The NASB and The Message are two very different tools for reading Scripture. The NASB is a word-for-word translation built for close study, while The Message is a thought-for-thought paraphrase written to read like contemporary English prose. If you want to examine the exact wording of a passage, the NASB suits you best; if you want a fresh, conversational way into a familiar text, The Message may speak to you more directly.
Background
The New American Standard Bible was produced by the Lockman Foundation, with its first complete New Testament appearing in the early 1960s and the full Bible following in 1971. It was revised several times over the following decades, most notably in 1995 and again in 2020, with the aim of keeping close to the original Hebrew, Aramaic and Greek while improving readability where the earlier edition had grown stiff. It has long been popular in conservative evangelical circles and among pastors who preach from the text line by line.
The Message was written by Eugene Peterson, a pastor and professor, and published in stages beginning with the New Testament in 1993 and the complete Bible in 2002. Peterson worked from the original languages but set out to capture the tone and rhythm of the text in everyday American speech. It was never meant as a formal study translation, and Peterson himself often described it as a paraphrase, which helps explain why it is read so differently from the NASB.
Translation Method
The NASB follows an essentially word-for-word approach. Where the original uses a particular term, the NASB tries to render it with a consistent English equivalent, and it often keeps the sentence order of the source language. The result can sound formal or even awkward at times, but it allows a reader to notice repeated words, grammatical emphasis and the way one idea connects to the next, which is why it is a favorite for detailed Bible study.
The Message takes the opposite path. Peterson restated each passage in his own fresh phrasing, focusing on the meaning and emotional force of the sentence rather than preserving each word. This makes the text feel immediate and personal, sometimes surprising. The trade-off is that a single English sentence in The Message may stand for a concept that the original expresses through several separate words, so it is less useful for tracing specific terms across a book.
Reading Level and Style
Readers often find the NASB more demanding than a modern paraphrase. Its sentences can be long and its vocabulary is deliberately consistent rather than varied, so it rewards patience. It reads more like a careful reference work than a book you pick up for pleasure, though many people grow comfortable with its rhythm after a few weeks of regular reading.
The Message reads with the ease of a contemporary essay or a good conversation. Its sentences are short, its idioms are current, and it often uses dialogue and vivid comparisons to bring out a scene. This accessibility is its great appeal, especially for someone encountering the stories for the first time, but it also means the reader is always receiving Peterson’s interpretation alongside the text.
A Verse to Compare
Psalm 23:1-3
1 The LORD is my shepherd: I shall lack nothing. 2 He makes me lie down in green pastures. He leads me beside still waters. 3 He restores my soul. He guides me in the paths of righteousness for his name’s sake.
(WEB)
Consider how the two approaches handle this familiar psalm. The NASB keeps the Hebrew imagery of the shepherd and the sheep close to the wording of the original, so the phrases stay in the same order and the metaphor remains tied to specific terms. The Message expresses the same comfort in relaxed, personal language, describing the shepherd’s care in a way that sounds like something a friend might say over coffee. Both convey the shepherd’s provision and guidance, but the first invites you to study the picture while the second invites you to feel it.
Who Should Use Each
Choose the NASB if you are preparing a sermon, joining a small group that studies word by word, or writing a paper that depends on precise wording. It is also a good companion when you want to check whether a paraphrase has drifted from the original sense. Its limits are its formality and the fact that it can feel dry on a first reading.
Choose The Message if you want to read Scripture devotionally, share it with a younger reader, or see familiar passages with fresh eyes. It is well suited to beginners and to anyone who has heard a passage so often that the words no longer register. Its main limit is that it should not be used as the sole basis for detailed doctrinal or word study, because Peterson’s phrasing sometimes reflects his own reading of the text.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the NASB more accurate than The Message?
The NASB is closer to the wording of the original languages, which makes it more useful for tracing specific terms. The Message is a paraphrase, so it aims to convey meaning rather than exact wording, and the two serve different purposes.
Can I read both together?
Yes, and many readers do. Using the NASB as your primary text and The Message for fresh perspective is a common pairing, especially when a passage feels familiar or hard to grasp.
Which is better for a new Christian?
The Message is often easier to start with because its language is contemporary and direct. Once the stories feel familiar, many people find the NASB helpful for slower, more careful reading.
