Exposing serious heresies in the jimmy swaggart bible. The message utilizes a form of mystical liberalism my contention in this series of posts is that peterson divorces the scripture from its historical context and strips the bible from its ultimate meaning. The young man who asked me this question continue reading are bible versions reliable. Through the use of paraphrase, the message was crafted to present the doctrines of mysticism to the christian church in order to seduce believers into the occult and the new age. His primary goal was to capture the tone of the text and the original conversational feel of the greek, in contemporary english. In the aftermath of eugene petersons controversial remarks about homosexuality, followed by his retraction, many have asked me if they should still use the message.
But if you think that leaves you on the high ground where you can point your finger at others, think again. The nasb, completed in 1971 and updated in 1995, is a revision of the american standard version of 1901. A critical spirit is an obsessive attitude of criticism and faultfinding, which seeks to tear others down the person with a critical spirit usually dwells on the negative, seeks for flaws rather than good. Although it appears that eugene petersons bible the message is endorsed by many prominent people this does not mean we accept what they promote without testing it against scripture. It is a bible which appears to be written by one who has great animosity for the church, claiming that todays church is satanic, corrupt and apostate and that all christians should abandon her. This takes years until we begin to see the order in the bible and gods message to mankind. The fruits of bible criticism have been devastating for many. Negative is foolish be not rash with your mouth, nor let your heart be hasty to utter a word before god, for god is in heaven and you are. To be honest this is for my religion class, the assignment is about the social criticism of elijah and amos.
Move through it at your own pace, and discover how god may be moving right there on the page, right here in your life. Jul 12, 2017 the message bible, the pastor, and the rest of eugene petersons catalog may no longer be sold at americas largest christian retail chain due to the retired pastors revisited views on same. The message from god that i proclaim through jesus christ takes into account all these. The message bible wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. The only other bible to use the term master jesus is the new age bible titled the aquarian gospel of jesus christ the christ of the piscean age. What first alarmed me about the message was the authors use of what sounded like new age terminology. So i was wondering how people reacted and criticized elijahs message.
The message is certainly destined to become a devotional classic not to mention a powerful pastoral tool, adds pastor jack w. Whether you criticize in a negative or positive way, the main thing to remember is that you have the choice to decide how you will criticize. Leviticus receives its name from the septuagint the prechristian greek. They noted that the eyes were not natural, nor the wings proportionate to its h. The message bible, the pastor, and the rest of eugene petersons catalog may no longer be sold at americas largest christian retail chain due to the retired pastors revisited views on same. Read 12 things to do when youre criticized by mark altrogge on christian blogs. Its not a reliable translation if thats what you need. From this point on, i sat and listened wholeheartedly and learned as my old thinking was being transformed to the word of god. So this post is not meant to attack him, but rather to express my concern that the message should not be used as if it were a translation.
As a believer for over 40 years, i often gift the message to new believers in addition to a kjv that i will buy for them. It is a literal translation from the hebrew and greek languages that incorporates the scholarship of several centuries of textual criticism conducted since the original kjv. He is professor of spiritual theology at regent college in vancouver, british columbia, which is an evangelical school in the opinion of most. The expositors study bible teaches, along with other cults, that hell has indeed prevailed against the church, despite what jesus said to the. Other critics declare the message to be not a paraphrase of what the bible. Wiersbe, general director of back to the bible broadcast and former pastor of moody bible church. Its a rendering of the text, an attempt to make the bible accessible in the common vernacular. I did my research on amos and now i have pretty good idea how things are. The original new testament, translated by jewish scholar hugh schonfield, has extreme examples of such tendencies. Through 100 readings, youll see the face of god become clearer, providing a reading experience unlike any other chronological bible.
