The Free Translation Method

  The free method of Bible translation presents the Biblical message in a style that is often considered more of a paraphrase of the original text rather than a literal or dynamic equivalent. Bibles that use this method include the Living Bible and the Phillips Bible but perhaps the most well known one is The Message. Because of the popularity of The Message and since it is the one I am most familiar with I will use it as an example of this translation method. The Message and other Bibles that use this translation method have been widely embraced because they are often easy to read or understand. A review by Kevin Kelly of The Message found here gives some insight as to why this translation method would be popular. He states, “At least once in your life you should read the Bible all the way through because it does not say what you expect it to say, no matter what you expect it to say. Here is the translation of the Bible you want to read: The Message. This new street-wise paraphrase is looser than a translation and so irks purists. But it is storming Christian campuses and youth groups with its boldness, readability, and strong vernacular. Translated by one amazing guy, it’s as far from old King James as one can imagine. For those who find the Bible warmed-over old news, The Message is like reading it for the first time.”

   The Message has found much acceptance in the Christian community but there are also many who appose such a translation as noted by Kevin Kelly above. This opposition is largely due to disagreements in how the Biblical scriptures are presented when paraphrased. One example of this opposition can be found at this link from Kjos Ministries in which they refer to Eugene Peterson who authored The Message, “What does Eugene Peterson himself say? In his introduction to The Message, he tells us that ‘This version of the New Testament in a contemporary idiom keeps the language of the Message and fresh and understandable in the same language in which we do our shopping, talk with our friends, worry about world affairs, and teach our children their table manners….’ This sounds like a good idea, but what if essential Biblical concepts are not part of our everyday conversation?  Should we then rewrite God’s holy Scriptures to fit today’s more shallow and worldly communications? Remember, we are dealing with God’s holy unchangeable Word – not an ordinary book. God owns His message, we don’t. Only His own, well-guarded words can be presented as absolute truth.” This site also provides many convincing examples of how the verses can be mistranslated. Another good example of opposition with scriptural comparisons can be found at this site by Michael D. Marlowe.

    My goal is not to review The Message but the method that was used to write it and other Bibles like it. Even with all of the debate the Biblical paraphrases or free translations can serve some purpose in providing insight when properly translated but they also lack strength as a study tool. Gordon D. Fee and Douglas Stuart make this point well in their book, How to Read the Bible for All Its Worth, when discussing some of the Bibles written in this style, “On the one hand, these renditions often have especially fresh and vivid ways of expressing some old truths and thus each have served to stimulate contemporary Christians to take a fresh look at their Bibles. On the other hand, such a ‘translation’ often comes very close to being a commentary, but without other options made available to the reader. Therefore, as stimulating as these can sometimes be, they are never intended to be a person’s only Bible; and the reader needs constantly to check particular eye-catching moments against a true translation or commentary to make sure that not too much freedom has been taken.”