Comments on: Write Your Own Message Bible http://hereiblog.com/write-your-own-message-bible/ Christian theological insights on culture, religion & the latest news from a Southern Baptist for the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Sat, 13 Mar 2010 07:21:16 +0000 hourly 1 By: Mark|HereIBlog http://hereiblog.com/write-your-own-message-bible/comment-page-1/#comment-21431 Mark|HereIBlog Thu, 30 Jul 2009 20:15:54 +0000 http://hereiblog.com/?p=1939#comment-21431 Dave, Sorry if I took your comment the wrong way. It just seemed a bit off the path of my post since was just offering suggestions. My point is really to do the study like you have done so you can write out the verses for yourself instead of relying on someone elses (The Message) paraphrase. Funny, I was studying the Puritan's method last night via Joel Beeke and it seems they would not divorce the study of theology from its practice. I don't know much about the HCSB. You might check out: <a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/versions/Holman-Christian-Standard-Bible-HCSB/" rel="nofollow">Introduction to the HCSB</a>. Dave,

Sorry if I took your comment the wrong way. It just seemed a bit off the path of my post since was just offering suggestions. My point is really to do the study like you have done so you can write out the verses for yourself instead of relying on someone elses (The Message) paraphrase.

Funny, I was studying the Puritan’s method last night via Joel Beeke and it seems they would not divorce the study of theology from its practice.

I don’t know much about the HCSB. You might check out: Introduction to the HCSB.

]]> By: Dave http://hereiblog.com/write-your-own-message-bible/comment-page-1/#comment-21430 Dave Thu, 30 Jul 2009 18:43:44 +0000 http://hereiblog.com/?p=1939#comment-21430 Hi Mark, you are quite correct. You did not say that in searching the scriptures one has to be right all the time, nor was I implying that you did. If I gave you that impression I apologise. I am simply saying that I had reached a point in my life where I felt all my studying of the scripture from numerous versions of the Bible has led me to realize the more I think I have got it all worked out the less I am living out what I know. Where Petersons paraphrase has helped me is that it is generally kept free of what I have termed Christianese vocab. This has simply helped bring a fresh take to a lot of new testament passages that I have read so many times that I can quote them without them seeming to mean anything anymore. I believe there are two ways to read scripture and both have their place. One is to gain knowledge but the other is to obey. The Message has helped me with the latter. I am not suggesting it is better than any other translation, I am just endorsing that it has been and currently is the "version" of scripture that currently works for me. Hope that clears this up. On that note I have also been dabbling in another translation that is not very well known here in South Africa, that being the HCSB. That also seems to have caught my attention, do you know much about it? Hi Mark, you are quite correct. You did not say that in searching the scriptures one has to be right all the time, nor was I implying that you did. If I gave you that impression I apologise. I am simply saying that I had reached a point in my life where I felt all my studying of the scripture from numerous versions of the Bible has led me to realize the more I think I have got it all worked out the less I am living out what I know. Where Petersons paraphrase has helped me is that it is generally kept free of what I have termed Christianese vocab. This has simply helped bring a fresh take to a lot of new testament passages that I have read so many times that I can quote them without them seeming to mean anything anymore. I believe there are two ways to read scripture and both have their place. One is to gain knowledge but the other is to obey. The Message has helped me with the latter. I am not suggesting it is better than any other translation, I am just endorsing that it has been and currently is the “version” of scripture that currently works for me. Hope that clears this up. On that note I have also been dabbling in another translation that is not very well known here in South Africa, that being the HCSB. That also seems to have caught my attention, do you know much about it?

