The Message New Testament: The New Testament in Contemporary Language

Born a King. Bearing a Kingdom.When Jesus is born in a small town outside a minor provincial capital, few suspect the destiny awaiting him. But tremors felt among shepherds, kings, and angels foreshadow a seismic shift that will one day ripple across the globe.Thirty years later, he emerges a dynamic preacher claiming to be the Son of God. In town after town, many attack his audacious claim and conspire to kill him. And when he falls under the harsh glare of one of historys greatest empires, death will stand between him and his destiny.In the aftermath, a small group bands together?loyalists following his example and spreading his teaching. As they do, his flesh-and-blood life begins to transform them into a Kingdom that will have no end.The story of Jesus and the movement he started is one that we all think we know. The Message brings us back to this story in all its wonderful strangeness.?Ian Cron, coauthor of The Road Back to You”Peterson shines in his breathtaking translation of the cadence and eloquence of Biblical poetry in particular, bringing it alive with vitality, wisdom, and hope.”?Tosca Lee, New York Times bestselling authorA fabulous resource for teaching busy young people in contemporary terms and bringing scripture into a modern age.?Lisa Wingate, New York Times bestselling author of Before We Were YoursIt returns us to the humble language of ordinary people. It invites us to stumble not over language but over Jesus, that he might become the capstone of our lives.?Amy Julia Becker, author of A Good and Perfect Gift and White Picket FencesBoth poetic and prophetic, penetrating the spirit in a powerful way.?Mark Batterson, New York Times bestselling author of The Circle Maker From the Publisher Nearly 8 million copies of The Message already sold. THE NEW TESTAMENT LIKE YOUVE NEVER READ IT BEFORE. It is commonly assumed that a book dealing with a holy God should sound elevated, stately, and ceremonial. If this is how youve always viewed the New Testament, youre about to make a surprising discovery. One of the most striking features of the New Testament is that it was written in the street language of the day–the idiom of the playground and marketplace, not the formal, lofty language of government decrees and historical documents. Written in the rhythms and idiom of contemporary language–the way youd talk with friends, write a letter, or discuss politics–The Message brings out the expressive, earthy flavor of the New Testament. Which means that, whether youve been reading the Bible for years or are exploring it for the first time, The Message will startle and surprise you. And it will allow you to experience firsthand the same power and directness that motivated its original readers to change the course of history many centuries ago. About the Author EUGENE H. PETERSON is a writer, poet, and retired pastor. He has authored more than thirty-four books (not including The Message). He is Professor Emeritus of Spiritual Theology at Regent College in Vancouver, British Columbia. Eugene also founded Christ Our King Presbyterian Church in Bel Air, Maryland, where he ministered for twenty-nine years. After teaching at a seminary, he created The Message, a vibrant Bible paraphrase that connects with today’s readers like no other. It took Peterson ten years to complete. He worked not from any English text but from the original Hebrew and Greek texts to guarantee authenticity. At the same time, his ear was always tuned to the cadence and energy of the English spoken every day on the streets. He lives with his wife, Jan, in Montana.