IE. The pdf file can be accessed at https://tinyurl.com/exz3t6bm and printed out. It certainly waters down the living word and I cant see anything in that text that would convict anyone. Doing so would be like saying that the fire used in the sacrifice is also evil. 1Cor. Contempt for it is contempt for the truth. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Favorites and Bookmarks for your favorite bible verses. John Clark: Ise, thank you for sharing and for your openness. makes me feel secure. 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. Not the first. Taking away and adding to ie Going to the casino is a sin. You are right-on! Eventually and with prayer other people in the church started to get disquieted by The Message. I wish you all the best! A historic first: Vietnam allows Franklin Graham to hold evangelism event with 300 churches, Teen who had breasts removed says health system lacks 'standards of care', School district rejects student-teachers from Arizona Christian University, Its smut: Kid reads sexually graphic book he got from school library to school board members, Ukraine war exposes weaknesses in Russia and the West, ChatGPT, consciousness and the human mind, Saving a Sick America: A Prescription for Moral and Cultural Transformation, Eugene Peterson and Jesus Cannot Both Be Right, Eugene Peterson Retracts Support for Gay Marriage, Says He Was 'Put on the Spot', Vicky Beeching on Eugene Peterson Controversy: 'American Christians' Opposition to LGBT Equality Tied to Money', U2's Bono Teams Up With Pastor Eugene Peterson to Release Documentary on the Psalms. The men who spied out Canaan had returned to Israel's camp and reported that the Promised Land had giants. Would I use it as my only version? ( Matthew 24:4-5) Schedule II: Drugs with some medically acceptable uses, but with high potential for abuse and/or addiction. Ultimately, God is the judge and we are not. Then there is the line as above, so below, which is from the Emerald Tablet of Hermes Trismegistus an occult text from the school of Hermeticism, that has influenced every aspect of the new age movement, from Asatru to Satanism to Wicca. 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. Blog, Bible Message / January 12, 2023 by Karen Correia / Leave a Comment. Help keep The Christian Post free for everyone by making a one-time donation today. 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. The Message completely changes the meaning of the scriptures, for instance there is no mention of the holiness of the name of God. Church officials must be in control of their own families, and they must see that their children are obedient and always respectful. God bless. Your kingdom come, You should seek understanding through the Holy Spirit, not through the eyes of man. 2 He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters. 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). 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. That is our job. you find me quiet pools to drink from. Gossip often thrives upon secrecy. 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. Perhaps you can give me a link to read it? I believe the intent, published by The Navigators, was to produce the late Eugene Petersons work as an evangelical outreach to people who had been preconditioned against Olde English King James style interpretations that got in the way of letting them hear the message. Evangelical Christian Publishers Association, "Introduction to the New Testament, from The Message", "2006 Christian Book Awards Winners - Bibles category", Eugene Peterson interview at a U2 fansite, The Holy Bible from Ancient Eastern Manuscripts, Jewish Publication Society of America Version, New Jewish Publication Society of America Tanakh, New English Translation of the Septuagint, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=The_Message_(Bible)&oldid=1142387790, Short description is different from Wikidata, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License 3.0, Robert L. Hubbard Jr., North Park Theological Seminary (chair), Richard E. Averbeck, Trinity Evangelical Divinity School, Bryan E. Beyer, Columbia International University, Duane A. Garrett, The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, Donald R. Glenn, Dallas Theological Seminary, Paul R. House, Beeson Divinity School, Samford University, John N. Oswalt, Asbury Theological Seminary, Prescott H. Williams Jr., Austin Presbyterian Theological Seminary, William W. Klein, Denver Seminary (chair), Moises Silva, Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary, Rodney A. Whitacre, Trinity School of Ministry. The problem of fundamentalism requires that Bible interpretation be undertaken with great care and consensus, which may be difficult when cultural pressures promote the opposite. (To get more detail on The Living Bible, see Michael Marlowes detailed review here on bible-researcher.com). To see additional comparisons other than what is listed below, visit Bible Gateway, where you can view parallel translations of this translation (and any of the other poor translations featured in this article) with the ESV (or any other reliable translation) side by side. Join thousands of others to get the FREEDOM POST newsletter for free, sent twice a week from The Christian Post. This is the main message of the entire Bible, Old and New Testament, that those who have repented and trusted in Christ "have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord. Robert D. McFadden. One lady, a former church leader, reportedly lay awake all night wrestling with the issue. 