Shadow of the Almighty: The Life and Testament of Jim Elliot (Lives of Faith) [Paperback]

Elisabeth Elliot (Author)

Book Description

Series: Lives of Faith | Publication Date: June 21, 1989

The bestselling account of the martyrdom of Jim Elliot and four other missionaries at the hands of the Auca Indians in Ecuador. New introduction by the author.

Editorial Reviews

From the Back Cover

Made famous by Life magazine, this is the best-selling account of the martyrdom of Jim Elliot and four other misisonaries at the hands of the Auca Indians in Ecuador. Elisabeth Elliot makes full use of Jim’s rich and revealing diaries to expose the roots of what makes a person at the threshold of life commit his very being to a God who he felt might call him to death at any time. Elisabeth Elliot gives us the vivid details of a life “hid with Christ in God” and creates a portrait of a figure that continues to inspire many. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

About the Author

Elisabeth Elliot is the author of These Strange Ashes, Through Gates of Splendor, Passion and Purity, and A Chance to Die: The Life and Legacy of Amy Carmichael. She lives in Massachusetts.

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 18 and up
  
• Paperback: 251 pages
• Publisher: HarperCollins (June 21, 1989)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 006062213X
• ISBN-13: 978-0060622138
• Product Dimensions: 8 x 5.3 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 7.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (29 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #77,773 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #2 in Books > History > Americas > South America > Ecuador

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

75 of 75 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Model for Modern Missionaries, July 24, 2000

By 

Brian G Hedges (South Bend, Indiana) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Shadow of the Almighty: The Life and Testament of Jim Elliot (Lives of Faith) (Paperback)

Few books have impacted me as much as this "life and testament of Jim Elliot" written by his wife, Elisabeth. This is the story of an earthly (though not worldly) man with a heavenly mind. Jim Elliot was a man of passion and a man of prayer. This book chronicles his journey from childhood in Oregon to college days at Wheaton to the mission field of Ecuador where he eventually gave his life at age 28. Full of journal excerpts and personal letters, one gets to know this great man's heart. His struggles, his ambitions, his loves, his dreams - and his all-consuming passion for Christ and His kingdom - gripped my heart as a teenager. This man became my hero. If you want to know the man behind the motto "he is no fool who gives what he cannot keep to gain what he cannot lose" this is the place to start. I highly recommend this book - especially to Christian teenagers who want to give 100% to Jesus Christ.

35 of 36 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Challenging, Inspiring and Motivating!, February 18, 1999

By 

David Dale ([e-mail]) (Oxford, Ohio) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Shadow of the Almighty: The Life and Testament of Jim Elliot (Lives of Faith) (Paperback)

This is a must read for all Christians who have any desire to know Christ and to offer their lives to him. If not, this book will definitely challenge you to do so. Shadow of the Almighty mainly consists of letters and journal entries Jim wrote while at college and while preparing and serving on the mission field. It represents a great example, not of a perfect man, but of a man who wanted to live his life fully for Christ, no matter what the cost. The main message is that to know Christ is to obey him, and that Christ is worth laying down anything and everything. Thus, Jim's famous words: "He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep to gain what he cannot lose." Jim is an inspiration and example to me as I prepare to serve as a missionary in some of the most unreached places on earth.

18 of 18 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Shadow of the Almighty: The Life and Testament of Jim Elliot, February 1, 2006

By 

Humble Servant of Christ "Hearts To Home" (Calimesa, CA USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Shadow of the Almighty: The Life and Testament of Jim Elliot (Lives of Faith) (Paperback)

Shadow of the Almighty is by far the best biography I have ever read!!! It has been said that "You will be the same today, except for the people you meet and the books you read", I have found this to be very true in my life.

I feel you can glean so many spiritual nuggets from this book. From raising kids, praying for them, allowing God to use them, the importance of eating healthy and exercising, the value of education and when education is taking the place of God and true knowledge of Him....

Reading this book, almost makes the movie End of the Spear seem shallow. Unless you know the history of these men's lives before they went into missions it is easy to be disillusioned and think that a group of over zealous guys decided to go and reach the savage Auca Indianans, which is not the case. It was an absolute calling of God on each of their lives that God had been preparing them for most of their lives (at least this is the case with Jim Elliot). Even Elizabeth Elliot, Jim's wife, had the calling on her life. They were spiritually, intellectually, and physically prepared. Yes, they were a group of young, good looking, and fun guys, but they also were spiritually mature beyond their years and they knew their calling.

Elizabeth Elliot began compiling journal entries and letters of Jim's immediately after his death to begin the writing of Shadow of the Almighty, while the hurt and sting of her lose was still fresh! You will not find regret, resentment, bitterness or anger in her writing; only a life devoted to God even unto death. So while the book focuses on the life of Jim, remember it was his newly young widowed wife who wrote the very words contained within its pages.

I guess what so impresses me about this book, is that it is more than the retelling of Jim's life. Throughout the book are original writings of Jim's, you see what makes his heart beat, his passion, his frustrations, his surrendered obedience, his incredible faith. You will see God's sovereignty, His hand, leading and weaving Jim's life and death.

The story begins with his childhood, and continues on up to his death. Really his story still carries on today. How many people has Jim's life impacted even now 50 years later? While in college ,Jim at one point lets His grades suffer a bit so that he can focus on earning the Degree of A.U.G. (Approved Under God). I am so impressed with chapter 3, here you will find a handsome, athletic, intelligent young man keep his focus on the Lord in an atmosphere that pulls most people away. At this point he doesn't even take his parents advice, if it is not what he is hearing from the Spirit. His obedience to Christ makes him a true leader among his classmates.
Following is a journal entry of Jim's, it show the wisdom and insight he had as a young man. "No one warns young people to follow Adam's example. He waited until God saw his need. Then God made Adam sleep, prepared for his mate, and brought her to him. We need more of this 'being asleep' in the will of God. Then we can receive what He brings us in His own time, if at all. Instead we are bloodhounds after a partner, considering everyone we see until our minds are so concerned with the sex problem that we can talk of nothing else when bull-session time comes around. It is true that a fellow cannot ignore women-but he can think of them as he ought-as sisters, not as sparring partners!"