Thanks for including the Message on your blog. You helped introduce me to this beautiful translation, and I've just today ordered my first Message bible and another book by Peterson, "Run with the Horses." I'd been holding out for a better format for the Catholic/Ecumenical version; paperback and hardcover don't work well for me when it comes to a Bible. However, since I'm going on a Jesuit-led silent retreat for 8 days and really wanted to have the Message with me, I've opted for a nicer format which is unfortunately without the deuterocanonical books. Blessings!
"Run with Horses" is a great book. You will love it. I, as well, have really taken to the MSG. If you ever want to chat about it, just send me an email.
I'll second Dwight's gratitude. This week's daily Mass readings included Tobit. The Message version of Tobit is great, William Griffin did a super job.
Does the Message Catholic version include Tobit 6:14-22? I was reading in my Knox Bible and wanted to compare that passage to the KJV and RSV, but to my surprise and disappointment they don't have it. Guess it's a difference between Greek and Hebrew source texts. :(
I could listen to Eugene Peterson speak for hours. His voice, as aged and gravelly as it is, is just wonderful to hear. His work on the Message is certainly a valuable contribution, though I'll admit it's not my first choice when it comes to dynamic paraphrase reading. When he gets it right, it is VERY right; he's got some passages that make me roll my eyes, too. Yet what gets me into his paraphrase more than anything else is to imagine his voice reading the words rather than the usual voice in my head.
I'll have to watch this video later. Seeing this post reminded me of how you used to share the Sunday Mass readings using the Message, and made me dig out my GNT-CE so I can start reading them to Mom again. More Bibles, like my edition of the GNT, should have the lectionary in the back IMO.
The thought that kept coming to mind while watching the video was, "I wish he was Catholic!" He seems the type who could really attract people to the Faith. Very genuine. It made me want to read The Message.
I greatly admire Peterson. He is one of my favorite writers. (In many ways, his writings are very Catholic.). I am quite happy where he is and if he were Catholic, we'd probably never have received The Message bible.
Timothy, You may be right, if he were Catholic there might have never been The Message Bible. (That's more than a little sad to think about.) We sure could use more like him, and less sour-pusses! Maybe one of these days I'll check out some of his writings. So many books, so little time!
Peterson and Griffin both rendered Catholics a marvelous service when they produced the Catholic edition of The Message. I would echo, though, some displeasure with the editions currently available. A more portable size (the current editions in both paperback and hardback are like doorstops), and (dare I ask for it) a leather-bound cover would be great improvements.
Good question! I think the main reasons are 1) The style of dynamic/paraphrastic would probably never have received approval; 2) The difficulties the single translator faces doing something like this. Knox details the many many issues he had doing his wonderful translation. Of course there is the Nick King SJ Bible too, but I don't know what he needed to do to publish it.
Thanks for explaining. I thought maybe your reasoning was more along the lines of "a Catholic wouldn't be inclined to do something like this", but it's not.
I realize Peterson was a pastor for a long time, but my understanding is that he wrote the Message after retiring. If Peterson were a Catholic priest or cleric, then yeah he'd have difficulty. OTOH if he were a Catholic layman, I think he could write and publish the Message, even if it never got official approval.
(Call me a bad Catholic, but personally I don't care if a bible has official approval or not. ;) )
Thanks for including the Message on your blog. You helped introduce me to this beautiful translation, and I've just today ordered my first Message bible and another book by Peterson, "Run with the Horses." I'd been holding out for a better format for the Catholic/Ecumenical version; paperback and hardcover don't work well for me when it comes to a Bible. However, since I'm going on a Jesuit-led silent retreat for 8 days and really wanted to have the Message with me, I've opted for a nicer format which is unfortunately without the deuterocanonical books. Blessings!
ReplyDeleteDwight,
Delete"Run with Horses" is a great book. You will love it. I, as well, have really taken to the MSG. If you ever want to chat about it, just send me an email.
