Out of these cookies, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. We must be prepared to study the Bible over our lifetime, so that the Lord can deliver the full sense of thetext to our hearts when He desires. I received my reviewers copy in mid-September, so I have not had time to read the entire book. It has everything to do with whether you believe what youre reading, aka was Jesus who He said He was? Eugene Peterson, biblical languages scholar, peoples pastor, Scripture storyteller, has done it again. You give some very good reasons doing so. Sermon-Based Bible Studies: Pros and Cons - Adult Ministry KJV - One of the biggest pro's . If youve grown up reading traditional translations like King James or New American Standard, or even some of the newer ones like the New International Version or New Living Translation, The Message can come in like a breath of fresh air. Decide whether it would help you to have the same version as everyone else or a different one so that you can see how different translators have translated the passage you are reading. We have discovered that there are more cons or disadvantages to red letter Bibles than there are pros or positives. But instead of writing most of the New Testament like Paul, he translated the New and Old Testaments. Bible Verses About Massages - King James Bible Online region: "na1",
Likewise, the word man has been retained where the original text intends to convey a clear contrast between God on the one hand and man on the other hand, with man being used in the collective sense of the whole human race (see Luke 2:52). Cancun Mexico Time Zone Map, The problem for some here is prophecies that were later seen to be about Christ. gospel-centered, Bible-centered content. But opting out of some of these cookies may have an effect on your browsing experience. Pros: Most pure and closest to original writings. Its line drawings are iconic and help with understanding the text, Often criticised for lack of depth in its phrasing, Some feel that, occasionally, it goes too far from the original text in its attempt to communicate meaning, A Catholic Bible containing the 73 books of the Catholic canon, Literary in style with some well-known writers involved such as JRRTolkien, Some claim it is more a paraphrase than a translation (translated from French), Criticised for being insufficiently literal, Language that has influenced many phrases in modern English, Archaic language that many people do not understand. May you dive in, enjoy, and be reinvigorated yourself! Pros: Most pure and closest to original writings. Pros and cons of both. A recurring note is included to indicate that the term brothers (adelphoi) was often used in Greek to refer to both men and women, and to indicate the specific instances in the text where this is the case. Top Ten Bible Translations in the United States by Thom S. Rainer Founder & CEO The Christian Booksellers Association has published its list of bestselling Bible translations in 2012 for the United States. An interesting essay on how Peterson has brought the occult and New Age thought into the bible:
I knew that the early readers of the New Testament were captured and engaged by these writings and I wanted my congregation to be impacted in the same way. To summarize, he wanted to make the New Testament easier to understand. Largely based on the Hebrew and Greek texts available in the 16th century. Why The Message bible should not be used - Life-everlasting grave pleasures bandcamp This is why we have been given the Spirit, as Jesus said: We can't "dumb down" the text of scripture hoping to take a shortcut to anunderstanding of things that only God can reveal according to His sovereign will and timing. is doki doki literature club banned on twitch John 3:16 is completely changed and becomes meaningless by saying "This is how much God loved the world: anyone can have a whole and lasting life". There is a vast difference between temptation and "safety" and hence the intent of the Lords prayer is rendered impotent. What does it mean that God condescended in Christ and dwells with us through His Spirit? A non-profit, non-denominational resource of free in-depth Bible teachings. Unsure of the meaning of a word or phrase in the Bible? Each reading briefly introduced by Eugene Peterson. I really enjoyed your article. Peterson knew biblical Hebrew and Greek, and he was even a professor of those subjects for a time. Some think their translation should always reflect this; others that they should be translated in such a way as the original audience might have understoodthem. Translating from one language to another is never a simple process of finding one-to-one correspondence in vocabulary (as much as Google Translate thinks otherwise). And kings shall be thy nursing fathers, and their queens thy nursing mothers: they shall bow down to thee with their face toward the earth, and lick up the dust of thy feet. MINISTRY INTERNATIONAL, P.O. Learn more or donate today at. The King James Version is the official English translation used by the restored Church of Jesus Christ because it provides continuity with the language of the Book of Mormon, Doctrine and Covenants, JST, and our theological terminology. Pros. For example, was Goliath six cubits and a span (99 feet) tall, as the medieval Hebrew Masoretic manuscripts read? If a student relies exclusively onThe Messageas if it were a Bible, that student will not experience the light of God's word in an accurate and unfiltered way. Fill in your details below or click an icon to log in: You are commenting using your WordPress.com account. 