The Message remix ok?

[Allyko]

Hi everyone. I was just wondering, do you see the Message remix as an acceptable version of God's word? I only began reading the bible a few months ago so i'm really a beginner and the message remix speaks to me so clearly and hits my heart right away as i'm reading. But I'm worried that maybe my christian brothers and sisters see it as too distant from the reverance of the other bible versions. Can someone please easy my worry about this?

 

[Sketcher]

They modernized the Message even more? How can they do that? What's the difference between that and the original Message?

The Message has its uses, but understand it is a paraphrase rather than a straight translation. As such, it is not good for study. My main beef with it is that it will tell you the right thing, but in the wrong place.

 

[Wisdom's Child]

Hi everyone. I was just wondering, do you see the Message remix as an acceptable version of God's word? I only began reading the bible a few months ago so i'm really a beginner and the message remix speaks to me so clearly and hits my heart right away as i'm reading. But I'm worried that maybe my christian brothers and sisters see it as too distant from the reverance of the other bible versions. Can someone please easy my worry about this?

I'm not at all familiar with that particular translation, but if it encourages you to spend time in God's Word, and it brings you closer to Him then by all means continue.

Reverent or Irreverant is not as important as seeking God's Face and changing to reflect God's Righteousness.

 

[GK]

The biggest difference between "The Message" and "The Message Remix" is that the Remix puts back the chapter and verse numbers to make it easier to follow along with reading plans or people who like to quote chapter and verse. There aren't any major textual changes I'm aware of.

Whatever translation we read, it is the Holy Spirit who gives us wisdom and understanding. Without the Spirit, any translation will lead us astray. With the Spirit, all translations are manifestations of God's Word. Read the book and trust God to show you his self through his word.

 

[Athanasian Creed]

The Message is a distortion of Scripture to the nth degree - for instance,

Self-help is no help at all. Self-sacrifice is the way, my way, to finding yourself, your true self (The Message, Matt. 16:25)

“For whoever wishes to save his life shall lose it; but whoever loses his life for My sake shall find it.” (NASB, same verse)

The Message has altered the meaning of Jesus’ words into a means by which a person "finds himself", a fad having roots back to the 1960s and rooted in New Age "feel-goodism" but not to the Bible.

The Message paraphrase of Romans 12:3 says, The only accurate way to understand ourselves is by what God is and by what he does for us.”

In contrast, the NASB translation of the verse -

For by the grace given to me I say to every man among you not to think more highly of himself than he ought to think; but to think so as to have sound judgment, as God has allotted to each a measure of faith.

And on and on one could pinpoint the myriad of times The Message "paraphrase" constantly changes and abuses the meaning of the texts.

Stick with a reputable translation, rather than a "paraphrase" that masquerades as God's Word!


Ray

 

[Raistlinorr]

The Message is a distortion of Scripture to the nth degree - for instance,

Self-help is no help at all. Self-sacrifice is the way, my way, to finding yourself, your true self (The Message, Matt. 16:25)

“For whoever wishes to save his life shall lose it; but whoever loses his life for My sake shall find it.” (NASB, same verse)

The Message has altered the meaning of Jesus’ words into a means by which a person "finds himself", a fad having roots back to the 1960s and rooted in New Age "feel-goodism" but not to the Bible.

The Message paraphrase of Romans 12:3 says, The only accurate way to understand ourselves is by what God is and by what he does for us.”

In contrast, the NASB translation of the verse -

For by the grace given to me I say to every man among you not to think more highly of himself than he ought to think; but to think so as to have sound judgment, as God has allotted to each a measure of faith.

And on and on one could pinpoint the myriad of times The Message "paraphrase" constantly changes and abuses the meaning of the texts.

Stick with a reputable translation, rather than a "paraphrase" that masquerades as God's Word!