I'll second Dwight's gratitude. This week's daily Mass readings included Tobit. The Message version of Tobit is great, William Griffin did a super job.
ReplyDeleteWas just thinking that myself! I like his intro as well.
DeleteYes, Griffin's intro really set the proper mood for me to read Tobit.
ReplyDeleteNow I'm nursing a grudge against RSV-CE for leaving the dog out in Tobit 6:2. I suspect the translators were cat people.
Dave
Does the Message Catholic version include Tobit 6:14-22? I was reading in my Knox Bible and wanted to compare that passage to the KJV and RSV, but to my surprise and disappointment they don't have it. Guess it's a difference between Greek and Hebrew source texts. :(
ReplyDeleteMax,
DeleteActually it has to do with the Latin. The MSG deuterocanonical books are translated from the Nova Vulgate.
I could listen to Eugene Peterson speak for hours. His voice, as aged and gravelly as it is, is just wonderful to hear. His work on the Message is certainly a valuable contribution, though I'll admit it's not my first choice when it comes to dynamic paraphrase reading. When he gets it right, it is VERY right; he's got some passages that make me roll my eyes, too. Yet what gets me into his paraphrase more than anything else is to imagine his voice reading the words rather than the usual voice in my head.
ReplyDeleteI'll have to watch this video later. Seeing this post reminded me of how you used to share the Sunday Mass readings using the Message, and made me dig out my GNT-CE so I can start reading them to Mom again. More Bibles, like my edition of the GNT, should have the lectionary in the back IMO.
ReplyDeleteThe thought that kept coming to mind while watching the video was, "I wish he was Catholic!" He seems the type who could really attract people to the Faith. Very genuine. It made me want to read The Message.
ReplyDeleteEd,
DeleteI greatly admire Peterson. He is one of my favorite writers. (In many ways, his writings are very Catholic.). I am quite happy where he is and if he were Catholic, we'd probably never have received The Message bible.
Timothy,
ReplyDeleteYou may be right, if he were Catholic there might have never been The Message Bible. (That's more than a little sad to think about.) We sure could use more like him, and less sour-pusses! Maybe one of these days I'll check out some of his writings. So many books, so little time!
Ed,
DeleteRun with the Horses is on Jeremiah and is fantastic. Eat This Book is also very good and contains many catholic ideas in it on reading the Bible.
Thanks for the recommendations, Timothy. Both titles are added to the wish list on Amazon. I think Eat This Book will be the first of his I will get.
ReplyDeletePeterson and Griffin both rendered Catholics a marvelous service when they produced the Catholic edition of The Message. I would echo, though, some displeasure with the editions currently available. A more portable size (the current editions in both paperback and hardback are like doorstops), and (dare I ask for it) a leather-bound cover would be great improvements.
ReplyDeleteTimothy,
ReplyDeleteWhy do you say if Peterson were Catholic we might not have the Message? I'm not disagreeing necessarily, just curious as to your reasoning.
Thanks,
Steve
Steve,
DeleteGood question! I think the main reasons are 1) The style of dynamic/paraphrastic would probably never have received approval; 2) The difficulties the single translator faces doing something like this. Knox details the many many issues he had doing his wonderful translation. Of course there is the Nick King SJ Bible too, but I don't know what he needed to do to publish it.
Timothy,
ReplyDeleteThanks for explaining. I thought maybe your reasoning was more along the lines of "a Catholic wouldn't be inclined to do something like this", but it's not.
I realize Peterson was a pastor for a long time, but my understanding is that he wrote the Message after retiring. If Peterson were a Catholic priest or cleric, then yeah he'd have difficulty. OTOH if he were a Catholic layman, I think he could write and publish the Message, even if it never got official approval.
(Call me a bad Catholic, but personally I don't care if a bible has official approval or not. ;) )
Steve
Steve,
DeleteI agree with you! So include me in your group of bad Catholics! :)