The following is from the introduction to “Working the Angles” written by Eugene Peterson. Peterson is most known for his “translation” of the Bible called “The Message.” Read along as he offers this stinging criticism of today’s pastoral leadership.
American pastors are abandoning their posts, left and right, and at an alarming rate. They are not leaving their churches and getting other jobs. Congregations still pay their salaries. Their names remain on the church stationary and they continue to appear in pulpits on Sundays. But they are abandoning their posts, their calling. They have gone whoring after other gods. What they do with their time under the guise of pastoral ministry hasn’t the remotest connection with what the church’s pastors have done for most of twenty centuries.
A few of us are angry about it. We are angry because we have been deserted…. It is bitterly disappointing to enter a room full of people whom you have every reason to expect share the quest and commitments of pastoral work and find within ten minutes that they most definitely do not. They talk of images and statistics. They drop names. They discuss influence and status. Matters of God and the soul and Scripture are not grist for their mills.
The pastors of America have metamorphosed into a company of shopkeepers, and the shops they keep are churches. They are preoccupied with shopkeeper’s concerns–how to keep the customers happy, how to lure customers away from competitors down the street, how to package the goods so that the customers will lay out more money.
Some of them are very good shopkeepers. They attract a lot of customers, pull in great sums of money, develop splendid reputations. Yet it is still shopkeeping; religious shopkeeping, to be sure, but shopkeeping all the same. The marketing strategies of the fast-food franchise occupy the waking minds of these entrepreneurs; while asleep they dream of the kind of success that will get the attention of journalists.
The biblical fact is that there are no successful churches. There are, instead, communities of sinners, gathered before God week after week in towns and villages all over the world. The Holy Spirit gathers them and does his work in them. In these communities of sinners, one of the sinners is called pastor and given a designated responsibility in the community. The pastor’s responsibility is to keep the community attentive to God. It is this responsibility that is being abandoned in spades.
In 2002 NavPress published “The Message” as a translation of the Bible, but anyone who reads it knows that it is a commentary; chocked full of his personal opinions and theology. 
So why did Peterson publish his commentary as a “translation”? The answer is simple, he wanted to make more money! There is no profit in publishing commentaries, but Bible translations sell a lot of copies! Peterson, and his publishing house, makes a lot of profit by allowing his opinions to be published as a “Bible translation.” Just like the pastors he condemns (once again making profit while condemning others for seeking the same) Peterson has played every imaginable angle to market his “junk food” bible and get the attention of journalists. While it may be true that many pastors have “gone whoring after other gods,” Peterson has pimped the Scripture and created an entire industry of Bible study based on his deceptive marketing of a commentary as a Bible translation.
So I am left wondering, how can Peterson be so critical of others who are only emulating what he himself has done? I wonder, if Eugene Peterson reads the forward to his own book, will he finally get the message?
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Don’t beat around the bush, Joe; tell us how you really feel.
I actually quite like Peterson’s works, including The Message. Granted, I treat it as a nice tool, a paraphrase, and not as an actual translation. But I like it, and in places it’s quite effective (I used Psalm 11, for example, on the Sunday after 9/11/01).
What exactly is your problem with The Message, other than the fact that it’s marketed as a translation rather than a paraphrase?
It is not a matter of liking or disliking his work; it is a matter of integrity; both his personal integrity and the integrity of God’s Word.
Regarding his personal integrity, Peterson makes a rather broad condemnation of “American pastors” for things he himself has done.
Regarding Scriptural integrity, would it be acceptable to publish John Wesley’s notes and call them the John Wesley Translation? Of course not. But Peterson tookk the path of profit over honesty.
I will post a blog on some specific issues to help clarify my concerns about the Message as a “translation” and why I reject Peterson’s marketing scheme.
Yeah…I appreciate the strategic criticisms; I was wondering what your specific problems with The Message are, other than how it’s marketed. I like some of his other work as well.
