The Message (Bible) - AbsoluteAstronomy.com

The Message: The Bible in Contemporary Language was created by Eugene H. Peterson

Eugene H. Peterson

Eugene H. Peterson , is a pastor, scholar, author, and poet. He has written over thirty books, including Gold Medallion Book Award winner The Message: The Bible in Contemporary Language , a contemporary translation of the Bible.-Personal life:Peterson was born in East Stanwood, Washington and grew...

and published in segments from 1993 to 2002. It is an idiomatic translation of the original languages of the Bible

Bible

The Bible refers to any one of the collections of the primary religious texts of Judaism and Christianity. There is no common version of the Bible, as the individual books , their contents and their order vary among denominations...

History

Peterson states the reason The Message was written was:

Features

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”. 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.”

Circulation

The Message was published piecemeal over a nine year period. The New Testament was published in 1993. The Hebrew Bible Wisdom Books were published in 1998. The Hebrew Bible Prophets were published in 2000. The Hebrew Bible Pentateuch were released in 2001. The Books of History came out in 2002. The entire Bible was released the same year and follows the traditional Protestant Biblical canon

Biblical canon

A biblical canon, or canon of scripture, is a list of books considered to be authoritative as scripture by a particular religious community. The term itself was first coined by Christians, but the idea is found in Jewish sources. The internal wording of the text can also be specified, for example...

.

Although The Message is used commonly in congregations, Peterson stated his uneasiness with this in a Christianity Today

Christianity Today

Christianity Today is an Evangelical Christian periodical based in Carol Stream, Illinois. It is the flagship publication of its parent company Christianity Today International, claiming circulation figures of 140,000 and readership of 290,000...

interview:

Sample verses

Though The Message is often considered a paraphrase

Paraphrase

Paraphrase is restatement of a text or passages, using other words. The term "paraphrase" derives via the Latin "paraphrasis" from the Greek , meaning "additional manner of expression". The act of paraphrasing is also called "paraphrasis."...

, it is not explicitly; The Message was translated by Peterson from the original languages. Thus, It is a highly idiomatic translation, and as such falls on the extreme dynamic end of the dynamic and formal equivalence

Dynamic and formal equivalence

In Bible translation dynamic equivalence and formal equivalence are two approaches to translation. The terms are not found in general linguistics or translation theory but were coined by Eugene Nida...

spectrum.

Here are some passages from The Message with the New International Version

New International Version

The New International Version is an English translation of the Christian Bible. Published by Zondervan in the United States and by Hodder & Stoughton in the UK, it has become one of the most popular modern translations in history.-History:...

and the King James Version for comparison.

Psalm 23:1-4

King James Version

1. The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want.

2. He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters.

3. He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name's sake.

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.

New International Version

1. The LORD is my shepherd, I shall not be in want.

2. He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters,

3. He restores my soul. He guides me in paths of righteousness for his name's sake.

4. Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me.

The Message

1. GOD, my shepherd! I don't need a thing.

2. You have bedded me down in lush meadows, you find me quiet pools to drink from.

3. True to your word, you let me catch my breath and send me in the right direction.

4. Even when the way goes through Death Valley, I'm not afraid when you walk at my side. Your trusty shepherd's crook makes me feel secure.

The Lord's Prayer (Matthew 6:9-13)

King James Version

9 After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name.

10 Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven.

11 Give us this day our daily bread.

12 And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors.

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. Amen.

New International Version

9 "This, then, is how you should pray: " 'Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name,

10 your kingdom come, your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.

11 Give us today our daily bread.

12 Forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors.

13 And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one. For yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen.

The Message

9-13 With a God like this loving you, you can pray very simply. Like this:

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.

Editions

Hebrew Bible

The Pentateuch: ISBN 1-57683-196-5
The Books of History: ISBN 1-57683-194-9
The Wisdom Books: ISBN 1-57683-126-4
The Prophets: ISBN 1-57683-195-7

New Testament

Youth Edition: ISBN 0-89109-793-7
Text Edition: ISBN 0-89109-728-7

Entire Bible

With verse markings (The Message Remix): ISBN 1-57683-434-4
Without verse markings: ISBN 1-57683-289-9; this edition was recognized as an ECPA Christian Book Award winner.

External links

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