10 Things You Should Know about Christian Ethics. being in sorrow rather than beating their breasts), Its emphasis on accessibility sometimes makes it feel a long way from the original, The change of metaphors into more modern language often changes their meaning more than what was intended, Not one of the strongest among the accessible translations, Usesup-to-date language (in particular it usesless archaic language for God), The Old Testament reflects Jewish interpretations of the text, Used more up-to-date versions of the Hebrew and Greek text, The Old Testament was translated to reflect Jewish interpretations of the text. While there's nothing wrong with this, every church should consider the pros and cons of doing sermon-based Bible studies. Using The Message vs The NIV - Hillside Church of God Peterson was motivatedto make a Bible translation that was morereadable (presumably for himself),but trying to makescripture more accessible by modifying its meaning isan attempt to solve a problem that doesn't actually exist. First, Eugene Peterson, the author of The Message, was a linguist of the top order. There are multiple websites available that show the distortions in the Message Bible. 1. (PDF) The Pros and Cons of "Intelligent Design" | Martin G Use a Coherent Method of Bible Study - Bible Study Tips. If you want to cite this article, follow your professors requirements and know you can always argue with them later if they dock you for my article. Also, instead of it being verse by verse, the version is broken intochunks, like verses 1-2 or verses 3-5, which makes it easier to mentally mark where thesermon will be on. First, some background. So that is The Message and the NIV compared. The search feature is very good and creates a lot of options for reading and research. John 3:17 " For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved" (KJV) becomes "God didn't go to all the trouble of sending his Son merely to point an accusing finger, telling the world how bad it was. Pingback: Data: Use of Modern (Non-KJV) Bible Translations among Latter-day Saints - Precepts of Power, Your email address will not be published. BUT youre curious and trying to figure out if its safe to read, if youll go to hell for touching it. The advantages of the King James Version of the Bible Canada Poverty Line 2020 Single Person. Is The Message a good Bible translation? - Verse By Verse Ministry Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. (LogOut/ Once we change or distort any part of Gods word, the integrity of the whole is lost. Having been a member of a mega mega church for six years, I left after the cons where too much to tolerate. I had never thought about the advantages of supplementing the King James 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. Translations fall on a spectrum from being formally equivalent (trying to render the literal word-to-word meaning as faithfully as possible) to dynamically equivalent (trying to render the overall sense as coherently as possible). This video discusses the pros and cons and errors of 7 English Bible Translations. It gives an atmosphere of peace and support. The entire Bible, in The Message translation. Acts 17:11 commends the Bereans "in that they received the word in all readiness, and searched the Scriptures daily to find out whether these things were so." Involving the people most impacted is wise at this point. It did help allay some of my worries. Lausd Daily Pass Shortcut, As we approach the topic of Bible reading and study, the first question that arises is which version of the Bible to use. What is the English Standard Version (ESV)? Therefore, we do not call The Messagea Bible and neither should its publisher. New King James Version (NKJV) - 1982. Began as a revision of The Living Bible but became a full translation from the original language, Kept The Living Bibles emphasis on accessibility, Changes some metaphors from the Bible into more understandable phrases (e.g. I like how they use themodern wording pit of hell, and like I said, it makes me enjoy the Bible more. Let's get started, Advantages of MAN. Read the whole Bible straight through. First of all, consider how you'll be reading the Bible You might like to start with a translation that avoids too much technical language. Day and night become "Madame Day" and "Professor Night" in Psalm 19:1. In each case the objective has been transparency to the original text, allowing the reader to understand the original on its own terms rather than in the terms of our present-day Western culture. Thrive Journaling Bible. Its so unique because Peterson started at the ground level. But throughout, the goal was to retain the depth of meaning and enduring quality of language that have made their indelible mark on the English-speaking world and have defined the life and doctrine of its church over the last five centuries. Bible versus Science: Pros and Cons for Modern Humans Get our Question of the Week delivered right to your inbox! Yes, the Message Bible is as bad as they say. Personally, I feel that indeed, it is easier to understand. Check our glossary of terms. At best, it is a commentary on the Bible, yet unfortunately one masquerading as scripture itself, and no commentary is a suitable substitute for scripture. The inclusive use of the generic he has also regularly been retained, because this is consistent with similar usage in the original languages and because an essentially literal translation