Book Review:
Taking God At His Word
by Kevin DeYoung
A recommended resource for "You Are... a series in Christian Basics"
Review by Braeden Bennett

Do you struggle with the Bible’s accuracy, relevancy in our current times, or even if it really is the word of God? Then, Taking God At His Word by Kevin DeYoung is the book for you! DeYoung clearly demonstrates that the Bible is always accurate, always relevant, and always God’s word for us on Earth!

DeYoung begins his short book (no, really! One might imagine this topic requires a thicker book; however, there is only 112 pages of reading content!) with the most important aspect of coming to God’s word: love for His word. DeYoung points us to the longest psalm in the Bible, Psalm 119. The psalmist spends 176 verses dedicated to expressing his love for the word of God. God has given His perfect word (or message) to us in order to bring us back in relationship to Him. Why should we not look to love it? To treasure this perfect gift with which God has blessed us? We should, and we must!


There is a large movement in the Church today that is characterized and summed up by statements like, “I don’t love God or His word, all I need is Jesus.” But, this statement is wrong in every way! DeYoung demonstrates (rather, proves from what the text itself says) that Jesus Himself validated all of the Scriptures (Matthew 5:17-19, Luke 11:51). Jesus affirms the entirety of the Old Testament (which ultimately affirms Jesus Himself). Thus, Jesus Himself gives importance to the word of God, which goes against this large movement for supposed “freedom” and “easy-Gospel” of loving Jesus and hating (or putting aside) God’s word.

DeYoung’s closing argument is based on how Scripture affirms Scripture, namely 2 Timothy 2:16-17 - “All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.” Ultimately, these two verses are clear in the importance of God’s word.

Should this excellent book not be enough for you, Kevin DeYoung gives a list of 30 books to further expound on God’s word in apologetics, classic books, doctrine of Scripture, how to study the Bible, and the inerrancy of God’s word.