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! Samaritans and Jews also disagreed over their holy sites. The minister told the other speakers not to use The Message anymore. Bible translations are usually broken down into three major categories: Word-for-word or Formal Equivalence, Thought-for-Thought or Dynamic Equivalence, and Paraphrase. Matthew 5:11-12 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. Readings from the book continued the same as before with the problems swept under the rug. We were breathing in polluted unbelief and exhaling disobedience. We run to God to understand who he is n to lead us n trust in his word Do what's best Yes. from. When he stated beauty, again, that is a synonym of glory. 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. I got the phrase As above, so below which appears in The Message and googled it alongside the word Satanism in the presence of the minister. I would sit alone on a sofa with no one ready to converse with me. Rare a member that actually brings a Bible and there are none available in the pews. Favorites and Bookmarks for your favorite bible verses. answer the question why the message bible is dangerous, which will help you get the most accurate answer. And why are they persecuted? Required fields are marked *. None of those individuals ever identified themselves to me and to this day I dont know who they were. Amen.. Here's Warren's 10 Scriptural Reasons Why Jesus Calling is a Dangerous Book, reprinted with permission: And Jesus answered and said unto them, Take heed that no man deceive you. The Messages technique in translating the original text is so casual in its approach that NavPress, publisher of The Message, says, It's not meant to replace your current version of choice. Apparently, she told the minister that she couldnt see why it mattered that Eugene Peterson changed Gods words. but deliver us from the evil one.'". The Message is generally avoided but there is no hard and fast rule. Would love to hear more. 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). 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. 2. 13 Dont bring us into temptation, but deliver us from the Evil One. Help keep The Christian Post free for everyone by making a one-time donation today. Cant find your booklet. For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my Father who is in heaven. you let me catch my breath My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge. True to your word, Amen. Yes. English Standard Version (ESV): The saying is trustworthy: If anyone aspires to the office of overseer, he desires a noble task. A man who has strong convictions, who speaks out boldly for God's truth, if he's not careful can become harsh or unkind. 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. 10 Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven. Church officials must be in control of their own families, and they must see that their children are obedient and always respectful. Set the world right; 1:18 For the word of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. Okay to get to the point, desire for the truth even if it means finding out everything you ever thought to be true was not, and you will, then asking Yahweh (God) to unblind you and guide you to the truth as you search for it and for protection from satanic deception so you wont be deceived. Why The Message bible should not be used It is not the Word of God! He has spent time on both the far Left and Far Right side of the political spectrum and lives in Canada. God says, in Isaiah 1:18, "Come now and let us reason together." With alcohol use we temporarily and permanently stupefy our reasoning powers. In my opinion, The Message is a bit like the ring in Lord of the Rings: theres always someone who thinks it will be all right to use it and who doesnt want to let go of it. Its the first day. It certainly waters down the living word and I cant see anything in that text that would convict anyone. Copyright 2023, The Bottom Line Ministries. Because Eternity Matters Most. Earth was a soup of nothingness, a bottomless emptiness, an inky blackness. ", The Messagereads: "Don't have sex with a man as one does with a woman. For this truth did not come to you from any human being, but it was given to you directly by my Father in heaven. (See 2 Timothy 2:15.) 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. And whenever I see people carrying The Messageinto church services, I groan, since I assume that, for those people, it istheir Bible. I had to sit through two church services tailored to support the churchs use of The Message. In his book the Bible he expressly commands us not to change his words (Proverbs 30:6, Revelation 22:19). Keep us alive with three square meals. This is a useful place to start, given the controversy currently surrounding this popular, 84-year-old, Christian author. The Message promotes the mystical New Age message with a boldness never seen in a mainstream Bible. you find me quiet pools to drink from. I have enjoyed listening to Peter Hobbs reading message audio on youtube. Smoking cigarettes is a sin. At one point, I emailed as many people in the church whose email addresses I could find, showing the problems with the book. Garbage. The ESV reads: "You shall not lie with a male as with a woman; it is an abomination. It is specifically targeted toward U.S. English speakers with its use of American contemporary slang. 