The Message (MSG) is a contemporary paraphrase by Eugene Peterson that restates Scripture in fresh, conversational English, while the New American Bible Revised Edition (NABRE) is a formal, scholarly translation produced by Catholic biblical scholars for study and liturgical use. The short answer: choose The Message for devotional reading that feels like hearing the text for the first time, and choose the NABRE for careful study, Catholic liturgy, or a reading that stays close to the original languages. Both are widely read, but they serve different purposes.
Background
The Message grew out of Eugene Peterson’s own practice of reading the Bible aloud and rewording passages for his congregation and family. It was published as a complete Bible in 2002, after the New Testament had appeared in 1993. Peterson was a pastor and professor, and the work reflects a pastor’s ear for how ordinary people speak and pray. It is published by NavPress and is associated with the evangelical tradition.
The NABRE is the Catholic Church’s English Bible for use in the United States. It descends from the New American Bible, first completed in the early 1970s by a team of Catholic scholars, and was revised over the following decades, with the most recent full revision completed in the 2010s. Its text is approved for liturgical use in the American Church, and its notes and introductions are written from a Catholic scholarly viewpoint. It also includes the deuterocanonical books, such as Tobit and Sirach, woven into the Old Testament.
Translation Method
The Message is a paraphrase. Peterson did not work from a single standard text with fixed rules for each word. Instead, he rendered the sense of a passage in idiomatic modern speech, often expanding a short phrase into a full sentence so that its meaning lands in everyday language. This makes the text vivid and easy to follow, but it also means individual word choices are Peterson’s interpretation, not a one-to-one match with the original Hebrew or Greek.
The NABRE takes a more formal approach. It aims for accuracy to the original languages while still reading as natural English, and it is built on a close reading of the best available manuscripts. Its wording tends to stay near the structure of the original sentences, so a reader can often trace a phrase back to a particular Greek or Hebrew term. The trade-off is that some passages read less smoothly than a paraphrase, and the rhythm may feel more formal to a first-time reader.
Reading Level and Style
The Message is written at a plain, conversational level, and many readers find it among the easiest Bibles to read straight through. Its sentences move quickly, its images are domestic and familiar, and it often reads like a letter or a story rather than a legal or historical document. Some readers, however, find the casual tone distracting when a passage calls for solemnity, and the paraphrase can smooth over difficult or ambiguous lines that a study Bible would leave open.
The NABRE reads as a careful, dignified English Bible. Its vocabulary is more traditional and its sentences are closer in shape to the originals, which suits slow reading, group study, and public reading in worship. Its notes and footnotes add historical and textual context, which helps readers who want to understand why a passage says what it says. It is less casual than The Message, but it is still written in clear, modern English.
A Verse to Compare
Psalm 23:1
The LORD is my shepherd: I shall lack nothing.
(WEB)
This familiar opening of the shepherd psalm shows the difference in approach clearly. The Message tends to turn the core image into an easy, personal statement, emphasizing the sense of being cared for and lacking nothing. The NABRE keeps closer to the structure of the Hebrew, so its wording stays recognizable to anyone who has memorized the psalm in a more literal version. Both express the same confidence in God as shepherd, but one invites you to hear it as a plain conversation and the other as a text to be studied and prayed over with care.
Who Should Use It
The Message suits readers who find traditional translations hard to get into, or who want a fresh way to encounter familiar passages during personal devotions. It is a strong choice for reading a book from start to finish, and many people use it as a companion to a more literal Bible. Its limit is that a paraphrase cannot replace a word-for-word translation when you need to check how a term is used across the Bible, so it is best read alongside a more formal text.
The NABRE suits Catholic readers, students of Scripture, and anyone who wants a scholarly English text tied closely to the original languages. Its footnotes and introductions are especially helpful for group study and for understanding the historical setting. Its limit is that its more formal style can feel slower to readers who are new to the Bible, so some may prefer to start with a more readable version and move to the NABRE for deeper study.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is The Message a complete Bible translation?
The Message is a complete Bible, though it is a paraphrase rather than a formal translation. Eugene Peterson rendered every book in contemporary English, so it can be read from Genesis to Revelation. Readers who want to study word choices closely often pair it with a more literal version.
Does the NABRE include the deuterocanonical books?
Yes, the NABRE includes the deuterocanonical books, such as Tobit, Judith, Sirach, and Wisdom, in the Old Testament. These books are part of the Catholic canon and are placed in their traditional order. Protestant Bibles generally do not include them.
Which should I read if I am new to the Bible?
A newcomer may find The Message easier to start with because its language is direct and familiar. Once the stories and themes feel more familiar, the NABRE can be a good next step for deeper reading. Using both at different stages can give you both warmth and precision.
