The Message (Bible)
- This article describes The Message paraphrase of the Holy Bible. For other meanings, see The Message.
The Message was written by Eugene H. Peterson and first published in 1993. It is a contemporary paraphrase of the Holy Bible from the original languages, "crafted to present its tone, rhythm, events, and ideas in everyday language."
Stated Purpose
The Message was written in order to recreate the spirit of the original books of the New Testament, which were written in the street language of the day. The Greek language has two levels: formal and informal. If someone were to write something intended for posterity, they would write in the formal language. Formal language was used for things such as philosophy, law, history, and epic poetry. However, the New Testament was written in the informal language, the everyday speech of the common people.
The Message was written as an attempt to return to that, to convert the Bible back into the language in which we think and speak. Peterson notes that in the course of the project, he realized that this was exactly what he had been doing in his thirty-five years as a pastor, "always looking for an English way to make the biblical text relevant to the conditions of the people."
Timeline of Release
The Message was published in piecemeal over a nine year period. New Testament was published in 1993. The Old Testament Wisdom Books were published in 1998. The Old Testament Prophets were published in 2000. The Old Testament Pentateuch were released in 2001. The Books of History came out in 2002. The entire Protestant Bible was released the same year.
Message Editions in Print
The Old Testament
- The Pentateuch: ISBN 1576831965
- The Books of History: ISBN 1576831949
- The Wisdom Books: ISBN 1576831264
- The Prophets: ISBN 1576831957
The New Testament
- Youth Edition: ISBN 0891097937
- Text Edition: ISBN 0891097287
The Entire Bible
- With verse markings: ISBN 1576834344
- Without verse markings: ISBN 1576832899
Sample Verse (1 Cor 13:1-3)
This comparison of 1st Corinthians 13, verses 1 through 3 demonstrates the difference between The Message and older versions of the Holy Bible.
King James Version
- Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not charity, I am become as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal.
- And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries, and all knowledge; and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, and have not charity, I am nothing.
- And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, and have not charity, it profiteth me nothing.
The Message
The Way Of Love
- If I speak with human eloquence and angelic ecstasy but don't love, I'm nothing but the creaking of a rusty gate.
- If I speak God's Word with power, revealing all his mysteries and making everything plain as day, and if I have faith that says to a mountain, "Jump," and it jumps, but I don't love, I'm nothing.
- If I give everything I own to the poor and even go to the stake to be burned as a martyr, but I don't love, I've gotten nowhere. So, no matter what I say, what I believe, and what I do, I'm bankrupt without love.