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'." The biblical position on controversial social and cultural issues is not immoral, it's not harmful, and it's not unloving. John Clark: Ise, thank you for sharing and for your openness. HE speaks of things to steer clear of because they will more likely than not lead you to sin. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Jonathan Kotyk is a student, self taught philosopher, recovering addict and born again Christian. Posted on . In Matthew 3:7, Jesus speaks to the people and calls them a brood of vipers. Hoping it will appear in Google listings in time. (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). You can do anything you want! The Message is a tool that, while not subjectively perfect for some, is quite ideal for others. They would just avoid the passages that had those words in them. Yes. 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.". The abandonment of the King James Bible by our churches has not been a good thing. Isaiah was born in 760 B.C. The passage from Matthew 6:27-28 is part of Jesus Sermon on the Mount, in which he encourages his disciples not to worry about how they will pay for basic necessities such as food and clothing. (a) (The Message) "Since we want to become spiritually one with the Master, we must not pursue the kind of sex that avoids commitment and intimacy leaving us more lonely than ever - the kind of sex that can never "become one"." (b) Comment: Sexual immorality is reduced to "the kind of sex that avoids commitment and intimacy". Keep us safe from ourselves and the Devil. Post was not sent - check your email addresses! This Message book should not be used at all. Holy Bible comes with both the new testament and the old testaments of the holy scriptures. 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. Your trusty shepherds crook Share your favorite bible verse with your friends. To be fair, a more accurate comparison might be to the Jehovas The Message has sold over 10 million copies and has continually ranked among the top five best-selling Bibles. 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. 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. Keep us forgiven with you and forgiving others. The Message Bible has become a field manual for false teachers. Jesus saying about having a generous eye probably refers to Gods blessing on those who are generous with their resources and time. 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! Then it happens, some how a day slips by and you realize that you didn't read the your Bible. 1. Peterson's assertion that the New Testament was written in the "street language" of the day is misleading. This phrase is used to describe someone who is wicked and deceitful, as snakes are often seen as symbols of evil in the Bible. On the other hand, a man oozing with love and compassion can err by tolerating everything and everyone, thus compromising God's truth. Rather, it is designed as a reading Bible that can give you a fresh perspective on a familiar phrase or passage.. I gave the leaders and some church members paper copies of this resource. The purpose of the Bible What is it? 41,316 Views. 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). Contemporary English Version (CEV): It is true that anyone who desires to be a church official wants to be something worthwhile. About ten people in total complained about me that week. HE never said that. 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. The men who spied out Canaan had returned to Israel's camp and reported that the Promised Land had giants. 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. ", In fact, you might even turn to your partner as you read the verses together and say, "That doesn't describe us! How is the Bible inspired? We are going to keep the old Bible for several compelling reasons. 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). . ", Nothing is watered down here, and the paraphrase is close and fair. Preach in the full expression of the Holy Spiritwith wisdom and patience as you instruct and teach the people. 1 The Lord is my shepherd, I lack nothing. I also like Watchman Nees Normal Christian Life also. 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. Eugene Petersons translation of The Message removes this idea of worrying about paying for clothing and instead warns against vanity and attention to fancy clothing. 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! Isaiah lived this name well, insisting that Judah's kings and people trust only in God, make no alliances with foreign nations, and refuse to fear anyone but God. The Bible reveals that psychic experiences are real but demonic, and that deceiving . You are really understanding mans word, not Gods by using this commentary/paraphrase. 10 We ask that your kingdom will come now. Would I use it as my only version? As translated in the ESV, Paul wrote, "Or do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? One of the most dangerous Bible revisions on the market today is "THE MESSAGE." This horrible PERversion which butchers the Word of God was published in 2002. . However, by itself, the Bible is not reliable as a single historical source. They are convicted because they own a Bible. Throughout history, power has influenced a lot of good . Sorry, your blog cannot share posts by email. Good for you, Simon son of John! answered Jesus. He didn't. Remember almost the entire word is deceived. 