The Message: The Bible in Contemporary Language Kindle Edition

This latest edition of the paraphrased Bible "The Message" is wonderful! The full title is "The Message: Numbered Edition, The Bible in Contemporary Language". It seems that with each new edition, The Message titles get longer!I have enjoyed chapter after chapter since I received this edition a couple of weeks ago from Amazon. I keep my New American Standard Bible (NASB) and my HarperCollins New Revised Standard (NRS) Study Bible close at hand while I read The Message. Thus, if needed, I can look up a passage to make certain I am understanding the full context of the Message translation. This research in comparing passages is increasing my understanding of the Bible.The Message makes clearer, in today's language, what many biblical passages mean. I find this wonderful paraphrase to be full of "aha" moments when a passage I may have glossed over or didn't fully understand, in the past, finally comes to life.One of my favorite examples: The NASB gives Matthew 5:13-14 (a portion of the Sermon on the Mount when Jesus is explaining how things are to his disciples) as:"You are the salt of the earth; but if the salt has become tasteless, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled under foot by men. You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden;...."I have heard and read these words many times, but the complete meaning was not there (for me).Now, read it in today's language. Here is The Message translation/paraphrase for the same passage:"Let me tell you why you are here. You're here to be the salt-seasoning that brings out the God-flavors of this earth. If you lose your saltiness, how will people taste godliness? You've lost your usefulness and will end up in the garbage. Here's another way to put it: you're here to be the light, bringing out the God colors to the world. God is not a secret to be kept. We're going public with this, as public as a city on a hill....."Amazing! In my view, at least, The Message offers a more immediate sense of the meaning of the passage.ABOUT THE TRANSLATOR: Eugene Peterson, a retired pastor and professor, is a superb translator, as well he would be after years of teaching Biblical languages at the University level. In addition, he is very much in tune with the language of American society today. His paraphrased translation was overseen by a large number of Bible scholars to ensure it's reliability.ABOUT THIS EDITION: Many reviewers have discussed how wonderful The Message Bible is to read. So, I would like to address some of the features of The Message Bible itself. If you bring up The Message Bibles, either on Amazon or at the publisher's (NavPress) site, there are now so many editions, it gets a little crazy trying to sort them all out! Here is a little clarification:1.) "The Message" (original) does not include verse numbers because it is meant as a reading Bible, rather than a study Bible.2.) "The Message:Remix" DOES include verse numbers.3.) The edition I am reviewing here, "The Message: Numbered Edition, The Bible in Contemporary Language", offers the verse numbers plus several new features over the Remix editions.This edition I am reviewing is one of the less expensive of the new numbered editions, and I thought I had settled for one of those slick hardcover editions because of my low budget. However, much to my surprise, it comes in a beautiful navy blue, padded, hard cover that is wonderfully nice to the touch. The title is in silver. At Amazon's low price, I feel it is a great bargain!The new Numbered Editions come with several updated features over the older The Message:Remix Bibles.Though the font is a bit fainter than I would like (at age 62!), I DO find it to be surprisingly readable! The pages are of a very nice French paper, in a lovely cream color that is easy on the eyes. This edition is apparently one-half pound lighter than the older Remix editions. It's still hefty, so I will say that I am happy that the publisher managed to lighten it up a bit!As mentioned above, The Message: Numbered Edition is much more a reading Bible than a study Bible. You will definitely want to keep your regular study Bibles on hand!In all, I am very happy with this wonderful edition of The Message. I recommend it to anyone who wants to read the Bible with a more immediate sense of understanding and with great enjoyment! :)

I bought two versions of The Message and love this translation! I got a large print magenta leather-look version and the brown/tan wheat version. The binding is solid and the leather-look material is thick, durable and well-crafted. Feels good in my hands and a nice size too. I really dig the modern language that is no-nonsense - relevant and perfect for the modern age. Don't listen to detractors who feel you need a bunch of archaic language for a bible to be "valid." The Message translation is just that: a wonderful message made accessible that makes it easier to absorb and apply to one's life. Isn't that what is truly important?