would be impossible without it. San Antonio, Texas, 78270 harmon dobson plane crash. [The Bible] is the most valuable thing that this world affords. They may want to talk about things they feel unwilling . Find out how we work and where we work to bring the Bible to life for communities all over the world. We've broken that big tale down into three parts, all 3.5minuteslong. I am always saddened by the number of people who disdain The Message without knowing Petersons scholarship or understanding his true intent: my intent hereis simply to get people reading it who dont know that the Bible is read-able at all, at least by them, and to get people who long ago lost interest in the Bible to read it again (from the Preface to The Message). In essence, he asked if the text was written and read in todays language, with our current turns of phrase, idioms, and the like, what would it sound like? But the more dynamically equivalent the translation, the more interpretation is involved and the more the translators bias and theological outlook can creep into the meaning (intentionally or unintentionally). Let's look first at the structure of The Message 100, then at the pros and cons. This changes the meaning entirely especially the theological intent. 22 On that day many will say to me, 'Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your name?' 23 And then will I profess unto them, 'I never knew you; depart from me, you . 1Cor. What Is The Problem In Coraline, I guess whats going through my mind is a piano analogy. Before the Fall, the first couple were united and shame-free; the clever serpent, as we read in the next few sentences, seduces them to sin. See Contemporary EnglishVersion Bibles in the shop, See English Standard Version Bibles in the shop, See King James Version Bibles in the shop, See New King James Version Bibles in the shop, See New Revised StandardVersion Bibles in the shop, See Revised Standard Version Bibles in the shop. Why does this matter? You can keep track of your daily reading within the app. Why do we use it, and how does it work? Peterson has made some serious mistakes in his book, but he is a brother nonetheless. But I also love Bob Dylan, Walt Whitman, and the wildness and excitement of contemporary poetryand Eugene Peterson brings that to the text often. Top Ten Bible Translations in the United States | Church Answers Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. Love book clubs? Hello! 10 Things You Should Know about Demons and Satan. Reading The Message 100 will help us learn, live, and love in the one true story that makes sense of life the gospel! The ESV is based on the Masoretic text of the Hebrew Bible as found in Biblia Hebraica Stuttgartensia (5th ed., 1997), and on the Greek text in the 2014 editions of the Greek New Testament (5th corrected ed. Modern Controversies #2 . The methodology of translation also can affect doctrinal meaning. A translation trying to straddle the middle is called an optimally equivalent translation. He saw there was a disconnect between peoples understanding of the text and how it played out in their lives, so he translated individual books of the Bible into modern language for his church. Sign up for our short, weekly email about how we're inviting people to discover the Bible. For personal study, werecommend usingthe New American Standard Bible or the New English Translation (www.bible.org) or any other accurate translation of the original texts. Many people found this refreshing at first, but also found it inconvenient for cross-referencing, comparison with other versions, and group Bible studies. 2. On a related note, some have asked about the pros and cons of using a study Bible. All pros and cons must be evaluated for each issue. Fits in Bag or Purse. The King James Version vs. Modern Bible Translations: Pros and Cons A baby cannot do that. It is easy to understand, flows nicely, and is good for study. . Before I get into the heart of my review of The Message, I want to offer an important comment regarding Eugene Peterson the man.Despite my concerns about the theology he inserted into The Message under the pretense of "translation", I have no reason to doubt Peterson is a brother in Christ Jesus. Due to the large number of translations available online for free it is very easy to have access to a wide range of different translations. As for cons, the only two Ive found are if youre looking for a specific verse, most versions Ive seen only have clusters or groups of verses, so you need to read whole paragraphs to find the single verse youre looking for. It changes the word of God around, gives it a new meaning. There are many issues I have with the Message translation, but for the sake of space I am only listing three of them. Global Bible Commentary - Vanderbilt University Some think their translationshould always reflect this; others that they should be translated in such a way as the original audience might have understood them, Sometimes its choice of inclusive language obscuresconnections in the text, One of the few modern translations to originate in Britain, Aims for a mix of accuracy, poetry and comprehension, It is especially good for reading in public, It isnt widely used and so is quite hard to get hold of, Because it doesnt follow the best known translations, sometimes its phrases sound unusual, Intended to be a readable though literal translation (at the time), The Old Testament was translated to reflect Jewish interpretations of the text, Language has moved on and it is no longer