Order from a Major Online Bookstore
Ultimate Book Price Comparison Engine
Save Your Time And Money
| AnyBook4Less.com | Order from a Major Online Bookstore |
|
| Home | Store List | FAQ | Contact Us | | ||
| Ultimate Book Price Comparison Engine Save Your Time And Money |
||
 |
Title: The Message: The Bible in Contemporary Language by Eugene H. Peterson ISBN: 1-57683-289-9 Publisher: Navpress Pub. Date: July, 2002 Format: Hardcover Volumes: 1 List Price(USD): $39.99 |
Average Customer Rating: 4.26 (93 reviews)
Rating: 4
Summary: Terrific! ...as long as one remembers it is a paraphrase.
Comment: When it comes to reading the Bible, I usually prefer a fairly literal translation rather than a modern paraphrase. Literal translations tend to be filled with poetic, metaphoric imagery lifted straight from the Hebrew and Greek. Paraphrases and "dynamic" translations, in trying to be clearer to modern readers, usually suck the life out of the biblical text, the New Living Translation being particularly guilty in this respect. Powerful, evocative phrases ofen come through the grinder of modern biblical translation sounding like bland cliches. Not so with "The Message"! Although *far* from literal, it nevertheless remains vivid and thought-provoking. I often find myself laughing out loud with pleasure at what I've just read... pretty unusual when reading a paraphrase of an ancient sacred text!
Let me illustrate with a brief example from Proverbs 30:21-23. Here's a fairly standard, literal translation (ASV):
For three things the earth doth tremble, And for four, which it cannot bear:
For a servant when he is king;
And a fool when he is filled with food;
For an odious woman when she is married;
And a handmaid that is heir to her mistress.
"Odious woman" is catchy. Here's how "The Message" words the same verses:
Three things are too much for even the earth to bear, yes, four things shake its foundations--
when the janitor becomes the boss,
when a fool gets rich,
when a whore is voted "woman of the year,"
when a "girlfriend" replaces a faithful wife.
Wow! Now one can certainly argue about the liberties taken in the translation (and there are many), but this short example shows how "The Message" is often startling enough to make it a worthwhile paraphrase. It wakes the reader up and provokes thought in surprising places, often in verses that one might overlook in more traditional translations. And even though extreme liberties are taken in the wording, it tends to remain reasonably faithful to the spirit of the original text. Now having said that, it is not *nearly* literal enough to be used for in-depth Bible study, where individual words often carry important meaning (this is a weakness of any paraphrased translation). But "The Message" is quite good for casual reading, and often causes the reader to re-examine previously neglected passages. It can be especially illuminating to read it with a more literal translation close at hand for comparison.
My advice: read it, but treat it as an entertaining commentary on the Bible, rather than as actual scripture.
Rating: 5
Summary: it is finished
Comment: At long last, after eleven years of hard work, Eugene Peterson has completed his translation of the Bible. Before reviewing it, I'd like to just say thanks. The Message has added a dimension to my spiritual life.
Having started the study of Biblical Greek myself about two-thirds of the way through Peterson's labor of love, I now have at least a partially complete picture of the joys and difficulties (or should I say impossibilities?) Mr. Peterson must have faced along the way. It has amazed me to see how much of the seething, vibrant, life that is so often removed from the New Testament in more formal and "stately" translations is brought by Peterson into powerful, everyday English--or as Peterson says--"American."
There are some places where I fear certain sections have lost theological nuances (James' letter being a prime example) but one cannot argue that Peterson does, in the end, faithfully and creatively present "The Message" of the Living God.
The Old Testament, which I am familiar with only in English, sings compared to other translations. Some high points for me in Peterson's Old Testament translations are: Job, 1 & 2 Kings, and Isaiah, (possibly my favorite of all of Peterson's translations: chapter twelve's ending especially gets me: "Raise the roof! Sing your hearts out, oh Zion! The Greatest lives among you: The Holy of Israel.")
Believer or not, "The Message" will wake you up. It does not do this at the expense of the gospel. It does so by giving worn-out language new wings. Just as the writers of the original books were used by God to communicate His message to a hungry, thirsty and longing world, Peterson has allowed himself to be used to speak to the world of today.
I give "The Message" my highest recommendation. Get it today.
Rating: 1
Summary: The Bible says???
Comment: I have been reading "The Purpose Driven Life" by Rick Warren, who often quotes this very loose paraphrase, preceded by the words "The Bible says." I have been comparing what "The Message" says to what the Bible actually says; and in the majority of instances they are not even close. What Eugene H. Peterson says may or may not be true, but to call this the Bible is not accurate. This is one person's interpretation of the Bible. I am a seminary graduate. I have studied Greek and Hebrew. I can say without reservation that this is NOT a translation from the original languages.
 |
Title: The Message Old Testament Prophets: In Contemporary Language by Eugene H. Peterson ISBN: 1576831957 Publisher: NavPress Pub. Date: 05 October, 2000 List Price(USD): $23.00 |
 |
Title: The Message Promise Book by Eugene H. Peterson ISBN: 1576830152 Publisher: Navpress Pub. Date: March, 1997 List Price(USD): $5.00 |
 |
Title: The Purpose-Driven Life: What on Earth Am I Here For? by Rick Warren ISBN: 0310205719 Publisher: Zondervan Pub. Date: 01 October, 2002 List Price(USD): $19.99 |
 |
Title: Living the Message: Daily Reflections with Eugene Peterson by Eugene H. Peterson ISBN: 0060664320 Publisher: Harper SanFrancisco Pub. Date: 14 June, 1996 List Price(USD): $14.00 |
 |
Title: The Message Remix (Bible in Contemporary Language) by Eugene H. Peterson ISBN: 1576834344 Publisher: Navpress Pub. Date: July, 2003 List Price(USD): $24.99 |
Thank you for visiting www.AnyBook4Less.com and enjoy your savings!
Copyright� 2001-2021 Send your comments