The message is designed to be read by contemporary people in the same way as the original koine greek and hebrew manuscripts were savored by people thousands of years ago. Mar 01, 2012 petersons paratranslation of the bible, the message. So here is a thread to dismantle the bible and prove it cannot be from god, and it has not been preserved unchanged. The basis of this study is the english paraphrased text of the new testament written by eugene peterson called the message. And whenever i see people carrying the message into church services, i groan, since i assume that, for those people, it is their bible. Oct 24, 2018 there are many criticisms of the message, some of them justified. The contemporary american slang used in the translation deviates from a more neutral international english, and it falls on the extreme dynamic end of the dynamic and formal equivalence spectrum. This sermon looks at someone who is a criticizer, a person with a judgmental attitude and a critical spirit. Suffice it to say that the message has engendered more criticism for its lack of serious scholarship and outright bizarre renderings than just about any other bible version to date. Unfortunately i couldnt find anything regarding the criticism towards elijah.
The bible in contemporary language was created by eugene h. I recognized these types of composite terms as being. This summary of the book of leviticus provides information about the title, author s, date of writing, chronology, theme, theology, outline, a brief overview, and the chapters of the book of leviticus. However, as a very free paraphrase, it is sometimes powerful and brilliant while at other times it is seriously off target. To give a bit of context, following is a short video of eugene peterson wherein he discusses his philosophy of bible translation for the message. The message is not a translation and should not be used as your primary bible. Now, with the message 100, read the entire bible in an order that reflects the unfolding of gods story. Judgmental criticism of others is a wellknown way of escaping detection in your own crimes and misdemeanors. It is the translators duty to resist the temptation to overload the text with theological interpretation or to make vague what is concrete in the text.
It should never be used as your primary bible, since it is not a translation of the bible but rather a free paraphrase of the bible. A look at the lords prayer in the message bible reveals something disturbing. It was written so long ago, has had so many translations and revisions done to it it is most likely that its original message has been altered and misunderstood over the course of time. A generation that unlike previous generations is just a click away from infinite misinformation about our faith, the bible and the church.
Andy stanley responds to criticism about his unhitching. Textual criticism collects and examines the evidence about written works in an attempt to recover the original text. My answer to the question remains the same today as it has always been. The bible was written over a period of 1,500 years. Criticism of the message for my reference, here are a few links of people criticizing the message bible paraphrase by eugene peterson. I havent always done well and im still learning, but here are a few things i try to think of when others criticize me. Apr 07, 2009 the message bible interpretive patterns. During this time you may not even realize what has happened to you. Biblical criticism is an umbrella term for those methods of studying the bible that embrace two distinctive perspectives. Peterson and published in segments from 1993 to 2002. Here in the message 100 is the whole bible every single, moving word of itlaid out in 100 readings and arranged to reflect the unfolding story.
Why the message bible should not be used it is not the word of god. Bible criticism what does the bible say about criticism. It is a non literal translation, tending towards paraphrase, of the original languages of the bible. Audio bible app the message msg download the free bible.
The message is a personal paraphrase of the bible in english by peterson from the original languages. Peterson and published in segments from 1993 to 2002 by navpress. The word criticism is not to be taken in the negative sense of attempting to denigrate the bible, although this motive is found in its history. The message is the boldest and most provocative rendering of the new testament ive ever read, writes dr. I suggest anybody who doubts the word of god actually read the bible themselves, with a heart to actually understand. Oct 26, 2003 criticism of the message for my reference, here are a few links of people criticizing the message bible paraphrase by eugene peterson. Biblical criticism is an umbrella term covering various techniques for applying literary historicalcritical methods in analyzing and studying the bible and its textual content. Despite my concerns about the theology he inserted into the message under the pretense of translation, i have no reason to doubt peterson is a brother in christ jesus. Bible criticism us message board political discussion forum. A prerequisite for the exegetical study of the biblical writings.
