. In his book on Bible reading, Eat This Book, Eugene Peterson writes about his motivations in writing The Message. Taylors bias also leads to omitting text in key passages that do not fit his Arminian worldview, such as his deceptive repackaging of Acts 4:27-28, Acts 13:48, and Romans 8:28-29. This should be emphasized whenever a preacher or teacher quotes from it, I believe. I appreciate the years of effort that were put into it, and I recognize it for what it is, with all its great strengths and great weaknesses. A couple of church leaders also began to express concerns about the content. Are you relying on the Holy Spirit to guide your understanding? The men who spied out Canaan had returned to Israel's camp and reported that the Promised Land had giants. Perhaps you can give me a link to read it? The Message is obviously not a Bible translation, or even a terribly good paraphrase. Your email address will not be published. 2. Peterson inserts his own dogma . I got some belated support and encouragement. The Living Bible (TLB): When the Gentiles heard this, they were very glad and rejoiced in Pauls message; and as many as wanted eternal life, believed. you find me quiet pools to drink from. Of course, I could cite hundreds of brilliant renderings in The Message, and sometimes, when preaching, I'll cite one of them, since it powerfully drills home the point. Hostility to it is hostility to the. For instance, the English Standard Version, a word for word literal translation puts the Lord's Prayer, from Matthew 6 as: "Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name. "This is how much God loved the world: He gave his Son, his one and only Son. Not the way man tryed n break it down not like this Instead of using any of these misleading translations, we would do much better to quote the Word of God faithfully, which is perfect and God-breathed, instead of rewording Gods message to include our biases and personal opinions and beliefs. They must be self-controlled, sensible, well-behaved, friendly to strangers, and able to teach. Reach out to [emailprotected] when you have time. They attempt to validate their erroneous theological claims by editing the Bible as they see fit. August 23, 2017
Rare a member that actually brings a Bible and there are none available in the pews. The minister told the other speakers not to use The Message anymore. (To get more detail on The Living Bible, see Michael Marlowes detailed review here on bible-researcher.com). Did the Bible copy other religious myths, legends, and traditions? To them, the Bible is the world's most dangerous book. Isaiah 5:13. Keep us alive with three square meals. God bless. The Passion Translation (TPT): proclaim the Word of God and stand upon it no matter what! People at my church had seemingly fallen in love with The Message and I was chucking a big rock in their pool. On this Wikipedia the language links are at the top of the page across from the article title. for you are with me; Blessings my brothers n sisters stay in prayer n God Bless you all. When studying the Word of God, one needs an authentic representation of the original autographs (the original manuscript of each of the 66 books of the Bible) while avoiding sources that would distort the original message from God. (Dis)Honorable Mention: Two translations that most Christians know to avoid but should still be mentioned are the New World Translation (NWT), which was commissioned by the Jehovahs Witness cult and the Readers Digest Bible, which cuts out about 55% of the Old Testament and another 25% of the New Testament (including Revelation 22:19, which says, if anyone takes away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God will take away his share in the tree of life and in the holy city, which are described in this book). To help us keep our feet on the path that leads to life, below are 10 biblical warnings Christ's followers should take more seriously. And why are they persecuted? It was then I got on the internet and read A LOT more and studied LOTS. One lady, a former church leader, reportedly lay awake all night wrestling with the issue. Why is the belief of atheism so dangerous for the atheist? The gospel addresses all of life, both this life and the one to come. It's a book of faith, written over four centuries by people with very different viewpoints and agendas. Simmons has actually released four installments of his new translation: Psalms: Poetry on Fire. Keep that in mind constantly and before searching for the truth, every single time dont forget You reject me therefore I will reject you, not only does satan deceive but also its God that blinds unbelievers, but will unblind if he chooses, so desire, ask Yahweh ( God) to remove your veil and guide you on your search for the truth and for the protection from satanic deception so youll not be deceived. Hoping it will appear in Google listings in time. He must manage his own household well, with all dignity keeping his children submissive, for if someone does not know how to manage his own household, how will he care for God's church? Jesus is warning the people that they must repent and turn away from their sins if they want to be saved from Gods judgement. It seems the phrases You are in charge, you can do anything you want, you are ablaze in beauty is meant to replace for thine is the