Ray

I have not read any of the message until you posted that.
From reading that I've decided either I'm just ignorant or I realy need to look more closesly at the words man is using in todays language.
I had no clue what the message passages where trying to say, compared to the KJV, NKJV, NASB or what ever. Either they have over modernized the bible or I'm way out of touch with how ppl are realy talking today.


God bless!
Raist

 

[JulySheMustFly]

I use the message in conjunction with my NIV Bible. Often if I am looking for just being able to sit down and read a book like Matthew or Romans from beginning to end I will pick up The Message but for real indepth study of specific passages I use my NIV or use both. If it is a confusing chapter/verse I'll read the NIV then read The Message to see if it makes it any clearer. Well, you get the idea. Glad to hear you are seeking to learn more. Keep up the enthusiasm not matter what other Christians may tell you.

 

[Tavita]

Stick with a reputable translation, rather than a "paraphrase" that masquerades as God's Word!

I agree. The Bible you make as your chief source of reading and study should be a reputable version, one of the more accurate, like the New American Standard Bible or the King James Version, even the New King James Version. The Message is very iffy, and has a reputation of being full of New Age mysticism. Google 'mysticism and the Message Bible' and see what you find.

 

[dalej42]

I have mixed feelings on the Message. I'd rather read it than a lot of other books. But, it does simply a bit too much, I think.

I'd read the Message to go to sleep at night. I'd rather read a good modern translation.

 

[Allyko]

Yes, I'm using it as merely a reading book; to get the idea of what God says. I'm not reading it as a study bible at all. After I finish the message i'm going to read the NIV Life Application Study Bible. I'm reading the message to wean myself in so-to speak. Does that change anyone's opinion?

 

[DiscipleOfIAm]

My wife has used it to "read the Bible like a novel". It seems to work as an overview. But, not for study. The easiest version to study and still get the true meaning is the NIV or NKJV. Unless you can read Greek or Hebrew, you'll never read the "true" version anyway.

Glad you're reading any version. It will only lead you deeper and help you to try and delve deeper into the Word.

God Bless!

 

[mom1314]

Yes, I'm using it as merely a reading book; to get the idea of what God says. I'm not reading it as a study bible at all. After I finish the message i'm going to read the NIV Life Application Study Bible. I'm reading the message to wean myself in so-to speak. Does that change anyone's opinion?

That's exactly how I'm using it too. I realized quite quickly that it cannot be used as a study Bible (since each verse isn't numbered, for one thing). I have the NIV Life Application Study Bible to study with. I'm glad you're getting closer to the Word as I am by reading the Message. I know that the translation bothers people, but I'm not reading with a critical mind, trying to disprove things; but with a heart open to let God teach me.

 

[progressivegal]

I think if God is leading you to read it (which it sounds like to me) and if you feel reading it is bringing you closer to God, and that you are learning more than go for it. I would encourage you to remember though that the meassage is definitely one interpretation of the bible, and that since it is put into the vernacular, certain words, phrases, verses may be said in a way that is just one persons interpretation, and that it's not absolutely what it means. I would personally discourage you from going to the NIV after this. Though most churches nowdays use it and alot of people do like it, I find it to be a pretty poor translation myself. The amplified is very good, but it can be a bit hard to read. My fiance has told me that the Living Bible (I think that's the name of the translation) is very good but I don't have personal experience with this. Personally I am wary of translations that try to put things too much into the current vernacular, as I think they are written in a way that interprets things one specific way (the big reason why I recomend the amplified), but that absolutely does not mean that God will not lead you to the truth through them, or that they are necissarily "wrong". I have a strong feeling that God is using "The Meassage Remix" in a good way for you and I would not want you to feel discouraged from reading it and continueing to learn.

 

[Athanasian Creed]

... My fiance has told me that the Living Bible (I think that's the name of the translation)...

The 'Living Bible', like 'The Message' are NOT translations, they are 'paraphrases' - big difference!



Ray

 

[progressivegal]

The 'Living Bible', like 'The Message' are NOT translations, they are 'paraphrases' - big difference!



Ray

Thanks