Use it, then, in a supplemental way and, where it really. Exposing serious heresies in the jimmy swaggart bible the. Some critics have labeled it a watereddown, distorted message, even a comic book bible. In his book on bible reading, eat this book, eugene peterson writes about. But, as proof of the attitude eugene peterson has towards gods word, the bible, i will conclude this email with eugene petersons own words, in a. Immediately they criticized the way the owl was mounted. Romans 14 new living translation nlt the danger of criticism. When the various hebrew, aramaic, greek and latin manuscripts of the bible are compared, a process called textual criticism. Jul 26, 2014 some critics have labeled it a watereddown, distorted message, even a comic book bible. Biblical criticism, discipline that studies textual, compositional, and historical questions surrounding the old and new testaments. I suggest anybody who doubts the word of god actually read the bible themselves, with a heart to actually understand instead of only to give meat to their attacks.
Weve known for a long time that the message bible was a new age work by eugene peterson. In the first four months after its release, 100,000 copies of the new testament in contemporary english were printed by navpress, and 70,000 books. The message calls jesus master over 400 times and the unique new age phrase master jesus appears 76 times. Problem passages in the message the good book blog biola. One of kens observations is that the message routinely adds meaning to or. Jul 17, 2017 a look at the lords prayer in the message bible reveals something disturbing.
In this critique bill says, the message is one mans translation of the bible unlike the new king james version which was produced by top biblical scholars. Biblical criticism lays the groundwork for meaningful interpretation of the bible. Through the use of paraphrase, the message was crafted to present the doctrines of mysticism to the christian church in order to seduce believers into. This video is from the 2007 symposium by the sea at point loma nazarene university in san diego, ca. He produced the message out of a desire to help the bible come alive for readers. For more than two years, eugene peterson devoted all his efforts to the message new testament. Criticism is the act of judging unfavorably or faultfinding. Biblical criticism uses the grammar, structure, development, and relationship of language to identify such. But another believer with a sensitive conscience will eat only vegetables.
Jul 27, 2016 i am tired of reading all the bible thumping threads telling us the bible is the word of god, and we will burn in hell if we do not believe it. Is the the message a good and accurate translation of the bible. In fact, a true friend will speak the truth even when its hard to hear. Isnt it a good thing that people are reading the bible. Every time you criticize someone, you condemn yourself. Problem passages in the message the good book blog. Lifeway prepared to stop selling the message over eugene p. If you desire to know more details about the history of bible criticism, your public library should be able to provide you with reference books for further study. The original new testament, translated by jewish scholar hugh. The message bible is a fabulous paraphrase of the scriptures. Many bible readers often wonder why different translations of the bible have very different readings of the text. He observed that his congregation was bored with the biblical text as they knew it, and so, in order to stimulate them.
When pastors tell me they preach from it, i tell them they miss the connection with the past with this translation, he says. There are many criticisms of the message, some of them justified. Peterson wouldnt recommend the message as a study bible because it has no concordance, and he doesnt like to see fellow clergy use it for sermon preparation. Years ago i embraced a new approach to preachinghow i talk about sin, faith, discipleship and the bible in light of my concern for what is happening in our culture. Petersons paratranslation of the bible, the message. Navpress is usually thought to be an evangelical publisher, and the author of the message is also considered by many to be an evangelical, eugene peterson. But as a doorway into serious bible reading, it has been a gift to the church. The message strives to help readers hear the living word of god the bible in a way that engages and intrigues us right where we are. Romans 14 nlt the danger of criticism accept other. Bible criticism page 18 us message board political.
Bible criticism us message board political discussion. The bible in contemporary language, was published over a span of nine years, from 1993 to 2002. The bible does not contradict itself, and biblical and ancient language scholars can explain each instance, and have. Therefore, textual criticism is not criticizing the bible. The bible in contemporary language was created by pastor, scholar, author, and poet eugene h. One common complaint from many who read the message or hear it read aloud is i didnt recognize it as the bible. Lifelight, godcolors, godexpression, true selves, childofgod selves, and other similar terms. Because no originals exist of the sixtysix books of the bible, textual criticism must be applied to scripture to reconstruct the true text.