This contemporary Bible is so easy to understand, I have quite a few Bibles, but I Love love the way the Scriptures are broken down, to where it’s easy to comprehend, this is a great Bible to have with your KJV or NKJV or the NIV or Standard Version for comparison ❤️❤️

I usually use the NIV translation for Bible study. Over the decades I’ve seen various contemporary translations but thought the NIV was fine. But this past year I started several Kay Arthur Bible studies that were wonderful but sometimes more meaty. I found myself reading and rereading scripture trying to fully understand what it meant in modern day English (and that was using my NIV which is pretty reader friendly). A woman in my study group started sharing her thoughts about the passages we were reading based on The Message. Ahh! Now it made more sense. At the same time I noticed that Pastor Rick Warren often used The Message in his daily devotionals.So now I use it side-by-side with my NIV and Blue Letter Bible for Bible study. I have it on Kindle and I really enjoy reading it when I wake up and before I go to sleep because it is easy to understand. It has been fun reading books of the Old Testament with new insight. I also really like Peterson's introduction on why he wrote The Message as well as his prelude before each book of the Bible.

The Bible is the best book known to man no matter if it’s King James or made for children. But it, read it, study it, know it. You will not regret it

I think it is important to study different translations of the Bible to grasp the more subtle shades of meaning in its text. Among my favorites are the New English Bible, Amplified Bible, and the good old King James Version, each of which have their place in my study.The Message is the most recent addition to my library, and I am really enjoying its refreshing straight-to-the-point style. This is a Bible for the modern reader. By departing from more formal English, and presenting the text in the way most of us use the language, the stories and characters really come alive. This is a Bible for both casual browsing and extended reading. Where many translations often get bogged down in formality or tedium The Message flows easily, with great clarity.Many years ago I read the entire King James Version from cover to cover. Fascinating as it was (and I learned a lot), much of the reading was pure drudgery. The simplicity of The Message has inspired me to begin reading it from Genesis to Revelation once again. This time I am picking up so much more detail in the stories than I ever have before, and I find I don't want to put it down.The Message cannot replace other Bible translations, but it is a great place to start. More experienced readers will find it a great way to review well-known passages and give them a fresh perspective. I would give The Message five stars, but on occasion I find the words seem a bit trite, such as the use of the phrase "oh, yes!" for "amen."This version of The Message has the largest type face of any version I have seen in stores, though it is still fairly small. The inclusion of verse numbers is important for making comparisons with other translations. Of all the versions of The Message I compared, this one seemed to offer the best value for the money. The publisher even provides a lifetime replacement guarantee on the binding.

It's taken me a long time to decide to write a review here, I wasn't sure about this new translation of the Bible to start with. But something kept drawing me back to it. I also kept seeing quotes from The Message that I really liked. Eventually I sat with the NLT Bible (my usual daily reading) and The Message, and compared them properly. I was also influenced by a reviewer who said she reads from the original Greek, and thinks The Message is a very good translation. My own conclusion is that The Message is alive compared to other translations which seem stiff and two dimensional by comparison. The Message is easier to read, I don't have to discipline myself to read it, because it comes over as fluent and friendly, full of enthusiastic encouragement, and wording such as I use myself. I don't mind the occasional American phrases. Today I've decided thus is the Bible I will read each day.

Layman's English makes this a very easy read. The quality of the cover and the paper is also very good.

Very helpful. It's amazing!I'm learning this language and I loved this version of the Holy Bible! It's easy, but powerful!!

This is my favourite reading translation of the Bible. There is nothing quite like it to let you fall right in there when Byron start reading.This is how the Bible was meant to be read. When the early church were passing around the letters of the apostles no-one needed a study bible or a bible dictionary to work out what they were reading. They just knew what it was that were reading.When the Jewish people went to the Synagogue and heard the Torah being sung no-one passed around an exegetical study of the book being read. They just knew what it was that they were hearing.That is the gift that Eugene Peterson is giving us. He is not saying that this is the translation you should rely on for study or for scholarship. He explicitly says this is for reading, a port hole to allow you to get the Message of the bible, especially for those who avoid the bible because it cannot speak to them. He explicitly say you should rely on a scholarly bible for detailed specific understanding.This is a great book, I’ve read the bible over and over and this is the best, I recommend it.

The need for a fresh presentation of the scripture is obvious especially to us who are Christians. Peterson writes the message with such a consideration for the original languages that I was very surprised. Most of all, I was heartened that it did not present itself as a theological book, but the book of life and relationship with God. Not that the book was un-theologicall, but rather that it compelled me to come out of my rut and preconceptions.I would commend it to anyone who is interested in the unauthentic hearing and presentation of the Gospel.