The Message is a contempory rendering of the Bible from the original languages, crafted to present its tone, rhythm, events, and ideas in everyday language.

The Bible is many-layered, with treasure at each level. I like the freshness of this translation. ( )

audio CD

Quirky, slangy, basically unsatisfying modern paraphrase.
No comparison to the brilliant and wholly satisfying New King James Version. ( )

This is the audiobook version of THE MESSAGE, a Bible in contemporary American language. It is the best way to understand the Bible for Americans. It is exciting book to listen to or read. If the King James Version of the Bible no longer attracts a person, THE MESSAGE will re-awaken your interest in God's Holy Word.

Personally, I do not feel that this Bible is a paraphrase any more than the KJV is a paraphrase. Unless you can read the actual Greek or Hebrew languages, as I understand Eugene Peterson does every day, you will always be reading a paraphrase of the Bible in the language of the day it was translated. Therefore, to me, this is a Bible translation that I can trust and that I can understand. ( )