Saw this today...
Should We Use Eugene Peterson's The Message?
I recognize The Message for what it is, with all its strengths and weaknesses. This week's controversy has not changed that.
By Michael Brown Published on July 14, 2017
https://stream.org/use-eugene-petersons-message/
In the aftermath of Eugene Peterson's controversial remarks about homosexuality, followed by his retraction, many have asked me if they should still use The Message. My answer remains the same today as it has always been: The Message is not a translation and should not be used as your primary Bible. However, as
a very free paraphrase,
it is sometimes powerful and brilliant while
at other times it is seriously off target....
...But, to repeat: It should never be used as your primary Bible, since it is
not a translation of the Bible but rather a free paraphrase of the Bible. And whenever I see people carrying The Message into church services, I
groan, since I assume that, for those people, it is their Bible.
Use it, then, in a supplemental way and, where it really nails things or clarifies things, learn from it. But use it with caution: It is,
by design, a very free paraphrase.
In sum, my view today of The Message is the same as it has been for years, unchanged by the controversial events of this week. I appreciate the years of effort that were put into it, and I recognize it for what it is, with all its great strengths and great weaknesses.
For a fair assessment of Dr. Peterson's comments and retraction this week, see Bill Muehlenberg's article here.(URL link)