]]> By: Mark|HereIBlog http://hereiblog.com/write-your-own-message-bible/comment-page-1/#comment-21428 Mark|HereIBlog Thu, 30 Jul 2009 16:56:35 +0000 http://hereiblog.com/?p=1939#comment-21428 Dave, I don't get your comment. <blockquote>Surely thats more important then searching the scriptures trying to be right all the time?</blockquote> Where did I advocate searching the Scriptures trying to be right all the time? I believe you've missed the point of my post. But let me try to understand your own statement in context. <blockquote>I now read it or in most cases listen to it on my i pod, and then try and think <u>how I can simply live it</u>. Surely thats <u>more important then </u> searching the scriptures <u>trying to be right</u> all the time?</blockquote> If you are not searching Scriptures with the intent of rightly understanding them, what is it exactly that you are thinking on and simply trying to live? Dave, I don’t get your comment.

Surely thats more important then searching the scriptures trying to be right all the time?

Where did I advocate searching the Scriptures trying to be right all the time?

I believe you’ve missed the point of my post. But let me try to understand your own statement in context.

I now read it or in most cases listen to it on my i pod, and then try and think how I can simply live it. Surely thats more important then searching the scriptures trying to be right all the time?

If you are not searching Scriptures with the intent of rightly understanding them, what is it exactly that you are thinking on and simply trying to live?

]]> By: Dave http://hereiblog.com/write-your-own-message-bible/comment-page-1/#comment-21424 Dave Thu, 30 Jul 2009 13:05:27 +0000 http://hereiblog.com/?p=1939#comment-21424 Hello from the east coast of South Africa. I have been using The Message for two years now. I have a bookshelf full of study bibles in almost every translation available and yet the one that is found next to my bed is you guessed it, The Message aka the un holy bible as my wife calls it. She bought me my first copy after Bono had endorsed it during the U2 elevation tour. I have spent the last thirty five years studying the bible to the point of becoming arrogantly ignorant. I was always trying to be doctrinally correct about everything. The Message changed that for me. I now read it or in most cases listen to it on my i pod, and then try and think how I can simply live it. Surely thats more important then searching the scriptures trying to be right all the time? Hello from the east coast of South Africa. I have been using The Message for two years now. I have a bookshelf full of study bibles in almost every translation available and yet the one that is found next to my bed is you guessed it, The Message aka the un holy bible as my wife calls it. She bought me my first copy after Bono had endorsed it during the U2 elevation tour. I have spent the last thirty five years studying the bible to the point of becoming arrogantly ignorant. I was always trying to be doctrinally correct about everything. The Message changed that for me. I now read it or in most cases listen to it on my i pod, and then try and think how I can simply live it. Surely thats more important then searching the scriptures trying to be right all the time?

]]> By: Mark|HereIBlog http://hereiblog.com/write-your-own-message-bible/comment-page-1/#comment-21222 Mark|HereIBlog Tue, 21 Jul 2009 02:05:59 +0000 http://hereiblog.com/?p=1939#comment-21222 Anytime brother. I'm just glad that some edification can be found in my writings from time to time. Anytime brother. I’m just glad that some edification can be found in my writings from time to time.

]]> By: Mark|HereIBlog http://hereiblog.com/write-your-own-message-bible/comment-page-1/#comment-21221 Mark|HereIBlog Tue, 21 Jul 2009 02:04:49 +0000 http://hereiblog.com/?p=1939#comment-21221 Chris, sounds like you're saying that Peterson did what I am suggesting except that he started with the original languages. So, ultimately it's still a paraphrase. :) Chris, sounds like you’re saying that Peterson did what I am suggesting except that he started with the original languages. So, ultimately it’s still a paraphrase. :)

]]> By: Mark|HereIBlog http://hereiblog.com/write-your-own-message-bible/comment-page-1/#comment-21219 Mark|HereIBlog Tue, 21 Jul 2009 02:02:20 +0000 http://hereiblog.com/?p=1939#comment-21219 Catherine, Appreciate your thoughts. Bible study isn't easy and we ought not to be scared of it. Especially, with a good pastor and all of the resources available to us. Catherine,

Appreciate your thoughts. Bible study isn’t easy and we ought not to be scared of it. Especially, with a good pastor and all of the resources available to us.

]]> By: abclay http://hereiblog.com/write-your-own-message-bible/comment-page-1/#comment-21218 abclay Tue, 21 Jul 2009 01:58:25 +0000 http://hereiblog.com/?p=1939#comment-21218 Thank you Mark. Tony Thank you Mark.

