What's wrong with "The Message" ?

Hey Amity! I didn't know you were on this board too.

As for your analysis of The Message, I would not have been so kind. I hate that "perv_____" term many onlyists use for modern translations but I would make an exception in this case, I despise The Message. As a Bible story book for kids it's not so bad but to come anywhere near calling it any sort of translation is just plain wrong. Even if it were a decent translation the marketing behind it is sickening--it is quite obvious the publishers see it more as a cash cow than a Bible.

Funny you should mention Purpose Driven.... My church went through the program as well and I was quite disturbed by its commercialism. Put Purpose Driven, The Message and Prayer of Jabez together and you have the biggest scam in Christianity since the selling of indulgences and the money changers in the Temple.

 

James Newman,

May God bless you and your family with a joyful Christmas and a blessed new year!

 

Oops. You forgot to add Left Behind!! </font>[/QUOTE]I skipped that because it is (admittedly ) a work of fiction. Although preachy at times, it isn't intended specifically to preach.

 

I have compared many verses in The Message to verses in the NAS, the NKJV, the KJV, and the NLT, and found that in many cases, the verses or passages in The Message were so different as to be almost unrecognizable! Some of them had added meanings and some had a meaning somewhat changed from the translations/versions I used for comparison.

Here's a good critique on The Message that points out it's not just a paraphrase, but incorporates commentary in its paraphrasing as well:
From http://www.equip.org/free/DB130.htm
Excerpt_________"Many traditional and theological words, such as "repent(ance)" and "righteous(ness)," are avoided, while similar terms like "baptize," "blasphemy," and "covenant" are retained. In the place of some traditional terms are the author's own coined vocabulary, often hyphenated composite terms such as "God-Expression," "God-news," "God-pointing," "good-hearts," "Life-Light," and "Priest-Friend." I am not certain that such terms are any more contemporary or require less explanation than the traditional vocabulary they replace.

The Message regularly adds significantly to the text. Joseph is characterized as a "righteous" or "just" man in most English versions of Matthew 1:19. The Message has him "chagrined but noble" (p. 10), half of which is presumed by the translator rather than stated in the text. In Luke 3:7 (p. 122), the crowds are said to be coming for baptism "because it was the popular thing to do" (compare Matt. 3:7, p. 13). "You are the salt of the earth" (Matt. 5:13, NRSV) becomes "Let me tell you why you are here. You're here to be salt-seasoning that brings out the God-flavors of this earth" (p. 16). Paul's simple question in Acts 19:2 (NIV), "Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you believed?" is expanded to "Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you believed? Did you take God into your mind only, or did you also embrace him with your heart? Did he get inside you?" (p. 280). Again, readers have no clue when the text ends and the commentary begins._________End Excerpt


&lt;The Quotes option did not download for some reason so I couldn't put the above in Quotes.&gt;

 

You too, brother. And to all my fellow servants on the BB.

 

No joke. Anyway, it boils down to "intention".

 

I'm not a fan of The Message, but I'm not against all paraphrases, as long as they are labelled as such. No one should use a paraphrase as their only Bible, but to read one occasionally to get a different viewpoint isn't wrong, in my opinion.

 

I knew there were problems in The Message as soon as I read what purported to be the Lord's model prayer in Mt 6:9-13:

Our Father in heaven,
Reveal who you are.
Set the world right;
Do what's best --
as above, so below.
Keep us alive with three square meals.
Keep us forgiven with you and forgiving others.
Keep us safe from ourselves and the Devil.
You're in charge!
You can do anything you want!
You're ablaze in beauty!
Yes. Yes. Yes.

What need have we of further witnesses?

 

I said admittedly.

 

"Keep us alive, with three square meals."

Yep, that is about as literal as you can get. Great translation, there. . .