up-to-date. Red letter Bibles a) can cause confusion about what is authoritative in Scripture, b) inconsistently color words spoken by Jesus and the Son of God, and c) tend to function as commentaries. (But please let me know if Im outside the bounds of true doctrine.). (Read More.) Print vs Digital: Pros and Cons - Explore the Bible This article will address all these questions. At best, it is a commentary on the Bible, yet unfortunatelyone masquerading as scripture itself, and no commentary is a suitable substitute for scripture. The currently renewed respect among Old Testament scholars for the Masoretic text is reflected in the ESVs attempt, wherever possible, to translate difficult Hebrew passages as they stand in the Masoretic text rather than resorting to emendations or to finding an alternative reading in the ancient versions. From the very beginning, Eden was not meant to be static; it was headed somewhere. portalId: "19942286",
I really like it because its a moderntranslation and it lets me interact with the sermon better. "Hallowed be Your name" (NKJV) becomes "Reveal who you are" in, "On earth as it is in heaven (NKJV) becomes "As above, so below" in, "forgive us our debts (NKJV) is changed to "keep us forgiven" in, "do not lead us into temptation" (NKJV) is changed to "keep us safe" in. Prologue. It aims to make the text as readable for a modern audience as possible. Moreover combining both MAN and WAN network is less expensive. The Pros and Cons of Digital Bible Engagement What I have had time to do is read all of Genesis and most of Job the first two books, parts of Isaiah, Joel and Malachi, the first 8 chapters of Matthew, and parts of Revelation. This means that it waswritten recently. As a pastor / teacher, Im sure you and others in your position feel a strong responsibility for how you deliver the Scriptures to your people. What have survived are thousands of Hebrew, Greek, and Aramaic manuscripts (most of them fragmentary) from the late classical period and the medieval period (100 BC1100 AD). A translation that focuses more on dynamic equivalence**. What are the advantages of supplementing it with a more modern translation? Heres the link: King James Version (KJV) - 1611. The prayers, fellowship and encouragement of an older saint means a lot to a younger worker perhaps struggling with difficulties, isolated for long periods from home or the company of others in his missionary group. There is a difference between good and righteous: good people are never good enough to gain access to the Father. (PDF) The Pros and Cons of "Intelligent Design" | Martin G A baby cannot do that. Get notified whenever I release a new article (12 emails a month): #mc_embed_signup{background:#fff; clear:left; font:14px Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif; }
Over 20 years ago, Peterson, began his labor of translating Scripture, with the intention of working the message of the Bible into the lives of the men and women with whom I worked. I was raised on the old RSV, and the inherited rhythms of the KJV are indelible parts of my consciousness, and those turns of phrase truly are timeless. Change). Ritual. We avoid or even shy away from the word, yet nearly all our acts of worship involve ritual. Each year, millions of copies of the ESV are distributed worldwide through partnerships with hundreds of churches, ministries, and Bible societies around the worldwith many of those distribution projects supported by Crossways Global Ministry Fund. I am a fantasy novelist and copyeditor with a degree in Ancient Near Eastern Studies from Brigham Young University. February 18, 2021 by: Crossway. Required fields are marked *. Here are the principal advantages: There are dozens of English translations, and exploring the different options can be dizzying. From Creation through the Fall to Redemption and ultimate Restoration, we read the wonders of the God we serve, worship in deeper awe and gratitude, and live the Story as the Holy Spirit has worked it into us. The Message Remix by Eugene H. Peterson | Goodreads In this post, we are going to review the most common versions and some pros and cons of each. Detroit Red Wings Affiliates, The claim that the old English form 'thou, thee' is . The book'sauthor, Eugene Peterson, claims he was seeking to make the BIble more understandable. Pros and Cons of the Digital and Bound Bible. Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is one! Although it appears that Eugene Petersons bible The Message is endorsed by many prominent people this does not mean we accept what they promote without testing it against Scripture. Divided into 100 readings. They have books for it onAmazon, but my go-to on Sundays is The Bible app from Life.Church, and Ive used itfor quite a while now, and its easy because I dont have to bring an actual book, and itsjust on my phone. 