Tony

]]> By: Catherine http://hereiblog.com/write-your-own-message-bible/comment-page-1/#comment-21205 Catherine Mon, 20 Jul 2009 19:00:15 +0000 http://hereiblog.com/?p=1939#comment-21205 Something that I had found on the subject of Eugene Peterson's "The Message" bible would make me extremely wary to spend much time reading this paraphrase. Here is a Peterson comment that made me gasp. I've seen it several times now..and still does not bode well with me. From Peterson's book "Eat this Book", the take-away point is that man is not meant to read the Bible on his own. He makes the statement, "It is not sufficient to place a Bible in a person's hands with the command, 'Read It.' I say why not? The first step to studying the Bible is to read it. I like John MacArthur's comment on the second step of interpreting it. "Letting the Holy Spirit be your teacher (1 John 2:27), search the Scripture He has authored, using cross references, comparative passages, concordances, indexes, and other helps. For passages that remain unclear, consult your pastor or godly men who have written on the issues involved." I think it's the same thing that you were talking about above Mark, when you said to keep your pastors close. The other steps to studying God's Word involves evaluating, applying and correlating and are generally discussed in MacArthur's short article on the subject here: http://www.gty.org/Resources/Articles/A258 I agree with you Mark and think that there are many better translations of the Bible than Peterson's paraphrased version. The most important thing is spending time daily in God's Word, in regular prayer time, and in Bible study with qualified Bible teachers. If you are a new believer, it doesn't get any better than going through an entire year in a one-on-one discipling relationship with a godly mature believer. Something that I had found on the subject of Eugene Peterson’s “The Message” bible would make me extremely wary to spend much time reading this paraphrase. Here is a Peterson comment that made me gasp. I’ve seen it several times now..and still does not bode well with me. From Peterson’s book “Eat this Book”, the take-away point is that man is not meant to read the Bible on his own. He makes the statement, “It is not sufficient to place a Bible in a person’s hands with the command, ‘Read It.’ I say why not? The first step to studying the Bible is to read it.

I like John MacArthur’s comment on the second step of interpreting it. “Letting the Holy Spirit be your teacher (1 John 2:27), search the Scripture He has authored, using cross references, comparative passages, concordances, indexes, and other helps. For passages that remain unclear, consult your pastor or godly men who have written on the issues involved.” I think it’s the same thing that you were talking about above Mark, when you said to keep your pastors close.

The other steps to studying God’s Word involves evaluating, applying and correlating and are generally discussed in MacArthur’s short article on the subject here:
http://www.gty.org/Resources/Articles/A258

I agree with you Mark and think that there are many better translations of the Bible than Peterson’s paraphrased version. The most important thing is spending time daily in God’s Word, in regular prayer time, and in Bible study with qualified Bible teachers. If you are a new believer, it doesn’t get any better than going through an entire year in a one-on-one discipling relationship with a godly mature believer.

]]> By: Chris Roberts http://hereiblog.com/write-your-own-message-bible/comment-page-1/#comment-21185 Chris Roberts Mon, 20 Jul 2009 01:04:00 +0000 http://hereiblog.com/?p=1939#comment-21185 The Message is actually an odd category. It is a translation. Peterson worked with the original languages to bring the Bible into English. Older paraphrases like The Living Bible are pure paraphrases - taking an English Bible (KJV) and rewording it into "modern lingo". The Message is a translation of the original languages. But it is also a paraphrase. He did not try to do a literal translation or any form of dynamic equivalent. He translated the Bible into his own words, his own expression of what he thought the Bible was teaching. So it is a paraphrase, yes, but it is also a translation. The Message is actually an odd category. It is a translation. Peterson worked with the original languages to bring the Bible into English. Older paraphrases like The Living Bible are pure paraphrases – taking an English Bible (KJV) and rewording it into “modern lingo”. The Message is a translation of the original languages.