That is a fair question. I will answer it in a new blog.
One other concern has recently come to light. Peterson is very critical of pastors who create a false image so that they will gain respect. The irony is that most bios refer to Peterson as “Dr.” and say he is a Greek and/or Hebrew scholar. Yet it appears his title of “Dr.” is a bit deceptive. Eugene Peterson has 3 honorary doctorates from Seattle Pacific University, Messiah and Northwestern, but has NO EARNED DOCTORAL degrees in any language! I am left to wonder, why does he call himself “Dr. Peterson” when he has no earned degree?
I find it hard to believe that people are not out raged at The Message. This has no resembalance to God’s Word, None. I was brought up in a cult, so I hold Gods word precious, and to even call this abomination a commentary is poor.
This is an open attempt to totaly change God’s word. Period. If you can not see this, then I wonder how familiar one is with God’s word.
This is how cults are formed. I was brought up in one.
Only Gods word alone no other books, no abomination like The Message are to be placed next to God’s word.
I sound harsh, because I was headed for hell because of man’s words that were suppose to be from God. Well they were not. So most of my family is in the cult, and we even have a cult member running for president. See it gets around fast. I plead with you, do not trade God’s word for a cheap trashy man’s point. Christine
To say God says “____” when in fact God didn’t say “___” is blasphemy.
The “Message” is blasphemy to the extent that is says things God did not in fact say. I don’t know which verses are blasphemy, but I can’t risk being complicit in this adultery of Scripture.
I apologize for being late to the party and I may not be seeing all comments here but I understand your stated conclusion and some of your propositions. Unfortunately you have failed to make a valid argument other than empty assertions.
First are you saying that Peterson’s criticisms of pastors are incorrect? If so I disagree.
If you are angry because you feel he is being hypocritical in making these comments, as I believe you are, then the burden for a valid argument is to show his commission of the faults he criticizes. You haven’t even attempted to do so except to say that his translation is more a commentary than a translation, and that fact proves his sole motivation for publishing is personal gain and greed. The questions that you leave unanswered are: 1. Why specifically do you say The Message a commentary rather than a translation? And 2. If it is a commentary how do you know his motivation to write it stems only from his desire for money and fame? I could just as easily say that you are writing this blog for much the same reason.
Peterson’s other works, of which I have read several, are sincere, accessible, and consistent with regards to the stated intent in each which suggests a motivation much apart from greed as you have fallaciously suggested.
Please if you want to blog at least be competent enough to support your statements. Not doing so reduces intellectual discussion to opinionated babble and I sense that you really have something to say. This world is starving for intelligent compassionate voices that are concerned with ethical why and how over individual personal interests. We all bring our errors to the table, the trick is to be aware of them and correct what you can. Are you up to the challenge?
Eugene Peterson created a charitable fund with the money made with the Message.
Re: degrees and being called dr. It has more to do with the marketing strategies of the publishing houses than the author himself. He prefers to be called Eugene and sees his identity as child of God and his vocation as a pastor/writer.
Its one thing to debate about the Message as commentary or translation, quite another to do a character assassination…
daleatdove,
As I said in my post, I do agree with the concerns at the heart of Peterson’s message. As a pastor, I address many of those same concerns throughout my blog.
In several places in my original post, I link to the series of posts that give my rationale behind calling the message a commentary. Considering your concern that I did not give such a basis, I doubt you read the post very carefully (either that, or you simply are not able to grasp the content).
daveatdove and thomas, even if profit is not his motive, it IS the motive of the publishers and Peterson ALLOWS his work to be published for PROFIT as a translation. Even if he gave away his profits, which you assert without any authority, there is still no excuse for such a deception, and it is a deception!!!
thomas, your entire second paragraph makes my point for me. If the publisher has decided to “market” “Dr.” Peterson in a way that violates Peterson’s personal convictions (as you suggest again without any authority) then he sold his convictions for a price.. and then he is the same kind of pastor he judges in his book.