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. This is why HE he stated that the Sabbath was made for man, man wasnt made for the Sabbath. We are in a dark time. The second most dangerous way to read the Bible is to let someone create preconceived notions for you. 9 Pray along these lines: Our Father in heaven, we honor your holy name. You're going to be like sheep running through a wolf pack, so don't call attention to yourselves. Speaking of deception, the Sabbath day is the 7th day. It is specifically targeted toward U.S. English . Unjust people who don't care about God will not be joining in his kingdom. Jonathan Kotyk I reached the conclusion that it was very bad and going to deceive a lot more people. Some new Bibles are dangerous because of the theological bias of their translators. If they dont know how to control their own families, how can they look after Gods people? 7. Thank you! Your worldview is different. In this case, divination is completely neutral. The same would be true for other versions or translations of the Bible, no? Theological Reasons. Looking back to past success can be very dangerous to our progress, and might hinder us from living out a life that grows more abundant with each coming day. Danger #2 "False guilt". The Message, I was told, is a paraphrase, a commentary, a rendition, a transliteration, etc, etc. The Old Testament teaches that believers are defiled by their attempts at communicating with the dead, a practice that is detestable to God. Song of Solomon: Most Amazing . He asked his people to respect his grace in Numbers. 4 Even when the way goes through But use it with caution: It is, by design, a very free paraphrase. Schedule III: Drugs with low to moderate potential for abuse and/or . Becoming a scholar is the job of the church leader SO they can speak it upon any person of any intelligence. An overwhelming number of these translations suffer from the strong bias of an unfaithful group of translators. I would question whether Peterson feels the same way. He helps me do what honors him the most. 13 And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. 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. Pastors should not be encouraging people to us such a book, since it fills peoples heads with error. I would challenge you not to believe what I say but to look it up for yourself. Let's look at Leviticus 18:22, first in the ESV, a conservative evangelical translation, then in The Message. 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. There are many issues I have with the Message translation, but for the sake of space I am only listing three of them. Peterson inserts his own dogma . I will fear no evil, It is written in a conversational style with contemporary language, making it easier for readers to relate to on a personal level. It depends, largely, on how you read it with what prejudices and with what intellectual background. On this Wikipedia the language links are at the top of the page across from the article title. Dear Jonathan, 9 After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. The Bible warns against personal interpretations of Scripture (2 Peter 1:20). You have bedded me down in lush meadows, Keep pressing into the Lord! 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. The following article hopes to help you make more suitable choices and get more useful information However, the Holy Spirit has still moved newcomers to the congregation to hear the necessary elements of the Sword of Truth in their message, that leads them to surrender to His Divine Will. 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. 12 And forgive us our debts, 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. 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. However, he has noticed that some portions of The Message cannot be linked to anything in the Greek text, indicating that additional meaning was added. We can get a glimpse of the strengths and weaknesses of The Message by . I just recently found your article that was written in 2017 as I was searching for errors in the Message. There were phone calls and emails to the minister, as well as people appearing at the church office to complain about me to him in person. 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. Today we have a different minister and new faces among the leadership. If the Bible is the truth, then ignoring it is ignoring the truth. Also Amen means something different in every denomination. Photo Credit: Unsplash/Tom Morel Read more Thats why the bible says were should study to show ourselves approved. 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. For a fair assessment of Dr. Peterson's comments and retraction this week, see Bill Muehlenberg's article here. Worship, then, refers to something very big and. Psalm 119:1-2. . 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. God bless. Gmail's spam filters can pick up on grammar and spelling mistakes. It was then I got on the internet and read A LOT more and studied LOTS. 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. [5] The work was awarded the Evangelical Christian Publishers Association Gold Medallion in 2003 for being the title retailers prized.