kingdom the power and the glory and the yes yes yes is meant to be a translation for amen. 3 He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name's sake. My answer to the question remains the same today as it has always been: The Message is not a translation and should not be used as your primary Bible. Verse Concepts. Would love to hear more. We were breathing in polluted unbelief and exhaling disobedience. This is the latest development: a 16-page booklet available on Ebay.com that anyone around the world can order and give out: The Samaritans, however, believed that their temple, on Mount Gerizim, was where true worship . Biblical scholars can do real spiritual harm by casually dismissing the texts that students hold dear. Human pride and boasting are utterly foolish and a great danger before this righteous God (2:11-17; 10:33; 13:11; 16:6; 23:9; 28:1-4). The Message completely changes the meaning of the scriptures, for instance there is no mention of the holiness of the name of God. Yes. Doing so would be like saying that the fire used in the sacrifice is also evil. For instance, the English Standard Version, a word for word literal translation puts the Lords Prayer, from Matthew 6 as: Keep us forgiven with you and forgiving others. Your trusty shepherds crook will inherit the kingdom of God. Taking away and adding to ie Going to the casino is a sin. The Message is a spiritually dangerous book, especially for new Christians who dont know anything about the faith or are just starting to investigate it and as it is there is already a huge amount of false teaching out there, like the Word Faith movement, the New Apostolic Reformation, Jehovahs Witnesses, Hebrew Israelites, and so on. This raises questions about how accurately The Message reflects the original intent of Scripture. There are many issues I have with the Message translation, but for the sake of space I am only listing three of them. Many believers enjoy reading The Message because of its modern appeal; however, it is important to recognize . The Message Bible is a paraphrase version of the Bible. Sexually confused, they abused and defiled one another, women with women, men with men all lust, no love. No one can argue that if Mary was 1 day pregnant with JESUS, they would be hollering womens rights. HIS thoughts are above our thoughts, HE himself did not TRANSLATE because they all spoke the same language, but HE did PARAPHRASE to speak to everyone on every level. Witnesses, who also changed the Bible around to fit what they wanted to say, they created the NWT Bible. Remember almost the entire word is deceived. Dear Jonathan, Solomon had clear instruction from the Lord not to marry foreign wives, but he chose . 2 Timothy 3:16 All Scripture is inspired by God and is useful to teach us what is true and to make us realize what is wrong in our lives. 6 the end of the Lords Prayer is about forgiving not Gods attributes you may be confusing scripture with the Doxology/song. One person stormed up to me and demanded that I send her no more emails. My answer to the question remains the same today as it has always been: The Messageis not a translation and should not be used as your primary Bible. He guides me along the right paths That's not to say that the Bible contains no truths worthy of study. Other translations have just one translator, thereby single-handedly taking on a role that is meant for a diverse team of renowned biblical translators of various denominations. Related articles What Must Someone Believe in Order to Be Saved? These drugs can be obtained through prescription. Modern language Bibles are the ESV, NIV, NASB, NKJV The Message is one mans ideas on what he thinks the scriptures say and not the actual word of God. Reveal who you are. Contemporary English Version (CEV): It is true that anyone who desires to be a church official wants to be something worthwhile. The abandonment of the King James Bible by our churches has not been a good thing. Eugene Peterson made his translation when there were already 20 Bible versions out there. Some manuscripts add, for yours is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory forever. Paraphrase is often written by a single author who translates the Bible in their own words, sometimes not even using the original biblical languages as a foundation. 16 "Stay alert. Abortion isnt a sin if you cant hear a heartbeat or if the BABY was conceived via rape or incest. Authored by Eugene H. Peterson and published in segments from 1993 to 2002. Peterson's Approach Yields a Commentary. Taylors lack of understanding of Hebrew and Greek and absent use of the original manuscripts has led to disingenuous passages and verses such as his translation of John 12:15. Ephesians 2:2 reminds us of a time when we were walking according to the way of this world. 2 He makes me lie down in green pastures, will not get you closer to GOD. The only significant addition Peterson added was changing what the Bible actually said. When I first began to object due to the occult phrases and New Age terminology of The Message, in addition to its distortions of scripture my concerns were discussed with the church minister behind closed doors. Yes. They would just avoid the passages that had those words in them. . Those who promote use of the Message tend to deny the sinful nature of man and the exclusivity of the Gospel of Jesus Christ alone for salvation. Sometimes we are ignorant because we did not know there was a need to learn something. English Standard Version (ESV): And when the Gentiles heard this, they began rejoicing and glorifying the word of the Lord, and as many as were appointed to eternal life believed. Teaching the New Testament can be a dangerous thing. 