The Message--Opinion, Bible or Hidden Meanings

[strefanash]

I do understand that Hebrew does have this kind of terseness of style (ie "Light!") Of course I freely admit I know no hebrew. But i am sure that the 10 commandmenst have the same style:

NO MURDERS! (or something similar) . This is a literal reading, or near abouts, of the 6th commandment. Unless I am grievously mistaken. . . .

A paraphrase could be useful if one is careful. I once opened the Message Bible in my local book shop. I actually quite liked it, but not enough to buy it of course.

I might be careful in using a parphrase, and would not be keen to use it for doctrine, but i was offended by the arrogance of a visiting speaker at a university Student Christian conference i went to way back in 1980 who basically screamed at a student having a good news for modern man, and said he or she should burn it.

I would not fulminate againt a paraphrase unless it preacheds outright heresy, as the JW New World translation does.

I don't think we should confuse connotations and traditional emotional responses with the style of the hebrew or greek original. A style as refreshing as that quoted above may very well be in the origina and our negative response could be our own hide bound inertia