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. It is written in a conversational style with contemporary language, making it easier for readers to relate to on a personal level. One of those churches is the enormously popular Bethel Church (for a deeper look at Bethels unorthodox heretical practices and their use of The Passion Translation, see my article, Bethel's False Gospel). Confess to God. I continued my protest. Would love to hear more. 2) The Passion Translation (TPT) - This is another paraphrase translation like The Message. Pastors should not be encouraging people to us such a book, since it fills peoples heads with error. The biblical position on controversial social and cultural issues is not immoral, it's not harmful, and it's not unloving. However, I found that often The Message is a wonderful commentary as it helps gel the other versions in a better light for me. 10 Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven. [2], According to the Introduction to the New Testament of The Message, its "contemporary idiom keeps the language of the Message (Bible) current and fresh and understandable". 5. I admire your article and agree with the recommendation not to depend heavily on it alone. Although I was never rude in my emails, seven people complained about me to the church office in one day. Psalm 119:1-2. They attempt to validate their erroneous theological claims by editing the Bible as they see fit. Just want to point out that Matthew 6 commonly includes a footnote now where it used to continue the prayer. ", In TheMessagethis becomes, "Don't you realize that this is not the way to live? You have bedded me down in lush meadows, When did Paul write this? Those who gossip & slander are not in right fellowship with God (Rom. The answer to why people spend so much time studying the Bible is simple: it is the Word of God! Yes. from. This eventually led to the Reformation led by Martin Luther. A couple of church leaders also began to express concerns about the content. Good for you, Simon son of John! answered Jesus. Many believers enjoy reading The Message because of its modern appeal; however, it is important to recognize that this unconventional version can have serious detrimental implications. Keep us forgiven with you and forgiving others. 9 Pray along these lines: Our Father in heaven, we honor your holy name. The Passion is the work of sole translator, Brian Simmons, whose work has been heavily critiqued by the scholarly world. . God spoke: "Light!" Many believers enjoy reading The Message because of its modern appeal; however, it is important to recognize . The Message is generally avoided but there is no hard and fast rule. 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. The Message, a loose paraphrase of the Bible, is often treated as a translation. The Message keeps the language of the gospel compelling and modern. Like you, I too have had a past of far left and far right exposure politically and spiritually but these days I am where Jesus was Render unto Caesar what is Caesars and unto God what us Gods Follow the Great Commission. And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. 2) When pastors preach from it, it encourages people to use it, this is dangerous because the Message is full of errors, false doctrine, and occult philosophy. Instead, they must be kind and gentle and not love money. Even the most liberal seminary would fail a student who turned in an essay full of Message quotes (at least I hope they would). Not the way man tryed n break it down not like this The following article hopes to help you make more suitable choices and get more useful information Jonathan, I definitely agree with your take here. Becoming a scholar is the job of the church leader SO they can speak it upon any person of any intelligence. Hoping it will appear in Google listings in time. Translation Comparison - 1 Corinthians 6:9-10. How is the Bible inspired? for his names sake. Bible translations are usually broken down into three major categories: Word-for-word or Formal Equivalence, Thought-for-Thought or Dynamic Equivalence, and Paraphrase. Like I said, it is a commentary, not a translation and it should be treated as such. 6. The Revised Standard Version of the Bible was presented to the public as a completed . When he stated beauty, again, that is a synonym of glory. I have read and listened the audio of many different translation of the bible. There are words in every language that does and does not exist in another language. I would question whether Peterson feels the same way. 