Neither of you have public profiles so I have no way of knowing who you are, your motives for posting or the integrity of your statements. Regardless, I let your posts come through because I stand behind the preservation of the Scripture and your post were a good opportunity to remind people why that is important. When it comes to people abusing Scripture for their own goal–no one is above reasoned criticism. Assuming you guys are really open minded in your posts, I hope this helps you gain some perspective on this topic.
Dear Maddam and Sir,
When you paraphrase are you not translating?
In the last days even God and His holy inspired Word seems to no longer sufficient for this generation.
2 PETER 3 1-17 (KJV)
1 ¶ This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come.
2 For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy,
3 Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good,
4 Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God;
5 Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away.
6 For of this sort are they which creep into houses, and lead captive silly women laden with sins, led away with divers lusts,
7 Ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth.
8 Now as Jannes and Jambres withstood Moses, so do these also resist the truth: men of corrupt minds, reprobate concerning the faith.
9 But they shall proceed no further: for their folly shall be manifest unto all men, as theirs also was.
10 ¶ But thou hast fully known my doctrine, manner of life, purpose, faith, longsuffering, charity, patience,
11 Persecutions, afflictions, which came unto me at Antioch, at Iconium, at Lystra; what persecutions I endured: but out of them all the Lord delivered me.
12 Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution.
13 But evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse, deceiving, and being deceived.
14 But continue thou in the things which thou hast learned and hast been assured of, knowing of whom thou hast learned them;
15 And that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.
16 All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:
17 That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.
Flee from them. Even the name Lord Jesus is not mentioned in the paraphrase-translation. God have mercy on Peterson. God have mercy on us all.
Be well & God bless
in Lord Jesus name
b simmons
Eugene is a friend of mine. He is a very shy, private, quiet and self-effacing man, very humble, lives very modestly in a modest old house in Montana that was his parents’ (which I’ve visited). He doesn’t like all the fame that has come to him from the way The Message has been marketed. Well, he pretty much ignores it and stays out of the limelight. Yes, he agreed to do the “translation” in the beginning when they asked him to do it, and of course that included the understanding that it would be published. He never pitched it to them; he’d done this sort of thing before on one book of the Bible for a small group he was leading or a class or something, and someone got wind of it, liked it and asked him to do the whole Bible, and he agreed. But he had no idea it would turn into the phenomenon it has. In fact, none of his books had ever been very popular until the Message came out. He was a nobody (even most of the parishioners in his church in Maryland didn’t know he was also an author in addition to being their pastor), so he didn’t think many copies of it would sell. Once the horse was out of the barn, he had no control over it. The publisher markets it and repackages it however they like. People take advantage of his name now. Even the bookstore at Regent College, where he used to teach, had a big Eugene Peterson table at the front to woo people into the store, and he hated that.
He does have an honorary doctorate from Seattle Pacific University, which entitles him to be called Dr. But he doesn’t use the honorific himself. Others like to use that title of him evidently because it helps them to market his stuff (which it does). He is not one to confront people about that, even if it bothers him. He’s not that strong a personality. He pretty much keeps quiet unless spoken to. That’s how he is in person. But he’s so easygoing anyway that nothing seems to perturb him. If people want to call him Dr., he isn’t going to stop them. He doesn’t care what other people think of him, and is pretty oblivious to most of it. He doesn’t use the Internet or email.
While I don’t have personal knowledge or documentation about any charitable foundation (I’m sure he keeps that very private if he has one), it fits with who I know he is. There is no evidence of lavish spending on himself or his family. He has not let being the author of The Message get to his head. He is still who he’s always been. I really admire him for that.
> “So why did Peterson publish his commentary as a “translation”? The answer is simple, he wanted to make more money! There is no profit in publishing commentaries, but Bible translations sell a lot of copies! … Peterson has pimped the Scripture and created an entire industry of Bible study based on his deceptive marketing of a commentary as a Bible translation.”
