"This Is the Word of the Lord": How the Bible Became Text and Why It Matters is an overview of the evolution of the contents of the Bible from its earliest oral traditions. Why is it important to know this history? Because the evolution of this text and the way historical circumstances shaped its content and transmission affect how we understand the Bible today. When armed with such historical knowledge, believers can respond to those who insist the Bible is inerrant—and to those who insist the Bible is irrelevant.