[6][7]. Excellent observations on The Message. Problems With Peterson's Philosophical Approach. The Message is obviously not a Bible translation, or even a terribly good paraphrase. [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". Although I was never rude in my emails, seven people complained about me to the church office in one day. 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. But whatever it is, it STILL shouldnt be twisting scripture. And not a great church to go to if salvation is paramount. Your email address will not be published. I believe that Gods people searchin n praying to Holy Spirit to guide us in understanding. ", In TheMessagethis becomes, "Don't you realize that this is not the way to live? His name in Hebrew (Yeshayahu) means "Yah [weh] is salvation.". Tyndale was killed by the Catholic Church because the Catholic Church did not want the common person to have a Bible. https://www.ebay.com/itm/115037693742 And then they paid for it, oh, how they paid for it emptied of God and love, godless and loveless wretches. 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. 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). Unjust people who don't care about God will not be joining in his kingdom. We can now live with hope and joy as we strive to do what is right in Gods eyes. ", The Message reads: "Worse followed. This mans interpretation is not always correct, nor is it always what the Spirit wants YOU to get from it. Blog, Bible Message / January 12, 2023 by Karen Correia / Leave a Comment. I told the minister that if they kept on reading passages from this book over me, I would stand up in the service and expose it. 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 am not alone. Some people are more religious than GOD. The Message translation additionally suggests that people may reject Jesus teaching because the truth is too close for comfort. Instead, he became way too cute with words in general, taking away from the clarity of the original and even introducing some foreign concepts. 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. The Message loses the idea of an evil demonic power in these verses. The New International One lady, a former church leader, reportedly lay awake all night wrestling with the issue. People at my church had seemingly fallen in love with The Message and I was chucking a big rock in their pool. 11 Give us our food again today, as usual, 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). 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. 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. Indeed, a day of judgment is coming (2:12-22, 24:1-23), so let all the nations of the earth take heed. He outlined his grace in Leviticus. 2-3 He lets me rest in the meadow grass and leads me beside the quiet streams. Teaching the New Testament can be a dangerous thing. Your kingdom come, The shepherds and leaders are deceived. 'Our Father in heaven, .". Youre not going to fond the truth any other way. He is further identified as the son of Amoz (Isaiah 1:1). Tags Bible Interpretation bible translations Dangerous Doctrine Emerald Tablet of Hermes Trismegistus Errors in the Message Bible ESV false teaching occult influence the Lord's prayer The Message Bible. Firstly, ALL Bibles such as NKJV, NIV etc are paraphrasing. Eugene Peterson created The Message, a Bible translation which emphasizes the need to trust God rather than focus on material possessions or appearances. 12 and forgive us our sins, just as we have forgiven those who have sinned against us. Translation is from one language to another. HE did say murder is a sin, which is ending the life of another human. 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. Did the Bible copy other religious myths, legends, and traditions? I was appalled and immediately went home and read A LOT . Reach out to [emailprotected] when you have time. First this: God created the Heavens and Earthall you see, all you don't see. The following translations listed below should be avoided altogether, as utilizing them can lead to grave theological errors, the teaching of a radically different gospel, and a counterfeit Jesus. The King James Version 9 After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. I was very surprised to find significant meanings. Im not afraid I still get what The Holy Spirit is teaching me and have benefited Spiritually by it.. 13 And lead us not into temptation, Complaining isn't harmless sport; it's serious sin. I agree The Message and other interpretive commentary, and modernized Scriptures of the Bible, are not best for study. Some people explode when they cannot have it. Therefore My people go into exile for their lack of knowledge; 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. [3] Peterson notes that in the course of the project, he realized this was exactly what he had been doing in his thirty-five years as a pastor, "always looking for an English way to make the biblical text relevant to the conditions of the people". 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. Only the Bible is authoritative and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, as made clear in 2 Timothy 3:16. This displays The Messageat its worst, and it's another reminder as to why we should never use it as our primary Bible. 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) The Message (MSG) - This translation is a paraphrase by Eugene Peterson. Samaritans only recognized the first 5 books of the Bible, rejecting the remaining books of the Hebrew Bible. 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