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Review: Eugene H Peterson's THE MESSAGE

1st April 2007, hej

 

2) Does The Message paraphrase translation pass the Bible's own test?

The Bible's test

You shall not add to the word which I command you, neither shall you remove from out of it, that you may keep the commandments of the LORD your God which I command you. (Deuteronomy 4:2)
Every word of God is pure: he is a shield unto them that put their trust in him. Add you not unto his words, lest he reprove you, and you be found a liar. (Proverbs 30:5-6)
For I testify unto every person that hears the words of the prophecy of this book, If any person shall add unto these things, God shall add unto them the plagues that are written in this book: And if any person shall take away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away their part out of the book of life, and out of the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book. (Revelation 22:18-19).

The condemnation of those who add to the words of God is serious. Special care must be taken when translating that words are not added or taken away. The Jews who copied the text ensured that not one letter or word was to be added or left out. In Hebrew such English joining words or clarification of relationship such as 'and', 'he' 'she' or 'it', 'beside' and 'of' are not words, but prefixes or suffixes. Hebrew words are concepts, or things, adjectives or nouns.

God is very severe regarding the fate of those adding and subtracting words from Revelation as it his message to his servants (Revelation 1:1) Adding or subtracting can change the sense of the message and inhibit communication and a lack of clear communication damages relationships.

Three passages from Peterson's 'The Message' (PTM) were randomly selected

Topics: translation
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