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Rating: 
Summary: No stars would be better!
Review: A hidden "dictonary" in the Scriptures -- but only in the KJV?The KJV is the easiest to read? The KJV is the most accurate translation? If you answered "no" to each of these questions, you would be correct. Now, for the final question: Gail Riplinger -- a real linguist/theologian/Scripture scholar? Absolutely NOT! If it weren't for the fact that people actually BUY this stuff, this would be quite funny. As it is, it is quite sad.
Rating:
Summary: No stars would be better!
Review: A hidden "dictonary" in the Scriptures -- but only in the KJV? The KJV is the easiest to read? The KJV is the most accurate translation? If you answered "no" to each of these questions, you would be correct. Now, for the final question: Gail Riplinger -- a real linguist/theologian/Scripture scholar? Absolutely NOT! If it weren't for the fact that people actually BUY this stuff, this would be quite funny. As it is, it is quite sad.
Rating:
Summary: More Misinformation from an Unqualified Source
Review: Here again (see my review of her "New Age Bible Versions") Gail Riplinger tries to show the superiority of the KJV to modern versions -- this time by claiming it is clearer and easier to read than the modern versions! The back cover makes her sound qualified for this writing task, but let's be honest -- she is no linguist, and her scholarship in the bilblical languages has not improved one whit since NABV. Let's examine her main points (from the back cover): "•The KJV has a hidden built-in dictionary, which defines each word as it is introduced."
My question is, if the dictionary is hidden, what good was it until Riplinger "enlightened" us at to how to use it? (Reminds one of Mary Baker Eddy's "Key to the Scriptures".) I would like her to show examples of people actually using this "hidden dictionary" before she wrote her book. "•The KJV uses powerful sound sybolism (phonaesthesia) to communicate meaning."
I laughed out loud when I read this section. The claim is that certain sounds carry certain connotations. For example, a beginning "d" sound is supposed to have a negative connotation -- as in "dagger," "damnable" and "dead". (She gives a whole list of examples on page 67.) However, a cursory check of a KJV Concordance shows this to be inconsistent -- for example, "darling," "delicate" and "delight". "•The KJV's vocabulary is precise and internationally recognizable."
The King James version is a very percise version, but often the modern versions are even more so. As Riplinger points out on page 68, the modern versions refer to believers as "slaves" of Christ, rather than "servants". However, what she apparently is unware of (a glaring example of her lack of scholarship) is that the Greek word (in the TR) is "doulos", which means, unequivocally, a "slave". As for being "international", it must be said that the modern versions we are familiar with in the US were made for an American audiance. For example, the British NIV has different spellings, etc. (It is also interesting that some of the examples she gives for "British" or International English are extremely localized -- exactly opposite of the point she is trying to make! See page 62.) In short, Riplinger's book is mostly fabricated from her imagination, and deserves to be labeled "fiction".
Rating:
Summary: More Misinformation from an Unqualified Source
Review: Here again (see my review of her "New Age Bible Versions") Gail Riplinger tries to show the superiority of the KJV to modern versions -- this time by claiming it is clearer and easier to read than the modern versions! The back cover makes her sound qualified for this writing task, but let's be honest -- she is no linguist, and her scholarship in the bilblical languages has not improved one whit since NABV. Let's examine her main points (from the back cover): "*The KJV has a hidden built-in dictionary, which defines each word as it is introduced."
My question is, if the dictionary is hidden, what good was it until Riplinger "enlightened" us at to how to use it? (Reminds one of Mary Baker Eddy's "Key to the Scriptures".) I would like her to show examples of people actually using this "hidden dictionary" before she wrote her book. "*The KJV uses powerful sound sybolism (phonaesthesia) to communicate meaning."
I laughed out loud when I read this section. The claim is that certain sounds carry certain connotations. For example, a beginning "d" sound is supposed to have a negative connotation -- as in "dagger," "damnable" and "dead". (She gives a whole list of examples on page 67.) However, a cursory check of a KJV Concordance shows this to be inconsistent -- for example, "darling," "delicate" and "delight". "*The KJV's vocabulary is precise and internationally recognizable."
The King James version is a very percise version, but often the modern versions are even more so. As Riplinger points out on page 68, the modern versions refer to believers as "slaves" of Christ, rather than "servants". However, what she apparently is unware of (a glaring example of her lack of scholarship) is that the Greek word (in the TR) is "doulos", which means, unequivocally, a "slave". As for being "international", it must be said that the modern versions we are familiar with in the US were made for an American audiance. For example, the British NIV has different spellings, etc. (It is also interesting that some of the examples she gives for "British" or International English are extremely localized -- exactly opposite of the point she is trying to make! See page 62.) In short, Riplinger's book is mostly fabricated from her imagination, and deserves to be labeled "fiction".
Rating: 
Summary: An interesting study of the English language
Review: This book is intended to demonstrate the superiority of the King James Version of the Holy Bible over other versions available today. This is not a scholarly production, but it is very interesting to read. In this book, Riplinger reminds the reader of the nuances of the English language. I was surprised to discover how much English grammar is not taught today. For instance, Riplinger points out that there are specific differences between the words "shall" and "will", and between "thou", "thee", "ye", and "you". The part of the book that does deal with the language of the King James Bible is very interesting, and demonstrates the superiority of that translation. However, a portion of the book reverts to tactics used in Riplinger's _New Age Bible Versions_, including ad hominem argumentation, and other weaker methods of proving a point. In summary, reading this book should prove to be an educational experience for many. It certainly demonstrates that much of the English language is not taught to man today (which I suppose is partly due to our own complacency with the language).
Rating:
Summary: An interesting study of the English language
Review: This book is intended to demonstrate the superiority of the King James Version of the Holy Bible over other versions available today. This is not a scholarly production, but it is very interesting to read. In this book, Riplinger reminds the reader of the nuances of the English language. I was surprised to discover how much English grammar is not taught today. For instance, Riplinger points out that there are specific differences between the words "shall" and "will", and between "thou", "thee", "ye", and "you". The part of the book that does deal with the language of the King James Bible is very interesting, and demonstrates the superiority of that translation. However, a portion of the book reverts to tactics used in Riplinger's _New Age Bible Versions_, including ad hominem argumentation, and other weaker methods of proving a point. In summary, reading this book should prove to be an educational experience for many. It certainly demonstrates that much of the English language is not taught to man today (which I suppose is partly due to our own complacency with the language).
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