Bible translation
The Message (MSG): history, style and where to read it
The Message is a paraphrase of the Bible by Eugene Peterson, a pastor and scholar, published by NavPress. The New Testament came in 1993 and the whole Bible in 2002. It is a vivid restatement in contemporary speech, not a word for word translation, and it is best read beside a translation. The Message is not available in The Living Bread yet.
At a glance
| Full name | The Message |
|---|---|
| Abbreviation | MSG |
| First published | 1993 to 2002 |
| Publisher or sponsor | NavPress |
| Language | English |
| Translation philosophy | Paraphrase |
| How it reads | Vivid, colloquial, free flowing |
| In The Living Bread | Not yet in The Living Bread |
Who made the MSG and when
Eugene Peterson was a Presbyterian pastor who later taught at Regent College in Vancouver. Hearing his congregation's eyes glaze over at the Greek of Paul's letters, he began rendering Galatians into the speech of his neighbors. NavPress invited him to continue, and the project grew into The Message: the New Testament in 1993, the Psalms and wisdom books in the years following, and the complete Bible in 2002.
Peterson worked from the Hebrew, Aramaic and Greek texts himself rather than leading a committee, which explains both its distinct voice and why readers describe it as the work of one person. It remains widely used in devotional settings, and it is published by NavPress, a ministry of The Navigators.
How the MSG translates
A paraphrase restates the meaning in the paraphraser's own words, sometimes dropping or recasting images to let the sense land. Peterson aimed to hear the Bible as if for the first time, capturing tone, rhythm and urgency. It is therefore not designed for resolving fine points of wording.
Readability and typical use
Very accessible and often striking. The sentences are short and the phrasing is current. Readers say it feels like a conversation, and it can make a familiar passage feel new.
Strengths
Recovers the emotional force of passages that feel flat to ears used to older wording, and invites reflection.
Cautions, stated fairly
Do not use it alone to settle what a verse says, to memorize, or to cite as Scripture in a doctrinal argument. A single voice can emphasize some ideas more than others. Pair it with a translation such as the NIV or the Berean Standard Bible.
Familiar renderings, in our own words
Where traditional translations give names and terms the church has long used, Peterson often uses a fresh expression that approximates the force. That is delightful when it works and a reason to read with a translation open.
Who should choose the MSG
Choose The Message as a companion, not a replacement: read a passage in a translation first, then in The Message.
Where to read the The Message
Not yet in The Living Bread The MSG is not available in The Living Bread yet. We would rather say so plainly than send you to a page that cannot show it. In the meantime you can read the NIV or the NASB inside the app, or the free Berean Standard Bible here. To read the MSG itself, go to its publisher, NavPress at messagebible.com.
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Related translations
- New Living Translation (NLT)Thought for thought. Very readable, warm, conversational.
- New International Version (NIV)Balanced. Clear, everyday English.
- New International Reader's Version (NIrV)Thought for thought, simplified. Easiest: short sentences, simple words.
- Berean Standard Bible (BSB)Balanced, leaning literal. Modern, clear.
- World English Bible (WEB)Word for word, modernized. Plain modern English.
Frequently asked questions
- Is The Message a real Bible translation?
- It is a paraphrase by one translator working from the original languages. It is valuable for freshness and tone but is not a word for word or committee translation, so it should be read alongside one.
- Can I read The Message in The Living Bread?
- Not yet. The Message is not available in The Living Bread. Read the NIV in the app or the free Berean Standard Bible here, and find The Message at NavPress.
- Who wrote The Message?
- Eugene Peterson, a pastor and professor, published by NavPress. The New Testament appeared in 1993 and the whole Bible in 2002.
The Word became flesh
The MSG is one of many faithful ways into the same story. Whichever translation you choose, the point of Scripture is the One it gives you: Jesus Christ, who said that we are to love one another as he loved us. Read a little each day, read it with someone, and ask him to open the page.
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