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The Message Doctrine

& Foundations of the Faith

Isaiah 28:10,13

10 For precept must be upon precept, precept upon precept; line upon line, line upon line; here a little, and there a little: ...
13 But the word of the LORD was unto them precept upon precept, precept upon precept; line upon line, line upon line; here a little, and there a little; that they might go, and fall backward, and be broken, and snared, and taken.

In order to evaluate and show some examples pertaining to changing the Word of God, the following doctrines and verses are briefly reviewed below. I say briefly because despite the size of this research, it is very limited compared to what it should be if one were to evaluate all significant issues topically. Although I have broken this particular research into two sections due to size, they should be viewed as one article. I have chosen to compare The Message to the KJB, the NIV, the NKJB, the NASB and the NRSV. The first 3 were chosen in part because of being in the top CBA sales, and most popular. In April 2006, the Christian Booksellers Association (CBA) listed the ranking of Versions/Translations by actual sales in Christian retail stores in the United States and Canada during February 2006. Although only a paraphrase, Eugene Peterson's The Message ranked number seven. 6

The NRSV has been chosen because of its role in the ecumenical movement, National Council of Churches, World Council of Churches, etc., and it is also the source for Richard Foster's The Renovaré Spiritual Formation Bible. Eugene Peterson played a significant role as editor for that New Testament as well as a contributor to various writings within it. The NASB was chosen because it is also well used amongst clergy of various denominations and is considered by some to be one of the most literal translations available. The Message, NASB, NIV, NRSV, all source the United Bible Society manuscripts, which some refer to as the Nestle Aland or Westcott and Hort manuscripts.

Many might feel that there are many good things within The Message, and ignore the many changes in doctrine and the subtle shift at times to something other than the sound doctrine we are to hold to. When doctrine has been eliminated, it was a deliberate choice. When words and concepts were added, it was again a deliberate choice, because those things are not found in the original manuscripts. When specific occult phrases or concepts have been implanted into The Message it is again by deliberate choice. Some might suggest that specific use of words or phrases cannot be simply found in the occult or gnostic writings or beliefs. The problem is, some of the implanted new age or similar concepts found in The Message are not only not found in the original manuscripts, and not found in other versions, but are in fact, unique to gnostic or new age or similar writings, and are proven so. The word choices are what Eugene Peterson decided to use. The Word of God is not something to be tampered with and changed to, or for, one's own opinion, bias or beliefs. It is what it is, despite the many who would corrupt or pervert its meaning or content.

Blatant promotion of error and cunning promotion of error and false doctrine are still the promotion of error. If someone teaches you that adding to, deleting or changing the Word of God is good or acceptable, then they are going against the Word of God, regardless of how subtle the teaching.

We are reminded:

Galatians 5:9

A little leaven leaveneth the whole lump.

About Salvation

	KJV	The Message	NASB	NIV	NKJV	NRSV
Psalm 11:3	If the foundations be destroyed, what can the righteous do?	"The bottom's dropped out of the country; good people don't have a chance"?	almost identical to KJB	almost identical to KJB	almost identical to KJB	almost identical to KJB
Prov 12:28	In the way of righteousness is life; and in the pathway thereof there is no death	Good men and women travel right into life; sin's detours take you straight to hell	...way of righteousness is life, And in its pathway there is no death	...way of righteousness there is life; along that path is immortality.	...way of righteousness is life, And in its pathway there is no death.	...path of righteousness there is life, in walking its path there is no death.
Luke 3:6	And all flesh shall see the salvation of God.	Everyone will be there to see The parade of God's salvation."	AND ALL FLESH WILL SEE THE SALVATION OF GOD.'"	And all mankind will see God's salvation.'	And all flesh shall see the salvation of God.'"	and all flesh shall see the salvation of God.'

The 2003 Jewish Publication Society Tenach (the Hebrew Bible of the Old Testament) states for Psalm 11:3: When the foundations are destroyed, what can the righteous man do?

Luke 3:6 is a reference to the prophecies concerning the coming Messiah and found in such verses as Psalm 98:2, Isaiah 52:10, and similar, which mean all mankind will see Him, because He is the salvation of God. It is not a 'parade'.

There is a difference between "good" and righteous. In our communities, there are many good people. These people coach little league, do volunteer work, love their wives or husbands, treat their children well, and are generally pretty nice people. Jesus made it quite clear in His statement to Nicodemus in John 3:3 that "unless a man be born again," he can not see, or enter "the Kingdom of God". By presenting the concept that "good people travel right into life" and sins are simply detours, eliminates the concept of original sin, and that "all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God." [Romans 3:23, Romans 5:12.] It also eliminates the concept of judgment for all those who reject Jesus Christ, something which is not based on our 'goodness.' Some believe that Jesus is the best way or the exclusive way, however there are other ways for good people of other faiths to get to heaven. Some refer to this as a universalism or inclusivism. Our righteousness is as filthy rags before God. [Isaiah 64:6] Our righteousness and salvation is through Jesus Christ and Him alone, by God's grace. According to The Message, in one passage, Jesus becomes the "Salvation Pioneer." In another verse, one can be saved by self-sacrifice.

Good people are not capable of ever being good enough to access the Father. John 14:6 "Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me."

The above has shown how righteousness has been exchanged for 'goodness'. Salvation is actually often eliminated from verses and other doctrine or simple ideas inserted, although at times the concepts might be found in previous or later verses, although not as found in the original texts. For example.

Psa 68:19 "Blessed be the Lord-- day after day he carries us along."

