[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". makes me feel secure. Rare a member that actually brings a Bible and there are none available in the pews. An overwhelming number of these translations suffer from the strong bias of an unfaithful group of translators. May your will be done here on earth, just as it is in heaven. He has found that The Message often adds meaning to passages that are not present in the original Greek text. Amen.. Many dangerous theological errors are found throughout the GNT, including distortions of the divinity of Christ, removing references to Jesus blood, misrepresentations of Jesus virgin birth, removing references to hell, salvation being distorted, etc. 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. Although I was never rude in my emails, seven people complained about me to the church office in one day. 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. According to Psalm 138:2 God magnifies His Word above His name. New NAR "Passion Bible" a dangerous heresy - Berean Research I was appalled and immediately went home and read A LOT . I also showed church leaders other occult words in The Message such as Light-bearers and Divine Guardians. 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. 2-3 He lets me rest in the meadow grass and leads me beside the quiet streams. .". 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. It's called " The Passion Translation, " written by Brian Simmons of Stairway Ministries. The Global Message of Isaiah | ESV.org - ESV Bible IE. The Truth about the Bible - CompellingTruth.org Caution: the Bible is a Dangerous Book - Charles Hedrick Paul wrote, "And do not grumble, as some of them did and were killed by the destroying angel" ( 1 Corinthians 10:10 ). Some people explode when they cannot have it. Who Was Isaiah, and What Does His Message Mean for Us? Psalm 119, the longest chapter in the Bible, extols the Word of God. It confirms science, reveals the Messiah, and proves that it is supernatural in origin. The Old Testament teaches that believers are defiled by their attempts at communicating with the dead, a practice that is detestable to God. How do we know which book - The Bible, the Apocrypha, the Qur'an, the Book of Mormon, etc. The King James Version 9 After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. I reached the conclusion that it was very bad and going to deceive a lot more people. This has been a concern for my friend Ken Berding, who has been doing detailed work in the Greek New Testament and several English translations. 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 wish you all the best! Keep us safe from ourselves and the Devil. 3 He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name's sake. How Do We Respond to Claims That Christianity Is Dangerous? We were breathing in polluted unbelief and exhaling disobedience. Speak the Truth in Love. Eugene Peterson created The Message, a Bible translation which emphasizes the need to trust God rather than focus on material possessions or appearances. ", Nothing is watered down here, and the paraphrase is close and fair. Are you relying on the Holy Spirit to guide your understanding? through the darkest valley, Becoming a scholar is the job of the church leader SO they can speak it upon any person of any intelligence. We can now live with hope and joy as we strive to do what is right in Gods eyes. Through Jesus Christ, we have been freed from the bondage of sin and death. The Dangerous Act of Worship | Christian Bible Studies Rooted in his "translation" philosophy, Peterson has produced a "Message" which is nothing more than a commentary published as a translation. The Message Bible is a paraphrase version of the Bible. The only significant addition Peterson added was changing what the Bible actually said. your rod and your staff, 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. He is the author of 25 books and hosts the nationally syndicated, daily talk radio show, the Line of Fire. Reveal who you are. Cults therefore suppress personal opinion, critical thinking and free exchange of ideas. That's because by itself, the Bible is not a history book. 12 And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors. I ended up hearing The Message defined as all kinds of things to try to dismiss the problem that it tampered with scripture a practice which the Bible itself condemns. 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. North Korea - In this totalitarian state, the only thing that North Koreans are permitted to worship is the nation's leader, Kim Jong-un. 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. Church officials must be in control of their own families, and they must see that their children are obedient and always respectful. Samaritans and Jews also disagreed over their holy sites. And so I tell you, Peter: you are a rock, and on this rock foundation I will build my church, and not even death will ever be able to overcome it. Jesus Embodied God's Grace. Apparently, she told the minister that she couldnt see why it mattered that Eugene Peterson changed Gods words. Not the first. This mans interpretation is not always correct, nor is it always what the Spirit wants YOU to get from it. Jesus is warning the people that they must repent and turn away from their sins if they want to be saved from Gods judgement. Your worldview is different. Seventh day Adventists is wrong. Dangers of the Message Bible - Dove Ministries It was then I got on the internet and read A LOT more and studied LOTS. He helps me do what honors him the most. Shall We Read The Message? - Banner of Truth USA Why We Use The King James Version of the Bible - AV1611.com as we also have forgiven our debtors. Garbage. What's Wrong With Gossip? - Dale A Robbins 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. Remember, Noah built the Ark, scholars built the Titanic. Petersons lax handling of the Word of God results in stifled messages that are far less impactful than the original God-breathed directive. The Message: The Bible in Contemporary Language (MSG) is a paraphrase of the Bible in contemporary English. I admire your article and agree with the recommendation not to depend heavily on it alone. The Samaritans, however, believed that their temple, on Mount Gerizim, was where true worship . ", In TheMessagethis becomes, "Don't you realize that this is not the way to live? 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. Again, the attempt to make a translation that is simple for anyone comes at the cost of containing misleading text, such as claiming the Holy Spirit actually replaces Jesus (John 14:26) and gender-neutralizing Pauls instructions for a pastor (1 Timothy 3:1-5). 