Rhetorical Questions

I have a New Testament with Psalms and Proverbs in the New Century Version (Thomas Nelson, Inc., 2006). In the preface (which is the preface to the entirety of the New Century Version), the description and principles of this translation include these two sentences:

"Rhetorical questions in many instances have been stated according to their implied answers. The psalmist's question "What god is so great as our God?" has been stated more directly as "No God is as great as our God."

I understand the intent: to convey God's Word in clear and straightforward language that all may understand the meaning. I commend the intent. Yet this application of a laudable purpose - the rewriting of rhetorical questions in terms of their implied answers - ill serves two important truths or values. One has to do with honoring the author. The other has to do with play of mind in grasping meaning.

As regards honoring the author, the particular style of the author merits respect. This does not mean everything about an author's style is good. Nor does it mean a reader or readers have to like the author's style. It does mean that the author made decisions about how to write, and those should be respected as long as they do not injure good grammar and meaning. Apart from acting as a teacher or editor to the author (in a classroom or a publishing process), we should acknowledge and accept his or her style in the sense that we are not in the business of rewriting the author's work. Translation presents a challenge in that the target language may not be able to replicate satisfactorily stylistic aspects of the source language. Nevertheless, honoring the author should mean we are not free to ignore personal style.

As regards play of mind, there is something about being human such that we love the play of mind in grasping meaning. We love jokes. We love word and mind games. We love riddles. We love questions and exploring and solving. Rhetorical questions in communication function in this way, in this play of mind in grasping meaning. Certainly in much of our communication we state our meaning straightforwardly. Yet we come to points where we desire to communicate meaning with a rhetorical question. And why should we not, if used cleverly and judiciously? A rhetorical question adds emphasis to the point being made. It varies our forms of communication and so augments and enlivens our style. Yet certainly a rhetorical question also intrigues and delights us, even if only subtly or unconsciously, as it engages our mind in play at grasping meaning. And why should it not, even in Scripture?