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. We are called to be His examples, His disciples. So, if the Bible is the Word of God, and God is perfect, it follows that the Bible must be perfect, too. Many young people who want to serve on a short-term basis with us in the the Scottish housing schemes are on fire for the poor and passionate about being "missional" and "breaking down barriers.". This mans interpretation is not always correct, nor is it always what the Spirit wants YOU to get from it. About ten people in total complained about me that week. By dictionary definition, power is the capacity or ability to direct or influence the behavior of others or the course of events. Some people explode when they cannot have it. Thank you for your comments on The Message, although not very well versed in the bible something in my gut told me that it was wrong. The minister told the other speakers not to use The Message anymore. Jonathan Kotyk They read a passage of The Message that theyve written down or read it from an app on their cell phone. 10 We ask that your kingdom will come now. 1 The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. They are convicted because they own a Bible. 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. answer the question why the message bible is dangerous, which will help you get the most accurate answer. Since it is more of a commentary than a real Bible, it does not have the same effect of cutting into the depths of the heart. 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. Remember almost the entire word is deceived. 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. Rare a member that actually brings a Bible and there are none available in the pews. Youre not going to fond the truth any other way. Even in moderation, alcohol use causes significant problemsphysically, mentally, and spiritually. Its because you have the spiritual gift of discernment! For a fair assessment of Dr. Peterson's comments and retraction this week, see Bill Muehlenberg's article here. Its the first day. I reached the conclusion that it was very bad and going to deceive a lot more people. 'Our Father in heaven, I think we judge too harshly. Biblical scholars can do real spiritual harm by casually dismissing the texts that students hold dear. 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. 26 Comments People are not running from the word of God or Jesus, but the judgement and hatefulness of some Christians. And there were other translation before the KJ Bible. Daily Christian Prayers reference. Although it is a . Copies of it appeared on the bookshelf as people chucked it in. The Message is not only a poor paraphrase, but it is, in fact,heretical. 3) The Living Bible (TLB) - First published in 1971, The Living Bible is another paraphrase translation by sole translator, Kenneth Taylor. 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. His name in Hebrew (Yeshayahu) means "Yah [weh] is salvation.". 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. The Message translation adds an extra layer of meaning by suggesting that having a generous eye is a way of showing respect for Gods truth. (See 2 Timothy 2:15.) This should be emphasized whenever a preacher or teacher quotes from it, I believe. Jesus promises his disciples a reward in heaven for being persecuted and falsely accused in his name. He didn't. The latter error seems to me to be the more common danger in the church. I remember feeling like a pariah with no support or friends in that church for some weeks. Therefore, readers put a great deal more faith in the translators, as they are trusting their interpretation. Keep us alive with three square meals. Schedule I: Drugs with no current medical use with high potential for abuse and/or addiction. Why The Message bible should not be used It is not the Word of God! In Matthew 3:7, Jesus speaks to the people and calls them a brood of vipers. Yes. Did the Bible copy other religious myths, legends, and traditions? Earth was a soup of nothingness, a bottomless emptiness, an inky blackness. 12 and forgive us our sins, just as we have forgiven those who have sinned against us. People come to God on their own terms, and if the Message helps them get to him, then its done its job. they comfort me. The Message Bible Good vs. Therefore, an overseer must be above reproach, the husband of one wife, sober-minded, self-controlled, respectable, hospitable, able to teach, not a drunkard, not violent but gentle, not quarrelsome, not a lover of money. Problems With Peterson's Philosophical Approach. Sexually confused, they abused and defiled one another, women with women, men with men all lust, no love. Danger #2 "False guilt". Those who use and abuse each other, use and abuse sex, use and abuse the earth and everything in it, don't qualify as citizens in God's kingdom. 