Ps 68:19 Blessed be the Lord, who daily loadeth us with benefits, even the God of our salvation. Selah. [KJB]

About Sin

Although mentioning some sins, while changing the words and meanings of other sins, specific sins are clearly avoided at times. As well, for example, the listing of sins which prohibit all from entering heaven are changed in the following. See also 1 Timothy 1:9-10 for another rendering of sin.

KJV

The Message

NASB

NIV

NKJV

NRSV

Gal 5:19-21

Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness

Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies,

Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God

what kind of life develops out of trying to get your own way all the time: repetitive, loveless, cheap sex; a stinking accumulation of mental and emotional garbage; frenzied and joyless grabs for happiness;

trinket gods; magic-show religion; paranoid loneliness; cutthroat competition; all-consuming-yet-never-satisfied wants; a brutal temper; an impotence to love or be loved; divided homes and divided lives; small-minded and lopsided pursuits;

the vicious habit of depersonalizing everyone into a rival; uncontrolled and uncontrollable addictions; ugly parodies of community. ...

deeds of the flesh are evident... immorality, impurity, sensuality, idolatry, sorcery, enmities, strife, jealousy, outbursts of anger, disputes, dissensions, factions, envyings, drunkenness, carousing

act of the sinful nature are obvious...sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions, and envy; drunkenness and orgies

works of the flesh are evident..: adultery, fornication, uncleanness, licentiousness, idolatry, sorcery, hatred, contentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions, dissensions, heresies, envy, murders, drunkenness, revelries

works of the flesh are obvious...: fornication, impurity, licentiousness, Idolatry, sorcery, enmities, strife, jealousy, anger, quarrels, dissensions, factions, envy, drunkenness, carousing

One would presume Americans as well as others know what adultery is--being unfaithful to the one married to. Jesus said that to look upon a woman to lust after her was already committing adultery in his heart. Matt 5:27,28. "Repetitive, loveless or cheap sex" is not the same whatsoever. Many would claim to be in love while committing adultery or having premarital sex--does that make it alright according to the Scriptures?

Fornication is from the greek word porneia and is basically about sex outside of marriage. From Strong's Concordance > 4202. porneia porneia, por-ni'-ah from 4203; harlotry (including adultery and incest); figuratively, idolatry:--fornication.

4203. proneuw porneuo, porn-yoo'-o from 4204; to act the harlot, i.e. (literally) indulge unlawful lust (of either sex), or (figuratively) practise idolatry:--commit (fornication).

Uncleanness means physically or morally impure. It comes from the root word meaning morally lewd, demonic or foul.

Lasciviousness means lewd, lecherous, obscene, indecency, filthy words, indecent behavior, vulgar, etc.

Obviously Americans also know what drunkenness is, as well as what carousing aka revelling is, and with the onslaught of witchcraft presented in all manner of media, they know that as well. Variance is quarreling, strife is being contentious. Emulations includes jealousy, malice, indignation. Sedition is disunion or causing division. Heresies are things contrary to the Word of God brought in or presented as truth. Wrath is not the same as anger as it is a fierce indignation or similar. One can be angry and not be in sin. The list of sins which keep a person from the kingdom of heaven is not negotiable or changeable, as demonstrated by The Message.

In fact The Message, in Romans 8:35-36, states,"not even the worst sins listed in Scripture", can separate us from the love of Christ." Yes, according to The Message, the sins Peterson listed might not separate us from the love Christ. However, aside from changing the Word of God, this clearly goes against 1 Corinthians 6:9-10 and Galatians 5:19-21," that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God"

Eternal judgment and hell are often relegated to quaint sayings, rather than concise realities and consequences. For example,

	KJB	The Message	NASB	NIV	NKJB	NRSV
Matt 3:12	...he will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire..	...out with the trash.	...unquenchable fire.	...unquenchable fire.	...unquenchable fire.	...unquenchable fire.
Matt 10:28	And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.	Don't be bluffed into silence by the threats of bullies. There's nothing they can do to your soul, your core being. ...who holds your entire life--body and soul--in his hands.	...fear Him who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.	...be afraid of the One who can destroy both soul and body in hell.	...fear Him who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.	...fear him who can destroy both soul and body in hell.
Matt 12:32	And whosoever speaketh a word against the Son of man, it shall be forgiven him: but whosoever speaketh against the Holy Ghost, it shall not be forgiven him, neither in this world, neither in the world to come.	If you reject the Son of Man out of some misunderstanding, the Holy Spirit can forgive you, but when you reject the Holy Spirit, you're sawing off the branch on which you're sitting...	"Whoever speaks a word against the Son of Man, it shall be forgiven him; but whoever speaks against the Holy Spirit, it shall not be forgiven him,...	Anyone who speaks a word against the Son of Man will be forgiven, but anyone who speaks against the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven,...	"Anyone who speaks a word against the Son of Man, it will be forgiven him; but whoever speaks against the Holy Spirit, it will not be forgiven him,...	Whoever speaks a word against the Son of Man will be forgiven, but whoever speaks against the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven,...
Matt 18:9	...to be cast into hell fire.	...exercising 20/20 vision from inside hell	...be cast into the fiery hell.	...be thrown into the fire of hell.	... to be cast into hell fire	... to be thrown into the hell of fire
Matt 23:33	Ye serpents, ye generation of vipers, how can ye escape the damnation of hell?	"Snakes! Reptilian sneaks! Do you think you can worm your way out of this? Never have to pay the piper?	...how will you escape the sentence of hell?	...How will you escape being condemned to hell?	...How can you escape the condemnation of hell?	...How can you escape being sentenced to hell?

