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Title: For mature readers only...
Review: My recommendations if you must read "The Message":1) Read with a mature Christian2) Always read side-by-side with a real translation3) Use as a study aid, not a Bible4) Do not use for memorizationA paraphrase is a restatement of a text in different words, hopefully to clarify the meaning of the original. Although "The Message" succeeds at this in a number of places, it fails in far too many--either to clarify or to restate the original meaning.Having said the above...I do believe that the author created this work with good faith and intent. He is a good writer with a flair for the poetic, which I appreciate. His "take" on some passages has led me to research them in the original texts and reflect on them further, which certainly benefits me.As I said, my recommendation, if you are going to use "The Message," is to use it with great care.
