Review: Light from Light by Robert Barron

With 2025 marking 1700 years since the Council of Nicaea in 325, the great event that solidified the Church's teaching on Jesus' divinity and the Trinity, I am preparing to teach an adult class on the Nicene Creed (drafted at Nicaea, completed at Constanstinope in 381) that we recite every Sunday. As part of my research, I began with Robert Barron's 2023 book, Light from Light. I found the book a rich, helpful guide through the creed that converses with 1700 years of unpacking the creed and responding to contemporary issues in evangelism, apologetics, and discipleship.

Bishop Barron focuses his book as an attempt to clarify what Christians believe. He does with the goals of evangelism and discipleship. For evangelism, he wants people who reject Christian faith to know the core of what Christians actually believe, in all of its robust intellectual heritage. For discipleship, he wants Christians who have a thin understanding of Christian belief to have a deeper understanding of core Christian belief.

As the subtitle suggests, the book is focused on theology, the substance of the Creed, not the historical background of the Creed. While he does provide some historical context, it is only to clarify key points of the Creed and plays a small role in the book. Most of the time, he explains what the Creed means. He uses a variety of Christian thinkers from the last 2000 years, mainly Catholic, to unpack the significance of each phrase of the Creed. He also plainly and clearly highlights the biblical origins for each doctrinal subject. The book includes much more careful biblical insight than the subtitle might make you suggest. Throughout the book, Bishop Barron takes time to answer specific objections modern skeptics might have to specific points. These are what give the book its apologetic and evangelistic edge. Its focus on the Creed makes it unique for books geared towards evangelism and its evangelistic focus makes it unique for books on the Creed.

As a work of theology, Bishop Barron writes this work at an academic level. He shows a deft knowledge of philosophy. This is not the best first book for someone who does not have previous experience in theology and philosophy (perhaps his more recent book on the Creed, What Christians Believe, would be a better start). Yet for those with some experience in philosophy, this book is an excellent introduction to the Nicene Creed and the core beliefs that all Christians share. I found this book sharpened my understanding of who God is and regularly opened me to prayer and worship.