What is a Paraphrase Bible Text by Kenneth N Taylor

Living Gospels: The Four Gospels and
The Book of Acts Paraphrased
by Kenneth N. Taylor

What is a Paraphrase?
from Living Gospels: The Paraphrased Gospels and The Books of Acts
Kenneth N. Taylor (1917-2005), author.
Introduction
Wheaton, IL: Tyndale House Publishers, 1966.

This blog post by Mary Katherine May of QualtiyMusicandBooks.com.

What Is a Paraphrase by Kenneth N. Taylor.
A paraphrase does not attempt to translate word by word, but rather, thought by thought.  A good paraphrase is a careful restatement of the author's thoughts.  It can communicate more vividly than a good translation. (Examples of paraphrasing are found in the Bible itself, as when New Testament writers rephrase a quotation from the Old Testament.)

The purpose of this book, then, is to say as exactly as possible what Matthew, Mark, Luke and John would say to us in good conversational English today if they were here among us.

The principal danger of a paraphrase is that it may go beyond (or not as far as) the original author's intention.  This is especially important when the words of Christ Himself are involved.  The publishers hope that this book does not transgress in that way.  We invite and urge participation of readers in calling attention to any such problems. (Changes have been made in Living Letters, the first book in this series, as a result of readers' valued and helpful comments.

For study purposes, a paraphrase should be checked against a rigid translation; but for rapid reading and for accurately acquiring the sweeping movement of this "greatest story ever told," we believe that a paraphrase is invaluable.

COMPARISON (BibleGateway.com)
Living Gospels paraphrase of Matthew 24: 26, 27
So if someone tells you the Messiah has returned and is out in the desert, don't bother to go and look.  Or, that He is hiding at a certain place, don't believe it! For as the lightning flashes across the sky from east to west, so shall My coming be, when I, the Son of all Mankind, return.

Young's Literal Translation 1898 of Matthew 24: 26, 27 (YLT)
If therefore they may say to you, Lo, in the wilderness he is, ye may not go forth; lo, in the inner chambers, ye may not believe; for as the lightning doth come forth from the east, and doth appear unto the west, so shall be also the presence of the Son of Man;

King James Version translation of Matthew 24: 26, 27 (KJV)
Wherefore if they shall say unto you, Behold, he is in the desert; go not forth: behold, he is in the secret chambers; believe it not.  For as the lightning cometh out of the east, and shineth even unto the west; so shall also the coming of the Son of Man be.

Kenneth Nathaniel Taylor was the author of The Living Bible and found of Tyndale House Publishers.

LINK to article on Kenneth Taylor at Tyndale House Publishers.

LINK to Wikipedia about Kenneth Nathaniel Taylor.

LINK to memorial article on Kenneth Taylor at ChristianityToday.comChristianityToday.com.