4 Even when walking through the dark valley of death I will not be afraid, for you are close beside me, guarding, guiding all the way. for his names sake. I found it helpful to cobble together a resource from various websites showing examples of how The Message has tampered with Bible verses, misrepresented the gospel, and added occult and New Age words. Although it is a . hallowed be your name, The Bible, and His word, are not evolving, they are static. Word-for-word is a more literal translation of the original language used and puts more of the onus on the reader to discover the intended meaning of the author. Amen.. The Bible is a dangerous book, though by no means an evil one. 3) The Message encourages laziness in Biblical interpretation, since it reads like a novel it does not force the reader to slow down and think things through and is a completely inappropriate book to use in the study of the scriptures. English Standard Version (ESV): The saying is trustworthy: If anyone aspires to the office of overseer, he desires a noble task. (For the record, Paul was not saying here that homosexual couples are incapable of love or that all homosexuals are sex fiends. In sum, my view today of The Messageis the same as it has been for years, unchanged by the controversial events of this week. " MARGARET FEINBERG, AUTHOR OF FIGHT BACK WITH JOY "The Message is original and refreshing. 4 Even when the way goes through I still get what The Holy Spirit is teaching me and have benefited Spiritually by it.. I so appreciate your comment, when reading the message bible which is use In my church along with the NIV and both are use, I found it to be valuable to understanding Gods word it not replacing the Bible , it all about evolving period! Amen. This is clearly what Eugene Peterson is looking at, since otherwise the prayer should end after deliver us from evil, or as the paraphrase puts it (I hesitate to call it a paraphrase, since a true paraphrase keeps the original thought intact), keep us safe from ourselves and the devil. I would point out that theres a huge difference between deliverance and keeping safe. Michael Brown holds a Ph.D. in Near Eastern Languages and Literatures from New York University and has served as a professor at a number of seminaries. One such critic is biblical scholar and translator, Andrew G. Shead, who said in his article, Burning Scripture with Passion: A Review of The Psalms (The Passion Translation), that Simmons abandons all interest in textual accuracy, playing fast and loose with the original languages, and inserting so much new material into the text that it is at least 50% longer than the original. That type of persuasion keeps them in the dark. It is a potential danger even for those who avoid its more obvious . The purpose of the Bible What is it? The reason it is so dangerous is that Satan blinds them and convinces them that God is not real, which keeps the person from pursuing spiritual truth, like the afterlife and the Creator of the universe. Complaining isn't harmless sport; it's serious sin. It depends, largely, on how you read it with what prejudices and with what intellectual background. In the aftermath of Eugene Peterson's controversial remarksabout homosexuality, followed by his retraction, many have asked me if they should still use The Message. It could also refer to sincerity; if ones eyes are windows into their soul, then having a sincere heart will be reflected in ones actions and words. We should remember that a little leaven leavens the whole lump. Its an important doctrinal point that the modern church seems to have largely forgotten. An overwhelming number of these translations suffer from the strong bias of an unfaithful group of translators. The Bible warns against personal interpretations of Scripture (2 Peter 1:20). First this: God created the Heavens and Earthall you see, all you don't see. So notice: The Bible is not meant to be placed on a shelf, but to be in your hands, to read oftenevery day, both on your own and together with others.". Learn why this "gospel lite" illusion is such a seductive, powerful delusion for Christians and how you can avoid it in your walk of faith. Yes. from. Preach in the full expression of the Holy Spiritwith wisdom and patience as you instruct and teach the people. Often when Im studying the scriptures, I will read 3 or 4 versions (and I use the word version: to include Versions, Translations and Paraphrases or Commentaries). In this powerful message, Pastor Doug investigates a very real threat facing the church in the last days: Satan's plan to neutralize the transforming power of the gospel. 