Quest for Love: True Stories of Passion and Purity [Paperback]

Elisabeth Elliot (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: April 1, 2002

Beloved author Elisabeth Elliot challenges you to embrace a radical view of singleness and dating. Brimming with true stories, this book is an excellent, guide for those on the "quest for love.

--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Editorial Reviews

From the Back Cover

"What if I never marry-will God take that desire away?"
"I have deep feelings for this guy, but he says I'm like a sister to him. What should I do?"
"Why should a man still be expected to initiate romance?"
"Isn't it okay to spend time together if we're just friends?"

These are some of the many questions posed in letters to Elisabeth Elliot by readers of her best-selling book Passion and Purity.

In Quest for Love, the companion to Passion and Purity, Elisabeth shares many of these letters and responds to the writers' confusion and heartfelt needs with sound, biblical guidance. She dusts off "antiquated" concepts such as commitment, integrity, honor, and servanthood and applies them to dating and singleness today.

Intertwined with the questioning letters are hopeful stories of how men and women discovered love through God's direction. As you read their honest revelations, you'll be able to discern the better way by discovering what happened when they put their love life under the authority of Jesus Christ.

About the Author

Elisabeth Elliot was a young missionary to the Auca Indians of Ecuador in the 1950s when her husband, Jim, was martyred along with four other missionaries. She is best-known for her classic book, Through Gates of Splendor. She is a speaker and best-selling author of many other books, including Passion and Purity and A Chance to Die. Elliot and her husband, Lars Gren, live in Magnolia, Massachusetts.

Product Details

• Paperback: 256 pages
• Publisher: Revell; Reprinted edition (April 1, 2002)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0800758218
• ISBN-13: 978-0800758219
• Product Dimensions: 8.3 x 5.5 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 11.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (23 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #111,644 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

50 of 52 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Tied for first place, October 10, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: Quest for Love: True Stories of Passion and Purity (Paperback)

One of the two best books on relationships I have ever read (the other is "I Kissed Dating Goodbye," by Joshua Harris). I agree completely with the reviewer who said that many people do not abide by the standards Elliot sets up in this book and still have happy, healthy marriages. I'm one of them. That's because our God is forgiving and willing to help us work thorough our mistakes. But I wish I had had this book earlier so that some of those mistakes could perhaps have been avoided.

Even though I've made my own peace by now, my heart still hurts for all the people around me who chase after romantic relationships, thinking that they have to "have" a girlfriend or boyfriend in order to find their own personal worth. I see friends who are on their way to being strong Christians get sidetracked, willing to sacrifice everything they know and believe about God and themselves just for the sake of feeling good about one particular relationship. That never works, and then they have to start from scratch not only romantically, but in their relationship with God that they've betrayed. No wonder it hurts so much!

Stop before you start. Really seek God's will in ALL areas of your life. And if you struggle with romantic temptations like so many of us do, then give Elisabeth Elliot a chance. This book sure made me mad the first time I read it--I thought she was terribly closed-minded. But I was the one who wasn't willing to change for God. Focus on your love story with him before you worry about anyone else.

29 of 31 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A Textbook This is Not, September 17, 2002

By 

Gene Twilley "GTwilley" (Philadelphia, PA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: Quest for Love: True Stories of Passion and Purity (Paperback)

If you're looking for a book about Elisabeth Elliot's personal quest for love, then this text is not what you are looking for. Quest for love is a compilation of stories and excerpts about those who are now in the Faith who have searched for love at some point in the breadth of their lives. Not all the stories end happily in a romantic sense, and not all of them are model relationships. They are all real however, and Elliot leaves us with a bit of observation and application at the end of every chapter.

If you've read my other review under the book Passion and Purity, then you know that I really do enjoy reading about other peoples' lives. I sincerely want to stress the fact that the examples given to us in this book are not all great examples of what a godly relationship ought to be. In my opinion, Elisabeth Elliot has done a great job in giving us glimpses in not-so-exemplary relationships so that we might learn from other peoples mistakes. What you see here is a lot of life testimony regarding the pain and personal anguish that results in a broken world through the means of human relationships.

Elisabeth Elliot puts forth challenging questions and the occasional quotation of scripture. She offers insightful observations of what may or may not have been done correctly in a relationship. She also offers insight into situations in life that may not result in relationships at all. It's a pretty well rounded book, and it doesn't glamourize Christian relationships, nor does it assume that all Christian relationships are okay. You see some very destructive and painful occurences in here, and it is absolutely worth the read.

I guess the only reason that I gave the book four stars is because I wish that there were more letters from those who God chose to remain single. Love doesn't always have to be relegated to human relationships as the triune God is a very lovable and relational person. I'd give this book a 4.5 if I could, but we live in a broken world, so nothing is ever perfect;-).

21 of 22 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars An excelent Book. Guys, you need this book too. I did., December 21, 1998

By A Customer

This review is from: Quest for Love: True Stories of Passion and Purity (Paperback)

Mrs. Elliot relates many stories associated with courtship and the methods to go about the process. I wish I had this book earlier in my life. I just broke off a 4 year relationship with a wonderful young lady and I think if I had this book earlier things would have been different. God is the God of second chances so I will use them in any relationships to come. By the way, the mother of a girl I'm interested in gave me this book to read. If you have any guys hanging around your house and you know why they are there, give them this book. I went through it in three days. It's great reading.