About Prayer

Eugene Peterson not only inculcates passages with pentecostal theology of private prayer language--a phrase not found in any manuscripts, but also changes the way Jesus taught the disciples to pray. Prayer becomes an energy or force which is found in New age thought, and the prayer doctrine is also that of the gnostic and new age contemplative prayer beliefs which Peterson promotes.

Eugene Peterson showed his understanding of God's Word by changing the very words recorded as spoken by Jesus as He began to teach the disciples how they were to pray.

	KJV	The Message	NASB	NIV	NKJV	NRSV
Matt 6:9	After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name.	...Our Father in heaven, Reveal who you are. *same phrase in Luke 11:2, and omit Hallowed be thy name	Our Father who is in heaven, Hallowed be Your name	"'Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name	Our Father in heaven, Hallowed be Your name	Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name
Matt 6:10	Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven.	Set the world right; Do what's best-- as above, so below.	'Your kingdom come. Your will be done, On earth as it is in heaven	your kingdom come, your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.	Your kingdom come. Your will be done On earth as it is in heaven	Your kingdom come. Your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven
Luke 11:2	Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done, as in heaven, so on earth..	...When you pray, say, Father, Reveal who you are. Set the world right.	Father, hallowed be Thy name. Thy kingdom come.	Father, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come.	Our Father in heaven, hallowed be Your name. Your kingdom come. Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.	Father, hallowed be thy name Your kingdom come.

Hallowed be thy name means Holy (or Sanctified) is Your Name. As you can see by the comparisons above, the reference to God's holiness is removed from the verses. Thy kingdom come is merely 'set the world right,' removing the prophetic implications. Reveal who you are is a new age/gnostic concept. It is already revealed in the Scriptures who God is in many, many passages, names for Him and attributes of Him. The need to reveal is part of the gnostic desire to experience the perceived god's presence through contemplative prayer and it's various activities, to which Eugene Peterson subscribes and endorses and is found promoted in various ways in The Message and his other writings. The changing of the specific words Christ used according to the Greek manuscripts is heretical and forbidden in Scripture.

Also noted in the passage is the phrase as above, so below used in place of 'thy will be done in earth as it is in heaven.'. As above, so below is a contemporary phrase used by the New Age, occult, satanists, hermetic magick, wiccans, shamans, and similar. In fact, it is noted on gnosis.org, that many esoteric groups use the phrase, as it is above, so it is below. In kundalini yoga, as above is the greater force. It can become useable if it matches the so below or the persons force which can be controlled. The belief is that by synchronizing the two and with the right frequency, the person gains, but if the two forces are out of synchronization, the person suffers. 7. Neither the concept or the phrase is found in the Scriptures.

Mr. Peterson also changed believing, which is by faith, into an 'act' and changed the doctrine of having life through his name, to 'the way he personally revealed it."

John 20:31 These are written down so you will believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and in the act of believing, have real and eternal life in the way he personally revealed it. [The Message]

John 20:31 But these are written, that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing ye might have life through his name. (KJV)

	KJV	The Message	NASB	NIV	NKJV	NRSV
Psalm 22:22	I will declare thy name unto my brethren: in the midst of the congregation will I praise thee	Here's the story I'll tell my friends when they come to worship...	I will tell of Your name to my brethren;...	I will declare your name to my brothers; ...	I will declare Your name to My brethren...	I will tell of your name to my brothers and sisters...
Mal 1:11	For from the rising of the sun even unto the going down of the same my name shall be great among the Gentiles; and in every place incense shall be offered unto my name, and a pure offering: for my name shall be great among the heathen, saith the LORD of hosts.	"I am honored all over the world. ... people who know how to worship me ...who honor me by bringing their best to me. They're saying it everywhere: 'God is greater, this GOD-of-the-Angel-Armies.'	...My name will be great among the nations, ... incense is going to be offered to My name, and a grain offering that is pure; for My name will be great among the nations," says the LORD of hosts	My name will be great among the nations, ... incense and pure offerings will be brought to my name, because my name will be great among the nations," says the LORD Almighty	...My name shall be great among the Gentiles; ... incense shall be offered to My name, And a pure offering; For My name shall be great among the nations," Says the LORD of hosts	...my name is great among the nations, and in every place incense is offered to my name, and a pure offering; for my name is great among the nations, says the LORD of hosts
Psalm 45:17	I will make thy name to be remembered in all generations: therefore shall the people praise thee for ever and ever.	I'll make you famous... you'll be the talk of the town for a long, long time."	...cause Your name to be remembered in all... the peoples will give You thanks forever and ever	...perpetuate your memory through all... the nations will praise you for ever and ever	...make Your name to be remembered in all... the people shall praise You forever and ever	...cause your name to be celebrated in all... the peoples will praise you forever and ever
Phil 2:9-11	Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name: That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.	...God lifted him high and honored him far beyond anyone or anything, ever, ...will bow in worship before this Jesus Christ ...call out in praise that he is the Master of all, to the glorious honor of God the Father.	...bestowed on Him the name which is above every name, ...at the name of Jesus EVERY KNEE WILL BOW, ... every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father	...gave him the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow... every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.	...given Him the name which is above every name. That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow... every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.	...gave him the name that is above every name, That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow,... every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
Matt 12:21	And in his name shall the Gentiles trust. Referring to Isaiah 42:1-4	the mere sound of his name will signal hope, even among far-off unbelievers	...HIS NAME THE GENTILES WILL HOPE	his name the nations will put their hope	His name Gentiles will trust	...in his name the Gentiles will hope

About the Names of God & Christ

With the removal of Hallowed be thy name, and the changing or elimination of the names of God and Christ, to such as Master, Altar-Rock, The Presence [John 3:13]and so on, and often omission of the attributes which define and reveal who God is in the Scriptures, the following Names or attributes are evaluated.

