It’s important you know what your reading when referring to the Word of God. There are many different bibles, that have been translated for people’s own interpretation. A lot of these have come out not too long ago. They come under the premise that they want to help believers, but their actual purpose, knowingly or not, is to confuse the body of Christ and keep the true Word of God hidden from us.
The Message Bible was made by a man in the 1990’s. His name was Eugene Peterson. He first translated the New Testament, then funded by his publisher he translated the Old Testament. From these translations the Message Bible was created. This is what Eugene Peterson has stated in regards to why he created it:
“While I was teaching a class on Galatians, I began to realize that the adults in my class weren’t feeling the vitality and directness that I sensed as I read and studied the New Testament in its original Greek. Writing straight from the original text, I began to attempt to bring into English the rhythms and idioms of the original language. I knew that the early readers of the New Testament were captured and engaged by these writings and I wanted my congregation to be impacted in the same way. I hoped to bring the New Testament to life for two different types of people: those who hadn’t read the Bible because it seemed too distant and irrelevant and those who had read the Bible so much that it had become ‘old hat.‘”
Understand he never even gave credit to the Holy Spirit guiding him in doing this feat. He translated the Bible into what he interpreted it to mean. By doing this allowing others to read the bible like him. To be steered through his thoughts. Just by this fact alone, a believer should be very wary and cautious.
We believe the Word of God to be written by man, inspired by the Holy Spirit. We believe when The Lord had the King James Version translated it was translated by the Holy Spirit. The last chapter in the Bible, Revelations 22:18 clearly tells us to not add or take away anything from the Word of God.
It’s clear that Eugene Paterson should not have done this. It’s now a Bible that people read as if it was the Word of God. Nobody was informed on it’s history. They just accepted it because it was labeled as a Christian bible. This bible that was not inspired by the Holy Spirit, but inspired by man. A man who came to feel he could fix people’s acceptance of God’s Word by explaining the Message he received from it.
What if Eugene had it wrong? What if he was actually a Freemason? What if he had ulterior motives? This article is not to say that he did or didn’t, this article is to explain where the Message Bible comes from. From there the decision on it’s authenticity as the Word of God should be clear.
KJV “onlyism” is dangerous, friends.
Just like others, reading the KJV leaves me somewhat confused. I’ve seen all of your examples of left out and changed scripture. It is quite alarming. You’re correct about it turning people off. It makes me afraid to trust any of the bibles all the way because I have seen a KJV with the word Easter in Acts 12:4 replacing Passover. So how do I find the right one?
Whatever has fed you well, is sufficient. NIV, for me, was the version that I have clung to and have been well fed, by way of coming to know and learn the character of the Lord (Yahweh). ESV has been a blessing, as it used by a teacher (Alistair Begg), by whom I have learned much from. In the name of Jesus, the one who died in my stead, to bring me to relationship with our eternal God, maker of heaven and earth.
I read the KJV, and I am not confused. I suggest that you look into the credibility of any version that you choose to read. In addition, I am sad to say that Alistair Begg, whom I have loved and listened to for years, has left the tracks. Although it always bothered me that he quotes Calvin all the time because the doctrine that believers can lose their salvation is one of the most thoroughly documented truths in God’s Word, I didn’t realize until this past year or so that, in addition to osas, he totally embraces all of Reformed theology, a totally abhorrent and blasphemous gospel about which Paul minced no words (Gal. 1:8-9).