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. There was no malice in eating and therefore not offensive. I just recently found your article that was written in 2017 as I was searching for errors in the Message. "This is how much God loved the world: He gave his Son, his one and only Son. They concluded that Eugene Peterson had indeed made a decision to insert occultic words into the book but they still chose to read from it! Ephesians 2:2 reminds us of a time when we were walking according to the way of this world. "[4], The Message was translated by Peterson from the original languages. Dont take any minister, pastor or friends word for truth. How many times have learned preachers over a couple of centuries, with over 32,000 denominations of The Way (the early name of Christianity in the days of the Early Church), read from Scripture and then got the context wrong in the rest of their message somewhere else? Required fields are marked *. you let me catch my breath Some scholars, like Michael J. Gorman, consider some of Peterson's idiomatic renderings unconventional. It wasnt too long ago that we were stuck in this stagnant life of sin, but thankfully, God has given us a new life through Jesus Christ. I dont need a thing. However, with a number of passages warning of the erosion of faith in the last days, theres a rather strong motive to contend for the faith by insisting on an accurate Bible (Jude 3). 4 Even when the way goes through 2 He makes me lie down in green pastures, None of those individuals ever identified themselves to me and to this day I dont know who they were. Teaching the New Testament can be a dangerous thing. I North Korea - In this totalitarian state, the only thing that North Koreans are permitted to worship is the nation's leader, Kim Jong-un. However, as a very free paraphrase, it is sometimes powerful and brilliant while at other times it is seriously off target. Some new Bibles are dangerous because of the theological bias of their translators. ", Nothing is watered down here, and the paraphrase is close and fair. How do we know which book - The Bible, the Apocrypha, the Qur'an, the Book of Mormon, etc. Isaiah was born in 760 B.C. 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). hallowed be your name, We love each other, and we're not using or abusing each other.". Translation Comparison - Matthew 16:16-18, Good News Translation (GNT): Simon Peter answered, You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.. Dear Jonathan, The message of the book of Isaiah to the world begins with warning. 1 The Lord is my shepherd, I lack nothing. Thats why the bible says were should study to show ourselves approved. This displays The Messageat its worst, and it's another reminder as to why we should never use it as our primary Bible. and send me in the right direction. 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. He helps me do what honors him the most. Jesus Embodied God's Grace. It confirms science, reveals the Messiah, and proves that it is supernatural in origin. Ephesians 2:2 serves as a reminder that although it may seem like a distant memory, there was once a time when we walked according to the way of this world but now, thanks be to God, we are free! The shepherds and leaders are deceived. People dont see the name of the book. The King James Version 9 After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. ", The ESV reads: "For this reason God gave them up to dishonorable passions. 3 he refreshes my soul. Difficulty Finding a Modern Interpretation of the Bible. With verse markings (The Message: The Numbered Edition): This page was last edited on 2 March 2023, at 03:21. Tyndale got a Bible into the hands of the common person. He introduced himself as a God of grace in Genesis. 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. That's because by itself, the Bible is not a history book. 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. Eugene Peterson might be the William Tyndale of the 21st century or just an individual who wants to distort the bible or some who sincerely want to make the bible easy to read but making some mistakes. 1 Because the Lord is my Shepherd, I have everything I need! "Eugene H. Peterson, 85, Scholar Turned Homespun Pastor, Dies". The ESV reads: "You shall not lie with a male as with a woman; it is an abomination. We were breathing in polluted unbelief and exhaling disobedience. Clean Up Your Email. In reality, the Lord doesn't need men to make His words more "readable." The Spirit is more than capable of bringing an understanding to anyone as the Lord wills and as we devote ourselves to study of it. First this: God created the Heavens and Earthall you see, all you don't see. Required fields are marked *. It's dangerous to build an opinion of the Bible through the lens of someone else's beliefs. [3], The publisher states: "Peterson's work has been thoroughly reviewed by a team of recognized Old and New Testament scholars to ensure that it is accurate and faithful to the original languages. Queen Elizabeth II: A Role Model For Humanity, The Dangers of the Pan-sexual Agenda Part 1: What is Pan-sexuality. HE did say murder is a sin, which is ending the life of another human. Authored by Eugene H. Peterson and published in segments from 1993 to 2002, [2] the MSG falls on the extreme dynamic end of the dynamic and formal equivalence spectrum.