The earlier editions of The Message used Yahweh extensively. Correspondence with NavPress in December of 2003, elicited this response:

"...Also, here is a response (from Mr. Peterson's editor) to your question about Yahweh addressing the use of Yahweh in earlier editions of The Message:

"The name "Yahweh" is only used in the earliest of our Message products. Because the intended audience for The Message is not the typical Bible-familiar reader, along with Mr. Eugene Peterson, NavPress decided that the use of "God" is more appropriate in this context. While Yahweh is a beautiful and reverent name for God, we decided that it very well might be a foreign word to a non-believer. Similarly, the deep meaning of this name special name for God might also be lost on a non-believer. By using "God," we hoped to make the scriptures more approachable to anyone that might pick up a copy of The Message. I'll quote from a newer introduction to the Books of Moses: "A note on translating the name of God. In the original Hebrew text of the Old Testament, the generic name for divinity used by both Israel and its neighbors is translated God (or god). But the unique and distinctively personal name for God that was revealed to Moses at the burning bush (Exodus 3:13-14) I have translated as GOD. The Jewish community early on substituted 'LORD' for the unique name out of reverence (our lips are not worthy to speak The Name) and caution (lest we inadvertently blaspheme by saying God's name 'in vain'). Most Christian translators continue that practice." From the Introduction to the Books of Moses, The Message (page 17). Since this decision was made, all editions have discontinued the use of Yahweh...." 8.

Just a brief review of some of those verses, which now would simply use God:

Psalm 8:1 - "O LORD, our Lord, how majestic is Thy name . . ."
The Message: "Yahweh, brilliant Lord . . ."

Psalm 100:3 - "Know that the LORD Himself is God . . ."
The Message: "Know this. Yahweh is God, and God, Yahweh."

Psalm 110:1 - "The LORD says to my Lord: . . ."
The Message: "The word of Yahweh to my Lord: . . ."

Psalm 18:1 - "The LORD is my rock."
The Message: " Yahweh is bedrock under my feet."

Psalm 27:1 - "The LORD is my light and my salvation."
The Message: "Light, space, zest - that's Yahweh!"

Psalm 100:1 - "Shout joyfully to the LORD, all the earth."
The Message: "On your feet now - applaud Yahweh!"

In Revelation 1:14, The Message tampers with the description of Christ, as though individuals would not understand for example, what ' white like wool' and 'white as snow" would mean.

Rev 1:14 hair a blizzard of white, Eyes pouring fire-blaze,

Rev 1:14 His head and his hairs were white like wool, as white as snow; and his eyes were as a flame of fire; [Daniel 7:9; 10:6; Rev 2:18; 19:12]

It should be noted that The Message never uses the titles of: Lord Jesus Christ or Lord Jesus, Lord and Saviour *(Savior) Jesus Christ [2 Pe 1:11, 2:20, 3:18], our Saviour Jesus Christ,[2 Tim 1:10], Lord and Savior, and so on, but mainly ascribes the titles of Master, Master Jesus, or God or Master God although Jesus Christ is used 85 times. Jesus Christ is used 196 times in the KJB, NASB-132, NIV-135, NKJB -177, NRSV-135 times. God's name is to be 'hallowed' or venerated. In the Old Testament God commanded the Israelites to not profane the name of the Lord.

Although Master is used occasionally with reference to Christ in other versions, it is very limited use and not the main title ascribed to the Lord or Jesus in the Scriptures or the variations of titles and their meanings found in the original Hebrew or Greek texts. With many New Age advocates endorsing The Message, and with the inclusion of other New Age doctrine within The Message, we can easily see that they view the heavy use of Master with new age understanding. In fact, even the heavy use of God, instead of the distinction of The Lord used many times in other Bibles, could allow the New Age understanding of God when coupled with the heavy use of Master. The New Age views this God as a being who has numerous faces. He or this force or impersonal force, is often referred to as the universal life, universal consciousness, universal energy or similar. That is why it is also noteworthy that Peterson used the phrase 'Being' when referring to Christ.

John 6:46 "No one has seen the Father except the One who has his Being alongside the Father--and you can see me." and then God, in John 17:26 "I have made your very being known to them-"

John 6:46 Not that any man hath seen the Father, save he which is of God, he hath seen the Father. KJB

John 17:26 And I have declared unto them thy name, and will declare it: that the love wherewith thou hast loved me may be in them, and I in them. KJB

He also uses the concept of energy, found to be so important in the New Age beliefs.