But it is also a paraphrase. He did not try to do a literal translation or any form of dynamic equivalent. He translated the Bible into his own words, his own expression of what he thought the Bible was teaching.

So it is a paraphrase, yes, but it is also a translation.

]]> By: Dan Smith http://hereiblog.com/write-your-own-message-bible/comment-page-1/#comment-21149 Dan Smith Sat, 18 Jul 2009 04:09:47 +0000 http://hereiblog.com/?p=1939#comment-21149 Mark, Your title did the job perfectly! It got me hooked, and then the rest was in the writeup. Such a joy to read good writing. Dan Mark,
Your title did the job perfectly! It got me hooked, and then the rest was in the writeup. Such a joy to read good writing.

Dan

]]> By: Mark|HereIBlog http://hereiblog.com/write-your-own-message-bible/comment-page-1/#comment-21148 Mark|HereIBlog Sat, 18 Jul 2009 03:53:14 +0000 http://hereiblog.com/?p=1939#comment-21148 <b>Wayne</b>, <b>Aaron</b> and <b>Dan</b>, thanks for the encouragement! Dan, I'm glad the post title did it's job. (I think) :) Wayne, Aaron and Dan, thanks for the encouragement!

Dan, I’m glad the post title did it’s job. (I think) :)

]]> By: Dan Smith http://hereiblog.com/write-your-own-message-bible/comment-page-1/#comment-21146 Dan Smith Sat, 18 Jul 2009 03:05:49 +0000 http://hereiblog.com/?p=1939#comment-21146 I was skeptical as I read the title to your post, but man you hit it on the mark! I absolutely love the idea of jotting down your own paraphrases as you study. It will help me in my studies and as I help some of the guys on my ship that I'm working with. We're all learning the Bible as we go, although some are further along than others. Writing our own notes and paraphrases should help us a great deal as we grow with the scriptures. .-= Dan Smith´s last blog ..<a href="http://differentfrequencies.blogspot.com/2009/07/places-ive-been-hong-kong.html" rel="nofollow">Places I've been: Hong Kong</a> =-. I was skeptical as I read the title to your post, but man you hit it on the mark! I absolutely love the idea of jotting down your own paraphrases as you study. It will help me in my studies and as I help some of the guys on my ship that I’m working with. We’re all learning the Bible as we go, although some are further along than others. Writing our own notes and paraphrases should help us a great deal as we grow with the scriptures.
.-= Dan Smith´s last blog ..Places I’ve been: Hong Kong =-.

]]> By: Aaron http://hereiblog.com/write-your-own-message-bible/comment-page-1/#comment-21100 Aaron Thu, 16 Jul 2009 15:37:21 +0000 http://hereiblog.com/?p=1939#comment-21100 Peterson does, the publisher doesn't. But anyway... .-= Aaron´s last blog ..<a href="http://hardwords.wordpress.com/2009/07/16/everyday-theology-spare-the-rod-spoil-the-child/" rel="nofollow">Everyday Theology: Spare the Rod, Spoil the Child</a> =-. Peterson does, the publisher doesn’t. But anyway…
.-= Aaron´s last blog ..Everyday Theology: Spare the Rod, Spoil the Child =-.

]]> By: Wayne Leman http://hereiblog.com/write-your-own-message-bible/comment-page-1/#comment-21098 Wayne Leman Thu, 16 Jul 2009 15:15:04 +0000 http://hereiblog.com/?p=1939#comment-21098 <i>I think it’d be great if it actually was labeled “Paraphrase” rather than being passed off as a translation. </i> Peterson has made it clear that The Message is a paraphrase. It is not passed off as a translation. .-= Wayne Leman´s last blog ..<a href="http://betterbibles.com/2009/07/14/write-your-own-paraphrase/" rel="nofollow">Write your own paraphrase</a> =-. I think it’d be great if it actually was labeled “Paraphrase” rather than being passed off as a translation.

Peterson has made it clear that The Message is a paraphrase. It is not passed off as a translation.
.-= Wayne Leman´s last blog ..Write your own paraphrase =-.