12 Unspoken Reasons Why You Should Not Use the New International Secondly, the Bible itself says that if scripture is too difficult for someone to understand, it isn't . For Scripture to be "living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword" (Hebrews 4:12) it has to be translated accurately. Im not sure if youre a pastor / teacher, but based on how your thoughts and implicit question are arranged, I would guess you are. With her vast knowledge of Scripture, story, and the human soul, she helps people live passionately and intentionally the unique callings God has given them. Hi Cindy, thank you for the kind words and for sharing your thoughts. The introductions help set the stage for the book and help you understand each book's unique message. The author of the Message Bible, Eugene Peterson, said it should not be used in the pulpit. If youre reading this post, Im guessing youve heard of The Message Bible and youre in one of three camps: If youre in camp #3, I cant promise that this will qualify as solid academic research. The exact pronunciation of YHWH is uncertain, because the Jewish people considered the personal name of God to be so holy that it should never be spoken aloud. I might break this into a couple articles eventually, or expand upon it later, but for now, I think there are three main points worth you knowing. VERSE BY VERSE From that deep desire to see people live more closely to God and from the proof he saw in his congregation, not only did he translate the entire Bible, he also wrote 30+ books to help. Now, if were squared up on that, keep reading because Im sure youll learn a thing or two. Thrive Journaling Bible. (Many chronological Bibles divide . Another pro is that some of the modern translationsare quite humorous, which actually makes me enjoy the Bible more. As for cons, the only two I've found are if you're looking for a specific verse, most versions I've seen only have clusters or groups of verses, so you need to read whole paragraphs to find the single verse you're looking for. So, on myhandy-dandy Bible App that I use, I discovered The Message, so I tried it out, andreally liked it, and have used it ever since. An exception to this is when the Hebrew word adonay appears together with YHWH, in which case the two words are rendered together as the Lord [in lowercase] GOD [in small capitals]. In contrast to the personal name for God (YHWH), the more general name for God in Old Testament Hebrew is elohim and its related forms of el or eloah, all of which are normally translated God (in lowercase letters). This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. 10 Things You Should Know about the Presence of God. In Revelation 22:18-19 God says "If anyone adds to these things, God will add to him the plagues that are written in this book; and if anyone takes away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part from the Book of Life, from the holy city, and from the things that are written in this book." document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window), Click to share on LinkedIn (Opens in new window), Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window), Click to share on Pinterest (Opens in new window), Click to email a link to a friend (Opens in new window), https://omerdylanredden.com/2012/02/07/creativity-bob-dylan/. If you arent sure what that means, he invested thousands of hours learning multiple languages that were around in Bible times. Instead, the Bible says it's because the student doesnot have the Holy Spirit working in him to reveal the meaning: Is the Life Application Study Bible appropriate? Is the King James Version the only Bible we should use? Day and night become "Madame Day" and "Professor Night" in Psalm 19:1. Change), You are commenting using your Twitter account. Each day of the week you read a different Genre. Bible Society, Stonehill Green, Westlea, Swindon SN5 7DG. (You can see why I, with my consuming passion for Living the Story of the gospel, love this, right?). The value of a more dynamically equivalent translation is its more coherent and understandable in the target language. In our view thebook The Messageis not a validtranslation of the Bible. Which Bible? Translation Versions + Pros + Cons + Errors The article about this version goes on to say that,Peterson did most of the work on the New Testament during 1991, at which time hewas writer in residence at Pittsburgh Theological Seminary. as well as what potential pitfalls it may have. There are so many, it can be difficult to choose one to use and to know which one might be better for which purpose. Bible verses related to Massages from the King James Version (KJV) by Relevance. It teaches that life has a meaning. Great article. https://omerdylanredden.com/2012/02/07/creativity-bob-dylan/. Concerning terms that refer to God in the Old Testament: God, the Maker of heaven and earth, introduced himself to the people of Israel with a special personal name, the consonants for which are YHWH (see Exodus 3:1415). The ESV is an essentially literal translation that seeks, as far as possible, to reproduce the precise wording of the original text and the personal style of each Bible writer. 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. And heres the problem: no two surviving manuscripts are identical. We all need to be vigilant in testing against Scripture what we come across in our daily life. Mixed Media Bible Journaling Supplies | Mediums - Pros and Cons Change), You are commenting using your Facebook account. Instead of reading the word YHWH, therefore, they would normally read the Hebrew word adonay (Lord), and the ancient translations into Greek, Syriac, and Aramaic also followed this practice. pros and cons of the message bible - iccleveland.org Ive also read through the Bible at least a handful of times, so you can definitely say Im a student of the Word. However, I have graduated from Bible college, and I have been to seminary. In exceptional, difficult cases, the Dead Sea Scrolls, the Septuagint, the Samaritan Pentateuch, the Syriac Peshitta, the Latin Vulgate, and other sources were consulted to shed possible light on the text, or, if necessary, to support a divergence from the Masoretic text.