	KJV	The Message
Psalm 19:14	O LORD, my strength, and my redeemer. LORD <Y@hovah>, my strength <tsuwr>, and my redeemer <ga'al>.	...O God, my Altar-Rock, God, Priest-of-My-Altar * there is no Hebrew word in this passage that would mean altar. Redeemer is fully omitted.
Isa 30:19	the LORD is a God of judgment: LORD <Y@hovah> is a God <'elohiym> of judgment <mishpat>:	omitted
Jer 23:6	this is his name whereby he shall be called, THE LORD OUR RIGHTEOUSNESS. {THE LORD...: Heb. Jehovahtsidkenu}	This is the name they'll give him: 'GOD-Who-Puts-Everything-Right.' * there is a difference between righteousness and putting everything right. God is righteousness.
Jer 33:16	...this is the name wherewith she shall be called, The LORD our righteousness. {The LORD...: Heb. Jehovahtsidkenu}	...The motto for the city will be, "GOD Has Set Things Right for Us."
Psalm 31:5	Into thine hand I commit my spirit: thou hast redeemed me, O LORD God of truth. O LORD <Y@hovah> God <'el> of truth <'emeth> 0571. tma 'emeth, eh'-meth contracted from 539; stability; (figuratively) certainty, truth, trustworthiness:--assured(-ly), establishment, faithful, right, sure, true (-ly, -th), verity. .	Omitted redeemed "I've put my life in your hands. You won't drop me, you'll never let me down. "
Isa 45:21	Tell ye, and bring them near; yea, let them take counsel together: who hath declared this from ancient time? who hath told it from that time? have not I the LORD? and there is no God else beside me; a just God and a Saviour; there is none beside me. a just <tsaddiyq> God <'el> and a Saviour <yasha`>;	...I'm the only God there is-- The only God who does things right and knows how to help. * omitted Saviour
Isa 26:4	Trust ye in the LORD for ever: for in the LORD JEHOVAH is everlasting strength: {everlasting...: Heb. the rock of ages} Trust <batach> ye in the LORD <Y@hovah> for ever <`ad>: for in the LORD <Yahh> JEHOVAH <Y@hovah> is everlasting <`owlam> strength <tsuwr>:	Depend on GOD and keep at it because in the LORD GOD you have a sure thing. *The concept of eternal is missing
Isa 48:12	Hearken unto me, O Jacob and Israel, my called; I am he; I am the first, I also am the last.	...I'm the One who named you! I'm the One. I got things started and, yes, I'll wrap them up.
Rev 1:8	I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the ending, saith the Lord, which is, and which was, and which is to come, the Almighty.	The Master declares, "I'm A to Z. I'm THE GOD WHO IS, THE GOD WHO WAS, AND THE GOD ABOUT TO ARRIVE. I'm the Sovereign-Strong."
2Sa 22:2	And he said, The LORD is my rock, and my fortress, and my deliverer;	GOD is bedrock under my feet, the castle in which I live, my rescuing knight

It's noteworthy that The Message transforms Almighty God into a "rescuing knight" in three verses. This writer thought that perhaps the notion of a knights' armor was a foreign concept as "putting on the whole armour of God" is fully eliminated in Ephesians. The verses in Ephesians 6:11-18, prepare the believer with spiritual weapons in order to live a victorious life in Christ. And that includes "taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked. 17 And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God." By taking on that whole armour of God, referenced to in other passages in the Old and New Testaments, the believer is able to stand 'in the evil day.' Unfortunately, The Message reader/believer will not be girded with the armour of God.

About Messianic Prophecies & Other Prophecies

The Messianic prophecies which start in Genesis 1 are about being able to identify who the Messiah is. The prophecies build upon each other and intertwine to be fulfilled in Christ as recorded in the New Testament. Christ referenced many prophecies when speaking concerning himself and to tamper with the wording or change the meaning there or conversely in the OT, changes the correlation between the Old Testament and the New. Destroying that connection, is destroying who Christ is. The phrases referencing the previous Scriptures, or "as it is written", takes one very often to verses which no longer agree in doctrine or words in The Message. The many prophecies throughout the Scriptures, when changed, dissolve many doctrines. Eugene Peterson has successfully accomplished that task. We are reminded:

Eph 2:20 And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone;
Luke 24:27 And beginning at Moses and all the prophets, he expounded unto them in all the scriptures the things concerning himself.
Luke 24:44 And he said unto them, These are the words which I spake unto you, while I was yet with you, that all things must be fulfilled, which were written in the law of Moses, and in the prophets, and in the psalms, concerning me.

2 Peter 1:20 Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation.
21 For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost....

Please note, the following are merely some that have been documented.

