The Message Bible is a very loose paraphrase — idiomatic, interpretive, and potentially misleading, but not heretical; inadvisable as a primary study Bible.

Winger demonstrates with Psalm 1: the ESV reads 'blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the wicked' while the Message renders it 'how well God must like you — you don't hang out at sin saloon, you don't slink along dead end road, you don't go to smart mouth college.' Eugene Peterson had genuine credentials (unlike Simmons) but gave himself permission to paraphrase freely. The Message is precarious as a primary study Bible because it can create a false impression of understanding. It may be acceptable as an occasional supplemental reference.