The Message: New Testament: New Testament

Written by Eugene H. Peterson

Narrated by Kelly Ryan Dolan

"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 by destroyed; by believing in him, anyone can have a whole and lasting life."  Those familiar with any part of the Bible will recognize John 3:16, with a mind-altering difference.  The words are fresh, new, and sound like the 21st century.  That's because they are from The Message, a presentation of the Word of God crafted for the modern age.  Eugene H. Peterson, translator and editor, learned from his years of teaching and pastoring that most people, through familiarity or frustration with the Bible, were missing the whole message of Scripture, "the Word that God uses to create and save us, heal and bless us, judge and rule over us."  So, he set out to give us that Word in language we use every day - an audio Bible that would penetrate our hearts and minds, transforming us day by day into the person God desires us to be.  For more than 6 million readers, Eugene Peterson's unique style has opened up new understanding and insight into God's Word.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Oasis Audio
• Release date: Mar 1, 2003
• ISBN: 9781608143061

Eugene H. Peterson

Eugene H. Peterson (1932–2018) was a pastor, scholar, author, and poet. He wrote more than thirty books, including his widely acclaimed paraphrase of the Bible, The Message; his memoir, The Pastor; and numerous works of biblical spiritual formation, including Run with the Horses and Traveling Light.

Reviews for The Message

[porian_1 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Not really a study Bible, but great for just shucking God's Word down to something one needs to hear so much of the time.

[Annelie van Wyk · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

I love how there is emotion in the narrator's voice, it's easy to listen to and also enjoyable. Thank you!

[tedrick_1 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

THIS BOOK IS WRITTEN BY A CHURCH PASTOR IN THE USA AND IS A BEAUTIFUL AND CLEAR RENDITION OF A CLASSIC

[kennethwdavis_1 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

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

[nathanpile · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

Contemporary translation

[justagirlwithabook · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Another version of the bible but in regular, plain language. Peterson did a good job I think. It translates well and makes things an easy read for those who aren't used to other versions or hate the King James.

[tad hastings · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

If you're new to scripture I'm looking for a very good cliff note version, that puts everything into today's language and story this is for you.

[vpfluke · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

This translation of the Bible is clearly a paraphrase, but as such, it is quite satisfying. I've looked up a few favorite verses to see how Eugene Peterson handles them, and this is what I found.Hebrews 11:1. Peterson adds a lot of words ot Now faith is the substance of things hope for.... His translation is: "The fundamental fact of existence is that this trust in God, this faith, is the firm foundation under everything that makes life worth living. It's our handle on what we can't see." I think he captured the essence of the Greek and realized that this verse, which is a kind of mediation piece, cannot be rendered succinctly. But he stays on tract, particularly with the words, firm foundation under.Matthews5:2-9 (Beatitudes). Peterson starts them off with "You're blessed when", not the solemnity of "Blessed are" (maybe overly solemn in English), but stays away from the falsity of "Happy are". The translations here ar quirky, and you can take of leave them, and perhaps you shold go back to a standard text to see the words that roll around in most people's minds, but I still Peterson is worth a read here.Psalm 95 (Venite). This a joyous reading version, I am not sure this is really singable. I grew up with the sung Venite, so I am in a mixed response here, rejoicing inwardly with some of his wording, but I am not sure I want to put them out with melody and meter.John 1:1- Peterson's words are a little more out there, but he does capture uch of the parallel structure of the gospel writer, so he retains the message and the eeling that goes with the message.Philippians 2. Peterson doesn't ty to catch the rhythm of the original, but t is still worth the reading of it.I Thessalonians. I think Peterson captures the flow of Paul's pity summary of how Christians qhould act quite well.

[gmw3550 · Rating: 2 out of 5 stars]

This is not the Bible. It's one man's attempt to make the Bible more accessible. It can be a useful tool to help understand scripture, and it can also obscure things. One example: The Lord's Prayer states "Give us this day our daily bread" which has come to have a depth of meaning that goes beyond the simple phrase. Peterson's translation "give us three square meals" sounds far more dated (who refers to square meals any longer) than the earlier translations, and fails to give the depth of those translations as well. If you buy this, make sure it's not the only version you own.

[Max Max · Rating: 2 out of 5 stars]

Incredibly difficult to use this particular audio version because none of the individual 66 book names in the bible have been listed in the table of contents.
The contents listing is 289 separate chapters, which makes it really impossible to choose to listen to a particular book within the bible.
Each of the Bible's 66 books needs to be listed individually, with its own chapters within.
For example:
The Bible contains 66 separate books
It has an Old Testament and New Testament
The first book of the old testament, Genesis, has 50 chapters
The last book of the new testament, Revelation, has 22 chapters
Each of the 66 books, although they are linked, are individual.

[neverstopreading-1 · Rating: 1 out of 5 stars]

I started reading with Matthew. I stopped reading when I got to the Lord's prayer (Matthew 6:9-13):

Here is a traditional rendering from the Douay-Rheims:

9 Thus therefore shall you pray: Our Father who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name.
10 Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven.
11 Give us this day our supersubstantial bread.
12 And forgive us our debts, as we also forgive our debtors.
13 And lead us not into temptation. But deliver us from evil. Amen.


Here is a modern version from The Living Bible, comparable to The Message:

9 “Pray along these lines: ‘Our Father in heaven, we honor your holy name. 10 We ask that your kingdom will come now. May your will be done here on earth, just as it is in heaven. 11 Give us our food again today, as usual, 12 and forgive us our sins, just as we have forgiven those who have sinned against us. 13 Don’t bring us into temptation, but deliver us from the Evil One. Amen.’

Here is how The Message renders the Lord's Prayer:

With a God like this loving you, you can pray very simply. Like this:

Our Father in heaven,
Reveal who you are.
Set the world right;
Do what’s best—
as above, so below.
Keep us alive with three square meals.
Keep us forgiven with you and forgiving others.
Keep us safe from ourselves and the Devil.
You’re in charge!
You can do anything you want!
You’re ablaze in beauty!
Yes. Yes. Yes.


I stopped when I saw the phrase, "as above, so below." This is a loaded phrase with lots of meaning for gnostics and neo-pagans. To include this in a place like the Lord's prayer, which could have easily been translated as "as in Heaven, so on Earth," speaks volumes about this translation's lack of value.

This is one of many highly questionable choices made by Peterson. Plenty of others online have pointed out other problems. I am not a fan of modern versions, and I wonder what the real motives of Bible translators are ($$$???), but there are some I feel confident in using and others that have no place in my life. This is one of the latter.

[kaulsu · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

So how does one rate the Bible?!
If you want to read the Bible, I suggest you read it several times. Certainly Peterson's modern paraphrase helps get the ideas across, but it isn't the Bible.
If you want to listen to an audio version (certainly assisted me in getting through that last book, Revelations), try and see if you can't find a different narrator. Doland takes an audible breath nearly every sentence, which I find offensive in a narrator. Good heavens, this isn't charity work! Then too, I found his soft voice irritating.

It is difficult for me (obviously) to separate the book from the teller of the tale. However, I am glad I listened to it. My goal is to read many translations of the Bible...Peterson's is probably an important one to have read...as long as one realizes that it isn't "the word of God."

[rybeewoods · Rating: 2 out of 5 stars]

It's useful in many circumstances, but in general I find the message to be a litlte goofy.