The New King James Version (NKJV) and The Message (MSG) are both English Bibles, but they are built on opposite ideas of what a translation should do. The NKJV aims to stay as close as English allows to the wording of the original Hebrew, Aramaic and Greek, so you read something that looks and sounds like Scripture. The MSG, by Eugene Peterson, sets out to say the meaning of each passage in everyday American speech, so you read something that feels like a conversation. The NKJV suits careful study, memorization and preaching from exact wording. The MSG suits a first encounter with the text, devotional reading, and readers who find older English hard to follow.
Background
The NKJV was published in 1982 by Thomas Nelson as a revision of the King James Version of 1611. Its translators kept the familiar sentence rhythm and the traditional vocabulary of the King James while updating the words that most readers no longer use, such as “thee” and “thou,” and correcting wording the team judged to rest on weaker manuscript evidence. Many churches chose it because it sounded like the Bible they grew up with.
The MSG was not produced by a committee. Eugene Peterson, a pastor and professor, worked on it as a single translator, beginning with the New Testament and later the full Bible. It was published in stages, with the complete Bible appearing in 2002. Peterson described his work as a paraphrase, a deliberate reworking of the text into contemporary idiom, and it has been received warmly by many readers and criticized by others for taking liberties with the wording.
Translation Method
The NKJV follows a formal equivalence method, sometimes called word-for-word. Translators aim to keep each Hebrew or Greek term mapped to a consistent English term, and they leave the grammar and sentence structure close to the source even when a modern English sentence would be smoother. The result is a text you can check against the original language with reasonable confidence, which is why it is valued for detailed Bible study and for close comparison of key terms across passages.
The MSG uses a free, paraphrastic method. Peterson often restates whole clauses, changes figures of speech, and expands a sentence to make its point clear to a reader with no background in the ancient world. This gives you a vivid, quick read, and it can bring out an idea that a literal rendering leaves buried. The cost is that a single phrase in the MSG may reflect the translator’s reading of the passage as much as the wording of the original, so it is less useful for examining exact terms.
Reading Level and Style
The NKJV reads in a formal, slightly elevated register. Its sentences are often long, and its vocabulary, though updated, still carries the cadence of older English prose. Readers who are comfortable with that style find it dignified and memorable, while newer readers may need to slow down and reread certain passages to follow the grammar.
The MSG reads in plain, conversational American English, with short sentences, familiar images and a tone that can feel like a friend explaining a story. Many people who have struggled to get through Leviticus or the Epistles in other versions find the MSG easier to follow. Because its style is so informal, some readers feel it softens the weight of certain passages, so it is often read alongside a more literal text.
A Verse to Compare
Psalm 23:1
The LORD is my shepherd: I shall lack nothing.
(WEB)
This short line shows the difference clearly. The NKJV keeps the traditional structure, with the Lord as shepherd and the statement that the speaker lacks nothing, so it sounds like the psalm many readers have memorized. The MSG turns the same confidence into a more personal, plain statement about having everything needed, so the sense of trust comes through in ordinary words. Both render the same Hebrew idea, but one leans toward the familiar cadence of older English and the other toward immediate clarity.
Who Should Use It
Choose the NKJV if you are studying a passage closely, comparing key words, preparing a sermon or lesson, or you simply prefer the rhythm of traditional English. Its limits are that its sentences can be demanding for new readers and that its wording still follows older English patterns in places. It works best as a primary study text or a companion to a modern translation.
Choose the MSG if you want a fresh way into familiar passages, are reading with a younger person or a newcomer, or find a more literal text hard to stay with. Its limits are that it is a paraphrase, so its phrasing can reflect interpretation as well as translation, and it is best used alongside a formal version when you want to test a particular word or claim.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the NKJV more accurate than the MSG?
The NKJV follows the wording of the original languages more closely, so it is better suited to checking specific terms. The MSG is a paraphrase meant to convey meaning in plain language, which is a different goal rather than a lower standard. Each serves a different kind of reading.
Can I use the MSG for serious Bible study?
Many people use the MSG for devotional reading and for fresh insight into a passage. For detailed study, it works best as a second text beside a formal translation. That way you can notice where the paraphrase adds emphasis and check it against the more literal wording.
Why do people still choose the NKJV over newer translations?
Many readers grew up with the King James tradition and value its familiar cadence and vocabulary. The NKJV keeps that sound while updating archaic words. Churches that read aloud or memorize Scripture often find this continuity helpful.