4) Good News Translation (GNT) - Also known as the Good News Bible (GNB), the GNT was created by the American Bible Society as a translation that would be simple enough for anyone to easily pick up and understand, including individuals learning the English language and children. My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge. We love each other, and we're not using or abusing each other.". He acted out of grace in Exodus. The following is a list of Bible translations that should be avoided for any real and faithful personal Bible study (in a separate article we will look at a list of Bible translations that are encouraged for use). How is the Bible inspired? Jesus saying about having a generous eye probably refers to Gods blessing on those who are generous with their resources and time. And this is why: so that no one need be destroyed; by believing in him, anyone can have a whole and lasting life. 4 Even though I walk ", In fact, you might even turn to your partner as you read the verses together and say, "That doesn't describe us! IE. The result is a strongly sectarian translation that no longer counts as Scripture; by masquerading as a Bible it threatens to bind entire churches in thrall to a false god. The Passion Translation is even promoted by churches that share Simmons own theology (for example removing rebuking and correcting from 2 Timothy 4:2). As a white male . This, again, is a great weakness of The Message: It sometimes produces beautifully phrased lines at the expense of the truth of Scripture. When people began to put emphasis on things that are not important, it alienate people from the things that are. Also, check to make sure your email is well written. For a fair assessment of Dr. Peterson's comments and retraction this week, see Bill Muehlenberg's article here. The Message Bible has become a field manual for false teachers. 7 Signs of True Salvation The cult, of course, believes that these teachings must be preserved and protected from change. Finally, I have to say, the attitudes in a lot of these comments and from the opinion of the author is why many people are leaving the practice of Christianity. Tyndale was killed by the Catholic Church because the Catholic Church did not want the common person to have a Bible. I read your article, with interest. Do not be deceived: neither the sexually immoral, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor men who practice homosexuality, nor thieves, nor the greedy, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God. HE did say murder is a sin, which is ending the life of another human. There are sections where the message really brings an idea into easy-to-understand language, but for me there is far too much dumbing down and softening of scripture. We no longer need to be slaves to the ways of this world; instead, we can walk according to Gods will and purpose for our lives. I always have my NKJV Bible with me and when I saw what was on the screen it did appear correct from what I read in the NKJV. Compare Micah 3:5 in the MESSage bible to the King James Bible and others. The Message: The Bible in Contemporary Language ( MSG) is a paraphrase of the Bible in contemporary English. It is an accurate paraphrasing of the bible rather than a. The New International Especially when our own pastor prayed the Lords prayer in Peterson speak. Later, when I started dating a woman (now my wife) at the church, she was warned that I was at the centre of controversy. The message of the book of Isaiah to the world begins with warning. 1. And then they paid for it, oh, how they paid for it emptied of God and love, godless and loveless wretches. When bestows glory on anything, its beautiful. Your email address will not be published. Matthew 3:7 Meaning lost: In Matt 3:7, John the Baptist challenges the sincerity of the Pharisees in requesting baptism and warns that they face God's wrath. However, by itself, the Bible is not reliable as a single historical source. This is a useful place to start, given the controversy currently surrounding this popular, 84-year-old, Christian author. Dont take any minister, pastor or friends word for truth. Only you can discover it. Confess to God. [5] The work was awarded the Evangelical Christian Publishers Association Gold Medallion in 2003 for being the title retailers prized.[6][7]. Ken is currently working on a Bible app (Wave Parallel Bible) with a team of scholars which links words and phrases from nine major Bible translations, including The Message. The cost of theological confusion is too great a price to pay to rely on this version of the Bible as a source of truth. The New Testament instructs believers to seek guidance from God and his Spirit only. This mans interpretation is not always correct, nor is it always what the Spirit wants YOU to get from it. Further the Message adds to the text (something forbidden by scripture) there is nothing in there speaking about any of Gods attributes at the end to the prayer, and I have no idea where he got that Yes. Thought-for-thought presents the intended meaning of the author, which the original audience would have understood during the time the writing was originally created. But, to repeat: It should neverbe used as your primary Bible, since it is not a translation of the Bible but rather a free paraphrase of the Bible. I think my actions sent out a shockwave in the spiritual realm. 11 Give us this day our daily bread. That is where true salvation begins. 2 He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters. People are not running from the word of God or Jesus, but the judgement and hatefulness of some Christians. Joe, this is an incredible story that you shared.