What did you all think of the Bible translation on "The Message"?
Me personally, I feel it is not for Bible study, but just for reading enjoyment. It makes me feel like I am reading a "novel", plus it makes it fun to read. I have a NIV that is used for Bible Study...but that's just me.
I still think it is a good one to learn about the Bible though, but not for study time.
Nancy
"The Message"
Discussion in '2003 Archive' started by DeafChristian, Jun 21, 2003.
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depends on why u're reading this version, when, to whom, etc.
The Message is more accurate than most other bibles in terms of the contemporary American vernacular for the target language. so if one wld like to know what Moses (hey, the OT's finally out!) wld sound like if he spoke US ENglish, the Message wld be a good choice. the idioms r all there. however, if one wished to understand the same, who's an ESL student in japan, then THe Message wld prob be confusing or strange.
ole King James wld not have understood all the lingo; perhaps QEII might.
also, the Message wldn't be a good replacement for an Interlinear or a Deaf Version. so there--like i said, it depends. -
I think that the Message is a good paraphrase, although not how you normally expect Paraphraed Versions to sound.
I stick with the NKJV for study purposes, yet I use several translations including the Living Bible, and I also find Halleys Bible Handbook helpfull as well as far as explaining certain aspects. -
Baptist Believer Well-Known MemberSite Supporter
For my serious study, I use my NRSV and NASB along with my language references. -
My understanding is that "The Message" is translated idiom for idiom, rather than word for word or phrase for phrase. I havent read it myself, though.
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Baptist Believer Well-Known MemberSite Supporter
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I think one should remember that "The Message" is a paraphrase of the Word of God, not the Word itself. There is the inherent danger of inserting one's own interpretations on scripture when writing a paraphrase, in fact, I think it is a common bad side effect.
Jason -
Don't forget, the KJV also paraphrases quite a bit, with phrases such as "narrow is the way", "God forbid" or "God save the King". These don't appear in the original language, yet were effective in conveying the meaning in 1611.
So use of paraphrase doesn't negate the word of God, and see no reason to think that The Message isn't any more or less the Word of God than the KJV, NIV, NASB, or any other translation is. -
Jason