]]> By: Aaron http://hereiblog.com/write-your-own-message-bible/comment-page-1/#comment-21093 Aaron Thu, 16 Jul 2009 11:35:39 +0000 http://hereiblog.com/?p=1939#comment-21093 I think it'd be great if it actually was labeled "Paraphrase" rather than being passed off as a translation. That said, God in his mercy saved me while reading the Message paraphrase's gospel accounts (it was the first Bible I read). Great suggestions for study, Mark. Hope you're having a swell day. .-= Aaron´s last blog ..<a href="http://hardwords.wordpress.com/2009/07/16/everyday-theology-spare-the-rod-spoil-the-child/" rel="nofollow">Everyday Theology: Spare the Rod, Spoil the Child</a> =-. I think it’d be great if it actually was labeled “Paraphrase” rather than being passed off as a translation. That said, God in his mercy saved me while reading the Message paraphrase’s gospel accounts (it was the first Bible I read).

Great suggestions for study, Mark. Hope you’re having a swell day.
.-= Aaron´s last blog ..Everyday Theology: Spare the Rod, Spoil the Child =-.

]]> By: Wayne Leman http://hereiblog.com/write-your-own-message-bible/comment-page-1/#comment-21054 Wayne Leman Tue, 14 Jul 2009 21:26:03 +0000 http://hereiblog.com/?p=1939#comment-21054 Important post, Will. Thanks for expressing these helpful ideas. I have just linked to your post from <a href="http://betterbibles.com/2009/07/14/write-your-own-paraphrase/" rel="nofollow">the Better Bibles Blog</a>. .-= Wayne Leman´s last blog ..<a href="http://betterbibles.com/2009/07/10/why-cal-wants-a-gender-neutral-bible-translation/" rel="nofollow">Why Cal Wants a Gender Neutral Bible Translation</a> =-. Important post, Will. Thanks for expressing these helpful ideas. I have just linked to your post from the Better Bibles Blog.
.-= Wayne Leman´s last blog ..Why Cal Wants a Gender Neutral Bible Translation =-.

]]> By: Mark|HereIBlog http://hereiblog.com/write-your-own-message-bible/comment-page-1/#comment-21051 Mark|HereIBlog Tue, 14 Jul 2009 18:54:12 +0000 http://hereiblog.com/?p=1939#comment-21051 I actually thought about Dever's two books, but forgot as I was typing. I've added those two excellent books. Thanks Will. I actually thought about Dever’s two books, but forgot as I was typing. I’ve added those two excellent books.

Thanks Will.

]]> By: Will Adair http://hereiblog.com/write-your-own-message-bible/comment-page-1/#comment-21050 Will Adair Tue, 14 Jul 2009 18:36:04 +0000 http://hereiblog.com/?p=1939#comment-21050 Okay just have to say this for posterity sake. I think the The Message Bible should have the following warning label: warning slightly watered down for easy consumption, may cause gas. or maybe a tag line: The Message: paraphrasing the divine away with witty man made one liners today. Holy Spirit optional. As for your book suggestions I really recommend adding Mark Dever's Promises Made and Promises Kept. Dever is the pastor over at Capitol Hill Baptist Church. I would say the text is well worth adding to any Christians library. .-= Will Adair´s last blog ..<a href="http://willadair.com/2009/07/13/100th-post-time-for-a-blues-song/" rel="nofollow">100th post! time for a blues song</a> =-. Okay just have to say this for posterity sake.

I think the The Message Bible should have the following warning label: warning slightly watered down for easy consumption, may cause gas.

or maybe a tag line:
The Message: paraphrasing the divine away with witty man made one liners today. Holy Spirit optional.

As for your book suggestions I really recommend adding Mark Dever’s Promises Made and Promises Kept. Dever is the pastor over at Capitol Hill Baptist Church. I would say the text is well worth adding to any Christians library.
.-= Will Adair´s last blog ..100th post! time for a blues song =-.

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