That is *so* not Eugene, I can’t even begin to tell you in a way you’d believe it.
Hi Rosie,
Thank you for your personal insight on Mr Peterson.
I reread this post at least twice a year and reevaluate my comments… I have reworded this post many times in an effort to address the issues as I see them without making any unfounded personal attack on Mr. Peterson (who is my brother in Christ). I appreciate your perspective on his desire for privacy, yet from my perspective he was not shy in his condemnation of Pastors in his books “Working the Angles“. So if Mr, Peterson felt genuinely bad about how his “translation” work has been abused for profit, I have no reason to doubt that he would demonstrate that same moral courage of conviction, overcome his shyness, come out, and speak his mind on the issue.
I have tried to contact Mr. Peterson directly on at least 3 occasions over the past decade (my first attempt was before I published a similar article to this one many years ago). I prefer always to talk with people first before I post a negative critique, but some people are hard to find and others are not willing to respond to requests from unknown writers like myself. In a related example, my interviews with authors Frank Viola and George Barna and Paul Young (all posted on this blog) certainly helped shape my review of their books.
If Mr. Peterson would like to go on the record and clarify any errors I have penned or make official his view on how The Message has been used, I would be honoured to have a conversation with him. if you email me at “nospam [at] emerginglife.org” I will give you my cell phone number where Mr. Peterson can call me directly at any time.
Blessings
Oh and Rosie, I am sorry we could not meet at the Seattle Camp Logos, but maybe one day soon.
Yeah, I was disappointed not to see you there (and you owed me a cup of coffee, I think), but I guess now that you’re a Logos employee you don’t really need the seminar anymore. Martha and Richard and I enjoyed meeting each other.
I probably won’t call or write especially just to ask Eugene if he wants to address your concerns. He gets lots of individuals flaming him, and I’m sure he’s not interested in trying to defend himself against each one. He really isn’t worried about what his reputation is in public. Of course anyone who writes books for publication has to be willing to have people who disagree with their stance take potshots at them, and he’s not fazed by it. But I’ll see him next spring at a retreat he’s speaking at on faith and technology, and if I remember it I could bring it up.
Incidentally, I agree with you that The Message probably better described as a commentary or paraphrase (with one man’s theological bias) than a translation, but that doesn’t make it worthless in my eyes. I actually have only read bits and snatches of it. I proofread 1 & 2 Samuel for him. I love what he does with some parts — especially NT epistles, but think he got the feel of the Psalms all awkward. Even for what he was trying to do — which was not a literal word-for-word translation but more imaginative/creative story-telling of the original narratives, I don’t think he quite succeeded. But it has its strengths. I don’t think it deserves the vehement reactions it has gotten by some reviewers. It isn’t trying to be an ESV or a NASB. He does know Greek and Hebrew and did use the original manuscripts as his source, and did march through them verse by verse, but he added a lot of flowery language in his attempt to make the text come alive again to people who have gotten so familiar with one particular version they hear over and over that they aren’t really listening to it anymore when they hear it read at church.
There are some particular turns of phrase in it which I think are brilliant and gripping: e.g., “The Word became flesh and blood and moved into the neighborhood.” Of course it’s not what the underlying text was really saying, but is it really all that far off from what Jesus does with us? Think of The Message as one giant exploration in metaphor. Kind of midrashic in some ways.
Anyway, I respect your viewpoints and you defended them with plenty of examples right out of the book, so I’m not expecting to change your mind about the content. I just don’t think ad hominem arguments are a productive use of your blog, particularly when you didn’t really know the person and were making some pretty big assumptions about his level of greed and intentional deceptiveness.
Dona nobis pacem.
— Rosie
You really should get a different photo, you look like a pedophile stalker. No condemnation in that statement, just my own perception. I agree with your position and have done extensive study of the Message myself. It detracts and does indeed change the true message of the Word of God.