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. Unjust people who don't care about God will not be joining in his kingdom. The Message Bible: A Mystic Mess by Dr. Terry Watkins However, as a very free paraphrase, it is sometimes powerful and brilliant while at other times it is seriously off target. Queen Elizabeth II: A Role Model For Humanity, The Dangers of the Pan-sexual Agenda Part 1: What is Pan-sexuality. Simmons has actually released four installments of his new translation: Psalms: Poetry on Fire. 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. (See 2 Timothy 2:15.) When did Paul write this? I saw new believers using The Message as their actual Bible during a study, and felt like The Message was robbing them of some choice meat when they read passages from it that were flowery but so watered-down. The Message Bible Good vs. There is a tool for every job. To be fair, a more accurate comparison might be to the Jehovas Message Bible is completely an offline bible without requiring internet connection to study the scriptures. Peterson's assertion that the New Testament was written in the "street language" of the day is misleading. Where is Sunday on the calender? I still get what The Holy Spirit is teaching me and have benefited Spiritually by it.. 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.". And light appeared. We are in a dark time. I am not alone. If you're reading the ESV (or most other translations) and you're sleeping with your girlfriend or committing adultery with your neighbor's spouse or practicing homosexuality, Paul's words will hit you between the eyes: "Do not be deceived: neither the sexually immoral, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor men who practice homosexuality . Eugene Peterson has stayed true to the text and yet made it come alive for today's generation. Peterson's goal in creating The Message, in his own words, was to "bring the New Testament to life for two different types of people: those who hadn't read the Bible because it seemed too distant and irrelevant and those who had read the Bible so much that it had become 'old hat'." Worship turns out to be the dangerous act of waking up to God and to the purposes of God in the world, and then living lives that actually show it. If you desire the truth then and only then will it be reveiled. Theological Reasons. 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. Surely Peterson should do the same. We were living in sin, and letting the world dictate how we should live our lives. I hope this list has been helpful and will steer you in the right direction as to which Bible translations are profitable for training you up in righteousness. Why is the belief of atheism so dangerous for the atheist? "This is how much God loved the world: He gave his Son, his one and only Son. Especially when our own pastor prayed the Lords prayer in Peterson speak. Reach out to [emailprotected] when you have time. We are called to be His examples, His disciples. 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. Translation Comparison - Matthew 16:16-18, Good News Translation (GNT): Simon Peter answered, You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.. Hope youll give us another try and check out some other articles. 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. Why Is the Bible So Badly Written? - Alternet.org 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. for you are with me; Smoking cigarettes is a sin. Millions of evangelicals and other Christian fundamentalists believe that the Bible was essentially dictated by God to men who acted as human channelers. You cannot say that just because divination is used in human sacrifice, it is evil. Joe, this is an incredible story that you shared. 1 The Lord is my shepherd, I lack nothing. This eventually led to the Reformation led by Martin Luther. This is not a study Bible, but rather ""a reading Bible."" The verse numbers, which are not in the original documents, have been left out of the print version to facilitate easy and enjoyable reading. It is written in a conversational style with contemporary language, making it easier for readers to relate to on a personal level. You are right-on! For their women exchanged natural relations for those that are contrary to nature; and the men likewise gave up natural relations with women and were consumed with passion for one another, men committing shameless acts with men and receiving in themselves the due penalty for their error. A man who has strong convictions, who speaks out boldly for God's truth, if he's not careful can become harsh or unkind. Contemporary English Version (CEV): It is true that anyone who desires to be a church official wants to be something worthwhile. 1 The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. 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). Rather than allowing the Bible to expand his understanding, Peterson has often contracted the Bible to fit his own ideas, omitting those bits that he cannot fit, and adding his own material in far too many places. English Standard Version (ESV): preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, and exhort, with complete patience and teaching. The Revised Standard Version of the Bible was presented to the public as a completed . And then they paid for it, oh, how they paid for it emptied of God and love, godless and loveless wretches. 16 "Stay alert. He guides me along the right paths Those who gossip & slander are not in right fellowship with God (Rom. But whatever it is, it STILL shouldnt be twisting scripture. The scene in Oslo after Christian terrorist, Anders Breivik, struck. Christians should only evolve to be more in line with His word. Features [ edit] We can get a glimpse of the strengths and weaknesses of The Messageby looking at how Dr. Peterson treated a number of key verses dealing with homosexual practice. Unjust people who don't care about God will not be joining in his kingdom. You have bedded me down in lush meadows, ", The Messagereads: "Don't have sex with a man as one does with a woman. Dont let your guard down or forget that at any moment you can be deceived. 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.". Abortion isnt a sin if you cant hear a heartbeat or if the BABY was conceived via rape or incest. As a white male . 4 Bible verses about Dangers Of Ignorance - Knowing Jesus 9 "This, then, is how you should pray: About ten people in total complained about me that week. Bible Gateway passage: Matthew 10:16 - The Message 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. The answer to why people spend so much time studying the Bible is simple: it is the Word of God! 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.