Can you cite me the book, chapter, and verse where the following passage can be found from The Message?
“How well God must like you–you don’t hang out at Sin Saloon, you don’t slink along Dead-End Road, you don’t go to Smart-Mouth College.”
Does this even seem vaguely familiar to you?
This would be funny if it weren’t so sad. Sad because people actually consider The Message to be a legitimate Bible “translation.” Rick Warren quotes from it often and XXXChurch passes it out as their “Jesus Loves Porn Stars” Bible.
To see the answer click here.
Christ Alone Wyoming 
Only God knows Eugene Peterson’s heart when he did “the Message”, but I really don’t see how it can be considered a “translation” of the Bible, or even an accurate paraphrase of Scripture. However, I do know that “the Message” is catching on amongst the younger generation of believers I myself am a freshman at our community college & have noticed that some of my friends consider it a Bible translation. If I’ve read it right, the only word from the NASB that matches with “the Message” is “how.”
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If I’ve read it right, the only word from the NASB that matches with “the Message” is “how.”
Caleb,
Actually, through many hours of painstaking research, scholars have now agreed that “The Message” also translates another very important word in its proper form, both in Hebrew and in Greek. That is the word “the.”
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I don’t know how anyone could consider “The Message” a “translation,” when Eugene Peterson himself calls it a “paraphrase.” I seem to remember reading somewhere where he said that he did it in hopes that people who had never read the Bible would be able to start reading it and understanding it.
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Caleb and Fourpointer,
LOL!
P.S. Did anybody guess the verse before reading the answer?
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A friend of mine gave me The Message. I opened it up and read a couple of verses and have not looked at it since. It does a tremendous amount of “purpose” driven messaging!! I can do without it just fine thank you!
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that was very good translation of the word… you people on this website are so judgemental and look at the cup half empty…
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You mean the word “how” or the word “the”?
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Call me crazy, but I think Earl just “judged” everyone on this site.
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Judge not lest ye be judged!
Let he who is without sin cast the first stone……………and the camp town lady sings this song…do da…do da….come on everybody sing along:-)
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In response to the biblically illiterate who can’t help but regurgitate “Judge Not” ad nauseum (and always out of context), I prefer Paul Washer’s simple, yet poignant reply: “Twist not Scripture lest you be like Satan.”
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I wonder how “judge not lest ye be judged” is worded in the Message.
Not sure how you feel exactly about XXXChurch (not favorably by the looks of it), but I understand the main reason they use the Message was because Eugene Peterson offered personally to allow them to after repeated difficulties with other Bible publishers, (especially the American Bible Society) due to the cover they wanted to use on it.
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Greetings,
Too many people are getting judgment mixed-up with discernment. In Matthew chapter seven, scripture tells us not to judge in a hypocritical way! Mathew 7:3-5, “And why worry about a speck in the eye of a brother when you have a board in your own?
Should you say, `Friend, let me help you get that speck out of your eye,’ when you can’t even see because of the board in your own? Hypocrite! First get rid of the board. Then you can see to help your brother”. An example, in plain English, would be someone who is tattletaling on a coworker for stealing from the boss, and whereas this same hypocritical gossipmonger is having an affair with the married office secretary! We are to clean our own house first, which eliminates hypocrisy.
St. Paul, Lord Jesus’ hand-picked Apostle did predicate that we are to judge those in which claims to be Christians, which are sinning. St. Paul clearly informs us not to have anything to do with them and not even eat with them. Paul also informs the reader not to judge those outside of the church, which God will do. Paul clearly states, “1 Corinthians 5: 11-13 What I meant was that you are not to keep company with anyone who claims to be a brother Christian but indulges in sexual sins, or is greedy, or is a swindler, or worships idols, or is a drunkard, or abusive. Don’t even eat lunch with such a person. It isn’t our job to judge outsiders. But it certainly is our job to judge and deal strongly with those who are members of the church, and who are sinning in these ways. God alone is the Judge of those on the outside.
God’s Word is clear for those with eyes and ears.
Jesus is Lord
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I used to read this book,the Message bible,but stopped after a good, christian friend pointed put errors in it & I saw a video on it & see where it has new age writings in it-see the Lords prayer in Matthew where Eugene Peterson adds in an occult wording. I think it sugar coats & totally distorts the word of God. Google & read about Eugene Peterson & who he associates with -who you associate with tells a person alot about you & also influences your thinking & life-people would probably be surprised. I wont read this again.I will stick with the KJV myself. God bless!!
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