Readers who have either found the Bible to be an intimidating proposition or who are so familiar with it that the words have lost their meaning will discover that Eugene Peterson's The Message: The Bible in Contemporary Language is a welcome way to read and reread one of the best-loved books of all time. It's directly translated from the Greek and Hebrew texts and is intentionally designed to be a reading Bible rather than a study Bible. Each of the 66 books has an introduction by Peterson, and there are no verse numbers to interrupt the flow of the passages.

The vibrant flavor of the text is evident from the opening verses of the book of Genesis: "First this: God created the Heavens and Earth--all you see; all you don't see. Earth was a soup of nothingness, a bottomless emptiness, an inky blackness."

There's renewed vigor in some of Jesus' most well-known words of the New Testament in John 3: "This is how much God loved the world: He gave his Son, his one and only son. And this is why: so that no one need be destroyed; by believing in him, anyone can have a whole and lasting life. God didn't go to all the trouble of sending his Son merely to point an accusing finger, telling the world how bad it was. He came to help, to put the world right again."

Whether it's the poetry of the Psalms, the thundering tirades of the Old Testament prophets, or the ageless words of Jesus, Peterson breaths new life into timeless passages in this fresh-voiced paraphrase. --Cindy Crosby


From AudioFile
It seems odd to list an author for a translation of the Bible, but it's appropriate here. In addition to translating the Bible, Eugene Peterson includes an extensive explanation of how this translation differs from previous ones. He provides overviews of the individual books of the New Testament, which place them in historical context. At times, Peterson goes too far, including jarring anachronisms, but, for the most part, the translation is interesting and refreshing. Unfortunately, the same cannot be said for the narration. Both readers have clear voices but present far too narrow an emotional range and often strike inappropriate tones, sounding, for example, angry or petulant when the verse is about love. G.T.B. © AudioFile 2004, Portland, Maine-- Copyright © AudioFile, Portland, Maine


J.I. Packer, author of Knowing God and professor of theology, Regent College.
"In this crowded world of Bible versions, Eugene Peterson's blend of accurate scholarship and vivid idiom make this rendering both distinctive and distinguished. The Message catches the logical flow, personal energy, and imaginative overtones of the original very well indeed. It's a landmark and a triumph. Don't miss it!"


Book Description
Heart-Racing. Thought-Provoking. Life-Changing. If you find reading the Bible uneventful, "old hat," or downright confusing, then it's time for The Message. Join the millions of readers who have been drawn to God through Eugene Peterson's best-selling Bible paraphrase. Translated directly from the ancient Hebrew and Greek texts into today's American idiom, The Message is designed as a reading Bible. With no distracting verse numbers or stiff, formal language, the sixty-six books of Scripture unfold like a gripping novel. Passages you've read many times before will come alive, revealing the vibrant energy and passion of God's Word. From the mysterious Old Testament stories to the straightforward teachings of Jesus to the encouraging early church letters, reading The Message will jump-start your heart, challenge your mind, and forever change your life.


From the Publisher
Voted as "Book of the Decade" by the Academy of Parish Clergy (2003)


About the Author
EUGENE H. PETERSON is a writer and poet. He is a contributing editor to Leadership Journal and has authored more than twenty books, including A Long Obedience in the Same Direction, The Contemplative Pastor, and Leap Over a Wall. He is Professor Emeritus of Spiritual Theology at Regent College in Vancouver, British Columbia. Eugene founded Christ Our King Presbyterian Church in Bel Air, Maryland, where he was the pastor for twenty-nine years. He lives with his wife, Jan, in Montana.

FROM THE PUBLISHER