	KJV	The Message	NASB	NIV	NKJV	NRSV
Gen 49:10	The sceptre shall not depart from Judah, nor a lawgiver from between his feet, until Shiloh come; and unto him shall the gathering of the people be	The scepter shall not leave Judah; he'll keep a firm grip on the command staff Until the ultimate ruler comes and the nations obey him	"The scepter shall not depart from Judah, Nor the ruler's staff from between his feet, Until Shiloh comes, And to him shall be the obedience of the peoples	The scepter will not depart from Judah, nor the ruler's staff from between his feet, until he comes to whom it belongs and the obedience of the nations is his	The scepter shall not depart from Judah, Nor a lawgiver from between his feet, Until Shiloh comes; And to Him shall be the obedience of the people.	The scepter shall not depart from Judah, nor the ruler's staff from between his feet, until tribute comes to him; and the obedience of the peoples is his
	** Shiloh is an epithet of the Messiah. There is no excuse for removing that reference.
Psalm 45:6-7	Thy throne, O God, is for ever and ever: the sceptre of thy kingdom is a right sceptre. 7 Thou lovest righteousness, and hatest wickedness: therefore God, thy God, hath anointed thee with the oil of gladness above thy fellows	"Your throne is God's throne, ever and always; The scepter of your royal rule measures right living. You love the right and hate the wrong...God, your very own God, poured ..., Marking you out as king...	Your throne, O God, is forever and ever; A scepter of uprightness is the scepter of Your kingdom ...loved righteousness and hated wickedness... above Your fellows	...will last for ever and ever; a scepter of justice will be the scepter of your kingdom. ...love righteousness and hate wickedness... set you above your companions	...is forever and ever; A scepter of righteousness is the scepter of Your kingdom. ...love righteousness and hate wickedness;... more than Your companions	...endures forever and ever. Your royal scepter is a scepter of equity; ...love righteousness and hate wickedness... beyond your companions;
Heb 1:8	But unto the Son he saith, Thy throne, O God, is for ever and ever: a sceptre of righteousness is the sceptre of thy kingdom	...to the Son, You're God, and on the throne for good; your rule makes everything right.	... of the Son He says, "YOUR THRONE, O GOD, IS FOREVER AND EVER, AND THE RIGHTEOUS SCEPTER IS THE SCEPTER OF HIS KINGDOM.	...about the Son he says, "Your throne, O God, will last for ever and ever, and righteousness will be the scepter of your kingdom.	...to the Son He says: "Your throne, O God, is forever and ever; A scepter of righteousness is the scepter of Your Kingdom	...of the Son he says, "Your throne, O God, is forever and ever, and the righteous scepter is the scepter of your kingdom

	KJV	The Message	NASB	NIV	NKJV	NRSV
Isaiah 53:10	Yet it pleased the LORD to bruise him; he hath put him to grief: when thou shalt make his soul an offering for sin, he shall see his seed, he shall prolong his days, and the pleasure of the LORD shall prosper in his hand.	...to crush him with pain. The plan was that he give himself as an offering for sin so that he'd see life come from it--life, life, and more life. And GOD's plan will deeply prosper through him.	...He will see His offspring, ...	... he will see his offspring...	...He shall see His seed,...	...he shall see his offspring,...
Isaiah 53:3	He is despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief: and we hid as it were our faces from him; he was despised, and we esteemed him not.	...One look at him and people turned away. We looked down on him, thought he was scum.	...like one from whom men hide their face He was despised, and we did not esteem Him.	... Like one from whom men hide their faces he was despised, and we esteemed him not.	...And we hid, as it were, our faces from Him; He was despised, and we did not esteem Him.	...as one from whom others hide their faces he was despised, and we held him of no account.

Esteem is to honor or respect. "We" did not think he was "scum."

Eugene Peterson went so far as to have Christ refer to Himself as 'dungface.'

Mat 10:25 "Be content--pleased, even--when you, my students, my harvest hands, get the same treatment I get. If they call me, the Master, 'Dungface,' what can the workers expect?" [The Message]

Matt 10:25 It is enough for the disciple that he be as his master, and the servant as his lord. If they have called the master of the house Beelzebub, how much more shall they call them of his household? [KJB] From Strong's Concordance >Beelzebub >of Chaldee origin (by parody on 1176); dung-god; Beelzebul, a name of Satan:--Beelzebub.

In searching various online slang dictionaries, there was no reference to 'dungface', although the stated purpose of Peterson's various word choices was to put God's Word into American street language.

	KJV	The Message	NASB	NIV	NKJV	NRSV
Matt 26:31	Then saith Jesus unto them, All ye shall be offended because of me this night: for it is written, I will smite the shepherd, and the sheep of the flock shall be scattered abroad	... you're going to fall to pieces because of what happens to me. There is a Scripture that says, I'll strike the shepherd; helter-skelter the sheep will be scattered.	... "You will all fall away because of Me this night, for it is written, 'I WILL STRIKE DOWN THE SHEPHERD, AND THE SHEEP OF THE FLOCK SHALL BE SCATTERED	..."This very night you will all fall away on account of me, for it is written: "'I will strike the shepherd, and the sheep of the flock will be scattered.'.	..."All of you will be made to stumble because of Me this night, for it is written: 'I will strike the Shepherd, And the sheep of the flock will be scattered.'	...You will all become deserters because of me this night; for it is written, 'I will strike the shepherd, and the sheep of the flock will be scattered.'
Mark 14:27	And Jesus saith unto them, All ye shall be offended because of me this night: for it is written, I will smite the shepherd, and the sheep shall be scattered.	..."You're all going to feel that your world is falling apart and that it's my fault. There's a Scripture that says, I will strike the shepherd; The sheep will go helter-skelter.	...*said to them, "You will all fall away, because it is written, 'I WILL STRIKE DOWN THE SHEPHERD, AND THE SHEEP SHALL BE SCATTERED.'	"You will all fall away," ... "for it is written: "'I will strike the shepherd, and the sheep will be scattered.	..."All of you will be made to stumble because of Me this night, for it is written: 'I will strike the Shepherd, And the sheep will be scattered.'	..."You will all become deserters; for it is written, 'I will strike the shepherd, and the sheep will be scattered.'
Zech 13:7	... smite the shepherd, and the sheep shall be scattered: and I will turn mine hand upon the little ones.	... Decree of GOD-of-the-Angel-Armies. "Kill the shepherd! Scatter the sheep! The back of my hand against even the lambs!

