Light of the Word: How Knowing the History of the Bible Illuminates Our Faith

Light of the Word: How Knowing the History of the Bible Illuminates Our Faith

While Christians generally acknowledge that the Bible is God's Word, many of us lack robust confidence in the reality of its trustworthiness. We may not be sure if we really believe what we read. But the more we understand how Scripture came to be, the more we discover its power and truth. Historian Susan Lim unpacks how the history of the Bible bolsters our faith and anchors us through the changing tides of time. The story of Scripture, while messy and complicated at times, is also the story of how God shepherded his people throughout the centuries in and through these writings. Lim explains how Christians came to accept certain documents as inspired and not others, and how the books we now call the Bible came to be assembled and canonized as authoritative. The same Spirit of God who oversaw the writing of Scripture continues to be at work actively in us in our receiving and reading of it, to grow us in faith and maturity. Those of us who confess that Jesus is Lord can also confess with confidence that Scripture is God's Word. As the church through the ages has received and passed down the sacred Scriptures, so too can we receive for ourselves the living Word that God still speaks through today. "Being in a Bible study with Susan and her family for the last five years, I have witnessed firsthand Susan's passion for the Scriptures and the powerful and gracious work God has done in her life through the Scriptures. My confidence in Scripture has been strengthened and my heart has been refreshed by reading Light of the Word , and I believe this book will serve you well, no matter where you are in your faith journey. It is a book I will come back to again as a trusted resource." -- Eric Geiger, senior pastor of Mariners Church " Light of the Word is a wonderful introduction to the Bible. Along with addressing some of the big questions about how the Bible was put together and reasons we have to believe it is true, Susan Lim shares her personal story of leaving Buddhism and becoming a Christian. She also recounts how―years later―she came to embrace the Bible as God's Word. This is a fascinating book that will help readers better engage the Bible." -- Sean McDowell, associate professor of apologetics at Biola University and coauthor of Evidence That Demands a Verdict "As both a Christian and a pastor, I know the essentiality and importance of having confidence in the fact that our Bibles are truly the Word of God. Having spent many years teaching the Bible and calling others to trust it explicitly, I'm especially thankful for this new and thoughtful book by Susan Lim on this crucial topic of the trustworthiness of Scripture. Looking at the Bible through the historical lens, Susan substantiates over and over again that all Scripture is indeed God-breathed. This book will be high on my recommended reading list." -- Brian Brodersen, pastor of Calvary Chapel Costa Mesa and author of Spiritual Warfare: Fighting the Good Fight of Faith "An insightful, practical, and honest book, which my dear friend Susan Lim shares from her heart. She challenges us to cultivate a daily habit of reading God's Word, Genesis through Revelation, so we can grow deeper in our faith. It is refreshing to read her prayer that 'we would dance with the Lord―absorbing, meditating, responding, and living out his love by the power of the Spirit.'" -- Marilyn Long, president of the Long Family Foundation "A warmly personal story of how Susan Lim's heart and head both came to a genuine transformative faith. Through a story that is uniquely hers and yet also everyone's, you will see how historical facts strengthened her conviction in Scripture as the Word of God. Lim invites you to walk alongside, to see how faith in Jesus is enriched by faith in God's Word." -- E. Randolph Richards, provost and professor of biblical studies in the School of Ministry at Palm Beach Atlantic University "In our age, it is not unusual to hear baseless criticism of the Bible's authenticity, accuracy, and historical viability. Many Christians don't have access to resources to combat these attacks. Susan Lim gifts us with an accessible, rich, and personal account of discovering (or rediscovering!) the truth that the Bible is in fact the Word of God. Read, learn, and recommit yourself to saturating yourself in Scripture!" -- Kyle Strobel, professor of spiritual theology and formation at Biola University's Talbot School of Theology "Susan Lim's book Light of the Word is an amazing overview of all the important subjects related to the Bible. With incredibly clear explanations, the book tackles many of the challenges that skeptics may make concerning the Bible. In addition, her footnotes are extremely thorough and helpful for further study. This book is scholarly as well as deeply personal. Light of the Word gave me a greater desire to study the Bible and a newfound confidence in God's Word; it is a must-read for anyone from the young believer to the matu