Book Notes: Radical Together / Legacy of the King James Bible

Brief notes on two books I’ve read recently:

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Radical Together:
Unleashing the People of God for the Purpose of God
David Platt (Multnomah)
My Rating: ****

Building on his best-selling book Radical: Taking Back Your Faith from the American Dream, pastor David Platt challenges churches to seek the glory of God as churches, not merely individuals. Calling into question our devotion to “good things” that distract us from the “best things,” Platt reminds readers that the gospel that saves us from work saves us to work. Along the way, he clarifies the need for grace—not guilt—to be our motivation as we make disciples of all nations.

The Legacy of the King James Bible:
Celebrating 400 Years of the Most Influential English Translation
Leland Ryken (Crossway)
My Rating: ***

English professor Leland Ryken celebrates the anniversary of the King James Version by recounting the translation’s history and influence throughout the world. This book is an extended apologetic for the literary superiority of the KJV and other translations that hold to the same philosophy. In Ryken’s demonstration of KJV influence, however, it is not always apparent if the ubiquity of KJV references is directly attributable to the translation quality of the KJV or simply more evidence of the power of the biblical text.

– these reviews were first published in Christianity Today, May 2011