Helter skelter is the title of a Beatles song that Charles Manson based some of his satanic beliefs on. He believed that he was Christ and the Beatles were the four horsemen of the apocalypse and referred to that event from Revelation as helter skelter. He also believed that it was the battle cry of the final race war between blacks and whites, and believed the blacks would win. The Manson murders were referred to in the media as Helter Skelter. The Oxford English Dictionary further clarifies that a helter skelter is "a towerlike structure used in funfairs and pleasure grounds, with an external spiral passage for sliding down on a mat.", which is referenced to in the Beatles song. The Grose 1811 Dictionary defined it as, "To run helter skelter, hand over head, in defiance of order."9 The Urban Dictionary of Slang listed 8 possible meanings to helter skelter. Six referred to the Beatles song or ride, or Manson. Two referenced perverse murder or "pure and total chaos". 10. The majority appeared to vote that the most common or accepted use of helter skelter was with the Beatles song and Manson. It's what this writer first thought when noticing the use of the phrase.

The Scripture, prophecy, and words of our Lord Jesus Christ that Eugene Peterson perverted does not employ the phrase helter skelter as understood by most today. He used the phrase in 5 verses.

The Right hand symbolizes righteousness as demonstrated in Matt 25:33. The elimination of the phrase eliminates the concept of Christ's righteousness. Right alongside, or alongside does not mean it is the right side or right hand, but rather could be left or right.

KJV The Message NASB NIV NKJV NRSV

Psalm 110:1 <<A Psalm of David.>> The LORD said unto my Lord, Sit thou at my right hand, until I make thine enemies thy footstool. ...word of GOD to my Lord: "Sit alongside me here on my throne until I make your enemies a stool for your feet." The LORD says to my Lord: "Sit at My right hand Until I make Your enemies a footstool for Your feet." ...The LORD says to my Lord: "Sit at my right hand until I make your enemies a footstool for your feet." ...The LORD said to my Lord, "Sit at My right hand, Till I make Your enemies Your footstool." ...LORD says to my lord, "Sit at my right hand until I make your enemies your footstool."

Heb 1:3 Who being the brightness of his glory, and the express image of his person, and upholding all things by the word of his power, when he had by himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high; This Son perfectly mirrors God, and is stamped with God's nature. ...After he finished the sacrifice for sins, the Son took his honored place high in the heavens right alongside God, ...He is the radiance of His glory and the exact representation of His nature...
...He sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high
The Son is the radiance of God's glory and the exact representation of his being,...
he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty in heaven.
...being the brightness of His glory and the express image of His person,...
sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high,
...is the reflection of God's glory and the exact imprint of God's very being,...

he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high

Heb 10:12 But this man, after he had offered one sacrifice for sins for ever, sat down on the right hand of God; As a priest, Christ made a single sacrifice for sins, and that was it! Then he sat down right beside God ...He, having offered one sacrifice for sins for all time, SAT DOWN AT THE RIGHT HAND OF GOD ...this priest had offered for all time one sacrifice for sins, he sat down at the right hand of God ...this Man, after He had offered one sacrifice for sins forever, sat down at the right hand of God ...Christ had offered for all time a single sacrifice for sins, "he sat down at the right hand of God,

Psalm
110:5
The Lord at thy right hand shall strike through kings in the day of his wrath. The Lord stands true at your side...

The Lord is at Your right hand; The Lord is at your right hand The Lord is at Your right hand The Lord is at your right hand;

Ps 98:1-3 O sing unto the LORD a new song; for he hath done marvellous things: his right hand, and his holy arm, hath gotten him the victory.
The LORD hath made known his salvation: his righteousness hath he openly shewed in the sight of the heathen.

He hath remembered his mercy and his truth toward the house of Israel: all the ends of the earth have seen the salvation of our God.
...He rolled up his sleeves, He set things right.

GOD made history with salvation, He showed the world what he could do.

..The whole earth comes to attention. Look--God's work of salvation!
... His right hand and His holy arm have gained the victory for Him.

The LORD has made known His salvation; He has revealed His righteousness in the sight of the nations.

...all the ends of the earth have seen the salvation of our God
...his right hand and his holy arm have worked salvation for him.

The LORD has made his salvation known and revealed his righteousness to the nations.

... all the ends of the earth have seen the salvation of our God.
...His right hand and His holy arm have gained Him the victory.

The LORD has made known His salvation; His righteousness He has revealed in the sight of the nations.

... All the ends of the earth have seen the salvation of our God.
... His right hand and his holy arm have gotten him victory.

The LORD has made known his victory; he has revealed his vindication in the sight of the nations.

...All the ends of the earth have seen the victory of our God

It should be noted that The Message changes the use of 'the law ' or similar in the Old Testament. For example, in Nehemiah 10:34, we see the phrase, "... at times appointed year by year, to burn upon the altar of the LORD our God, as it is written in the law:" KJB In The Message, it becomes " ...bring wood for burning on the Altar of our GOD, following the yearly schedule set down in The Revelation." The Revelation is also used in v36; and in a total of 50 verses in the OT., including Joshua 8:31 which states, "the Book of The Revelation of Moses". The phrase is not used at all in the NT.

The 'law' is the torah, especially the Decalogue or Pentateuch. It does not refer to The Revelation. Peterson also used the phrase The or the Revelation when referring to the statute or ordinance of the law, and referred to "The Revelation that Moses presented..." for example in Deuteronomy 4:44 when it should say, "...this is the law <towrah> which Moses..."

The Message uses the term Revelation in a total of 5 verses in the NT, all in Romans. 2:17, 3:2, 3:20, 9:4, 10:4. Revelation 1:1 becomes:

Rev 1:1 A revealing of Jesus, the Messiah. God gave it to make plain... He published and delivered it by Angel...

