Freethought & Rationalism Archive

frostymama · 12-30-2002, 06:36 AM

The Message

I got the New Testament Version of this for Christmas. From flipping through it... it looks like just another paraphrase version of the Bible. My Mom keeps telling me that it is supposed to be a more acurate translation "because the original text was written in the common form of Greek so it would be more accurate to translate it into the common form of English".

This doesn't quite sound correct to me, but I don't know that much about ancient Greek.

I've been looking for critiques on-line this morning and have only run across mixed reviews (Christian sites). They don't seem to think it is very accurate at all.

Is anyone familiar with this version?

Pensee · 12-30-2002, 06:53 AM

My dad & step-mom gave it to me last year for Xmas. I believe it is somewhere in a dump right now.

From what I understand, it's not supposed to be a word-for-word translation. It's supposed to be just what it says "the message", that is the whole of what is being said. IIRC, they use modern day expressions like "small potatoes" and others. But of course, the whole "message" is up to the author's interpretation.

Perchance · 12-30-2002, 03:47 PM

Sounds like an attempt to get past "contradictions" and give you "the essence."

However, there are still mortal translators deciding "the essence," so I don't see why it should be more accurate than any other Bible.

-Perchance.

WWSD · 12-30-2002, 04:10 PM

I have to agree that it sounds like a lame attempt to wave away contradictions.

I like the Oxford NSRV for translation and such, but for highlighting and writting notes in, I have one of the free bible you can from a motel/hotel.

I have one all done up in pretty colors and full of little notes.

Of course, nothing can beat the Extreme Teen Bible . I checked one out at the book store the other day. Interesting.

And check out this ultra cool sample page where it tries to explain what sea monsters are. Here ya go!

Great, extreme teen creationists!!

Godbert · 12-30-2002, 04:16 PM

Come on christians, your fate for all eternity (except 70 or so years) depends on it and you can't even be bothered to learn Greek and Hebraic?
And now you lead your life not even according to an accurately translated english version but a book about what some translator thought God might have meant?
Now that's just sad

CuriosityKills · 12-30-2002, 11:44 PM

I also received this book as an x-mas present, about three years ago, from my father (a devout Pentecostal). He believes that I have not "accepted Jesus" because I cannot understand the bible. :banghead:

I couldn't even bring myself to open the thing up. I don't want the Pentecostals to get me!

Osiris · 12-30-2002, 11:53 PM

The translation doesn't mean much to me, if I don't know what the h**l they are talking about anyway. Really it is all fiction to me. Might as well be a new translation of "The Lord of the Rings" to me.

wildernesse · 12-31-2002, 12:23 AM

As a former Christian bookstore clerk/Bible seller, what I know about the Message is that it is just some guy's retelling/paraphrase of the New Testament. I believe he's done Job, Psalms and Proverbs as well. Maybe he's working up to the entire thing--maybe now he's bored.

Apparently, he's filling the market niche that the Living Bible left when it became less of a paraphrase and more accurate. I think it's interesting that several of you have gotten a copy of the Message--I would think that it would be just a wee bit insulting.

Rufus picked up the Extreme Bible in Borders the other week, and cracked me up acting like some kind of surfing teenager and squealling "Extreme Jesus". He had me cracking up.

--tibac

12-30-2002, 06:36 AM	#1
frostymama Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2001 Location: Georgia USA Posts: 927	The Message: The Bible in Contemporary Language The Message I got the New Testament Version of this for Christmas. From flipping through it... it looks like just another paraphrase version of the Bible. My Mom keeps telling me that it is supposed to be a more acurate translation "because the original text was written in the common form of Greek so it would be more accurate to translate it into the common form of English". This doesn't quite sound correct to me, but I don't know that much about ancient Greek. I've been looking for critiques on-line this morning and have only run across mixed reviews (Christian sites). They don't seem to think it is very accurate at all. Is anyone familiar with this version?

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12-30-2002, 06:53 AM	#2
Pensee Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2001 Location: florida Posts: 657	My dad & step-mom gave it to me last year for Xmas. I believe it is somewhere in a dump right now. From what I understand, it's not supposed to be a word-for-word translation. It's supposed to be just what it says "the message", that is the whole of what is being said. IIRC, they use modern day expressions like "small potatoes" and others. But of course, the whole "message" is up to the author's interpretation.

12-30-2002, 03:47 PM	#3
Perchance Veteran Member Join Date: May 2002 Location: Kentucky Posts: 1,059	Sounds like an attempt to get past "contradictions" and give you "the essence." However, there are still mortal translators deciding "the essence," so I don't see why it should be more accurate than any other Bible. -Perchance.

12-30-2002, 04:10 PM	#4
WWSD Veteran Member Join Date: Jun 2001 Location: Albucrazy, New Mexico Posts: 1,425	I have to agree that it sounds like a lame attempt to wave away contradictions. I like the Oxford NSRV for translation and such, but for highlighting and writting notes in, I have one of the free bible you can from a motel/hotel. I have one all done up in pretty colors and full of little notes. Of course, nothing can beat the Extreme Teen Bible . I checked one out at the book store the other day. Interesting. And check out this ultra cool sample page where it tries to explain what sea monsters are. Here ya go! Great, extreme teen creationists!!

12-30-2002, 04:16 PM	#5
Godbert Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: southern california Posts: 779	Come on christians, your fate for all eternity (except 70 or so years) depends on it and you can't even be bothered to learn Greek and Hebraic? And now you lead your life not even according to an accurately translated english version but a book about what some translator thought God might have meant? Now that's just sad

12-30-2002, 11:44 PM	#6
CuriosityKills Regular Member Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Edmonton, AB, Canada Posts: 114	I also received this book as an x-mas present, about three years ago, from my father (a devout Pentecostal). He believes that I have not "accepted Jesus" because I cannot understand the bible. :banghead: I couldn't even bring myself to open the thing up. I don't want the Pentecostals to get me!

12-30-2002, 11:53 PM	#7
Osiris Junior Member Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Houston, Texas Posts: 40	The translation doesn't mean much to me, if I don't know what the h**l they are talking about anyway. Really it is all fiction to me. Might as well be a new translation of "The Lord of the Rings" to me.

12-31-2002, 12:23 AM	#8
wildernesse Veteran Member Join Date: May 2002 Posts: 1,578	As a former Christian bookstore clerk/Bible seller, what I know about the Message is that it is just some guy's retelling/paraphrase of the New Testament. I believe he's done Job, Psalms and Proverbs as well. Maybe he's working up to the entire thing--maybe now he's bored. Apparently, he's filling the market niche that the Living Bible left when it became less of a paraphrase and more accurate. I think it's interesting that several of you have gotten a copy of the Message--I would think that it would be just a wee bit insulting. Rufus picked up the Extreme Bible in Borders the other week, and cracked me up acting like some kind of surfing teenager and squealling "Extreme Jesus". He had me cracking up. --tibac

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