Lost in Translation

[haloendvalious]

This weekend was crazy. I'll write more about it later. What's important is this : I was shown a new translation of the Bible, called The Message, that when I heard it ... it was much more clear and understandable then the NIV. I've been reading parts of Galations from it on BibleGateway.com and comparing it to the NIV and it says the same thing

Comments

[anduril05]

I've heard many things about The Message, some good, some not so good. I heard it was a paraphrase, though, and that didn't look quite like a paraphrase. Just be careful!!

I figure someday I'm going to learn to read Greek and Aramaic and Hebrew so I can read the original transcripts. The more the Bible is translated, the more worried I get. I guess that's why I'm a little wary of The Message. Good luck, though. I just plead that you don't buy "The Message: Remix"...that just sounds silly. Why must the message be remixed? I thought it was good the first time.

Simplicity

[haloendvalious]

I can understand your concern, and I have the same one. I don't want God's Truth to be corrupt for the sake of 'pop' Christianity. But at the same time, when I read the NIV a lot of it goes over my head because of the language and the way it's written.

The Way or whatever you like to call it, from what I understand, was intended for the common man. Christ came to the streetrats and commonfolk, while going through headache after headache with the religious scholars. So while it's profound, I still think the basic message should be something beautifully simple, so that everyone from the least to the greatest can understand its Truth.

I'm looking for that beautifully simple truth. As it stands, I don't know Hebrew/ Greek and don't have the time to. This is the best bet I've gotten so far.

Tell me what you think.

Re: Simplicity

[anduril05]

Yes, God's Word should be presented in simplicity, but I guess the way I look at it is that the simplicity should come through the telling and the living and the way it is explained

Re: Simplicity

[anduril05]

These are only a few examples. I can just give you a link to the site I was at if you want. I don't agree with everything this guy is saying. In his article he sounded very sarcastic and hyper-conservative. What I found is that in some of the verses just aren't specific enough. Eugene Peterson (the guy who did The Message) was totally just making stuff up in there. That scares me!

In conclusion, I know you're smart enough to discern what should be in there and what shouldn't be in there, Mike, but a lot of people aren't. And I most certainly cannot make a judgement about The Message because I haven't read the whole thing and I'm not a theologian. The best way I could suggest going about The Message would be to read it, but continue to have a NIV translation and check whatever you're reading, which does sound a bit tedious, I know. Let me know what you think.

Can't wait to get together next Wednesday! It's going to be fantastic!

[fullspeedaheadx]

Mike! Don't forget that Ruth, Ashley and I are kidnapping you next Wednesday (23rd) night for a good time, Olive Garden and good conversations. Good times start around 7-8 PM. BE READY!

^_^

[haloendvalious]

Still planning on it!

[kristoski]

I agree with you, Mike. I found that, when he was reading out of The Message, that a lot of things were a bit clearer and easier to understand. The words were poetic and beautiful, and it gave me more of a sense of calm than reading a more traditional bible does. I agree that we shouldn't try to make everything contemporary, but I think this one might be a good thing.

Let me know how your research goes!

[gracehead]

Check THIS out!