Light of the Word - by Susan C Lim (Paperback)

About the Book

The more we understand how Scripture came to be, the more we discover its power and truth. Unpacking how the history of the Bible bolsters our faith, historian Susan Lim explains how Christians came to accept certain documents as inspired and how the books we now call the Bible came to be assembled and canonized as authoritative.

Book Synopsis

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.

Review Quotes

"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

"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 mature follower of Christ."

--Benjamin C. Shin, associate professor of Christian ministry and leadership at Biola University's Talbot School of Theology

About the Author

Susan C. Lim (PhD, UCLA) is a historian and writer. She has been a professor of history at Biola University in La Mirada, California, and is a speaker at conferences, churches, and retreats. She loves to share God's Word and serve at her home church, Mariners Church in Irvine, California. She resides in Southern California with her husband, Brian, and their two children.