KJB uses the phrase the revelation in the NT > 4x> Ro 16:25, Gal 1:12, 1 Peter 1:13, Rev 1:1 "The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave unto him..."

NAS95 uses the phrase the revelation > 1x OT 6x NT Dan 7:28, Ro 16:25, 1Cor 1:7, 1 Peter 1:7,13, 1Peter 4:13, as referring to the revelation of Jesus Christ or similar, and Rev 1:1 "The Revelation of Jesus Christ..."

NIV uses the phrase the revelation > 4x> Hab 2:2-3, Ro 16:25, Rev 1:1

NKJV uses the phrase the revelation > 6x> Ro 16:25, 1Cor 1:7, Gal 1:12, 1 Peter 1:7,13, 1Peter 4:13, Rev 1:1

NRSV uses the phrase the revelation > 2x > Ro 16:25, Rev 1:1

Although known as the 'ark of the covenant' to Jews and Christians over many years, The Message changed it to, "the chest of the covenant" in 35 verses, with only 2 referencing the 'ark'. KJB uses 'ark of the covenant 41 times, NASB -41, NIV-32, NKJB-41, NRSV-54. None used 'chest of the covenant.'

The Second Coming of Christ

	KJV	The Message	NASB	NIV	NKJV	NRSV
Matthew 25:13	the Son of man cometh	he might arrive	omitted	omitted	Son of Man is coming	omitted
1 Thess 3:13	your hearts unblameable in holiness before God, even our Father at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ with all his saints.	filled with confidence in the presence of God our Father when our Master Jesus arrives with all his followers.	at the coming of our Lord Jesus with all His saints.	when our Lord Jesus comes with all his holy ones.	coming of our Lord Jesus Christ with all His saints.	at the coming of our Lord Jesus with all his saints.
Titus 2:13	glorious appearing	glorious day	appearing of the glory	glorious appearing	glorious appearing	manifestation of the glory
Rev 11:15	... The kingdoms of this world are become the kingdoms of our Lord, and of his Christ	...The kingdom of the world is now the Kingdom of our God and his Messiah!	kingdom of our Lord, and of His Christ	kingdom of our Lord and of his Christ	kingdoms of our Lord and of His Christ	kingdom of our Lord and of his Messiah
Rev 11:17	Saying, We give thee thanks, O Lord God Almighty, which art, and wast, and art to come; because thou hast taken to thee thy great power, and hast reigned.	...sang, We thank you, O God, Sovereign-Strong, WHO IS AND WHO WAS. You took your great power and took over--reigned!	....O Lord God, the Almighty, who are and who were,...	...Lord God Almighty, the One who is and who was...	...O Lord God Almighty, The One who is and who was and who is to come...	....Lord God Almighty, who are and who were,...

We are reminded of the warnings found in Revelation 22:18-19:

"For I testify unto every man that heareth the words of the prophecy of this book, If
any man shall add unto these things, God shall add unto him the plagues that are written in this book: And if any man shall take away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part out of the book of life, and out of the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book." KJB

This article was split due to size. I would urge the reader to continue to the next section which is about The Message Doctrine & Gnostic or New Age Terms and Concepts

Related Articles

The Message Eugene Peterson's Opinion of The Bible ; The Message and Dr. Eugene Peterson

Eugene Peterson & His Ecumenical Connections ; The Message & NavPress Promotions

The Message Doctrine & Foundations of the Faith

The Message Doctrine & Gnostic or New Age Terms and Concepts

The Message Doctrine & Gnostic or New Age Terms and Concepts Cont.

The Message, Who Endorses and Promotes Eugene Peterson's Opinion of the Bible

Footnotes:

6.Christian Booksellers Association (CBA) http://www.cbaonline.org/TrackingLists/trx.jsp?w=t

7. www.kundalini-tantra.com/asabove1.html

8. email December 16, 2003 From Kristen Baldini at NavPress

9. http://www.fromoldbooks.org/Grose-VulgarTongue/h/helter-skelter.html

10. http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=helter+skelter

Copyrights:

THE MESSAGE: The Bible in Contemporary Language

This edition issued by contractual arrangement with NavPress, a division of The Navigators, U.S.A. Originally published by NavPress in English as THE MESSAGE: The Bible in Contemporary Language copyright 2002 by Eugene Peterson. All Rights Reserved.

Power Bible CD > KJB, NASB, NIV, NKJB, NRSV

The Power BibleCD program is Copyright ©1999-2005 Phil Lindner, Online Publishing, Inc. All rights reserved. Copyrighted Bible texts are published with permission by Online Publishing, Inc. (ROCKware Publishing). The copyright holders reserve all rights to their material.

The King James Version of the Holy Bible
KJV 1769 edition, public domain.

The New King James Version
Copyright ©1982, Thomas Nelson, Inc. All rights reserved. Used with permission.

The New International Version
Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984 by The International Bible Society. All rights reserved. Used by permission.

The New American Standard Bible
The New American Standard Bible 1995 Update
"Scripture taken from the NEW AMERICAN STANDARD BIBLE(r), Copyright (c) 1960,1962,1963,1968,1971,1972,1973,1975,1977,1995 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission."

The New Revised Standard Version
Copyrighted ©1989 by the Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used with permission.

Strong's Greek and Hebrew Dictionary
Taken from Strong's Exhaustive Concordance, by James Strong, S.T.D., LL.D., 1890. Public domain.

All Scriptures from the KJB

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