SPIRITUALITY & RELIGION

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

by Susan C. Lim
IVP. Dec. 2023. 240p. ISBN 9781514006948. pap. $18. REL
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Many evangelical Christians are reluctant to acknowledge that some utilize creativity when they compose the books that make up the Protestant Bible. For them, it significantly compromises their belief that scripture is the absolute, inerrant inspiration of God. This was Lim’s own experience as a new Christian. She (history, Biola Univ.; America’s Past: A Christian Narrative) believes that the Bible was inspired by God, but she also appreciates, because of her training as a historian, that living souls were a vital partner in conveying the Word. She argues that Christians can trust the 66 books of the Protestant canon as God’s word by realizing that the stories recorded in it were corroborated by ancient literature and archaeology. Lim’s book seeks to breach a divide that exists among evangelicals of recent generations.
VERDICT Best for readers interested in the historical context of biblical scripture and evangelical beliefs.
Reviewed by Glen Edward Taul , Dec 01, 2023
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