Engaging the Written Word of God

by J.I. Packer

One of the most important theologians of the modern era, J.I. Packer sets out his beliefs about the authority of Scripture and the principles that should be applied when interpreting it.

He addresses important topics such as responding to present-day views on Scripture, upholding the unity of the Bible, and addressing challenges in biblical interpretation.

In the context of the intense modern debate about the nature and authority of Scripture, Packer's voice is a welcome respite that brilliantly reaffirms the inerrancy of the Word and the adequacy of divine communication through human categories.

Students, pastors, and anyone who wants to engage more deeply with the Bible and its fundamental nature will appreciate Packer's insights , a man whose wisdom and knowledge of Scripture reinforce his significance as a Christian theologian.

Genres: Theology

339 pages, Paperback

First published October 31, 2012

About the author

J. I. Packer (1926–2020) is regarded as one of the most well-known theologians of our time. Once named to Time magazine's list of the 25 Most Influential Evangelicals in America, Packer served as Board of Governors' Professor of Theology at Regent College in Vancouver, British Columbia. His books include Knowing God, Praying, A Quest for Godliness, Evangelism and the Sovereignty of God, and Rediscovering Holiness.

Reviews

[Bill Forgeard · Rating 4 out of 5]

J.I. Packer teaching Evangelicals how to be Evangelical, which might be what he does best. Typically clear and gospel-saturated. Considering this is a collection of shorter writings, I was surprised at how many were noteworthy, and personally relevant. Highlights included several of the articles on inerrancy (e.g. Chapter 6, The Necessity of the Revealed Word), his balanced treatment of several contentious issues in the middle section (Creation, Women in Ministry, Eschatology) and the entire final section on preaching. Some skimming was necessary as I began to recognise a few familiar treatments of the same issue in different places.

[Wes Bredenhof · Rating 2 out of 5]

Parts of this book are good, some parts are downright erroneous (chapter 12, The Challenge of Biblical Interpretation: Creation), some parts are muddled (where does he stand on women in ministry?), and other parts are extraordinarily repetitive (the essays in part 3). A real mixed bag, this one.

[Ian Rees · Rating 4 out of 5]

Some of the pieces in this collection are quite hard reading, perhaps because they refer to theological viewpoints held over 40 years ago. But the material is excellent and his convictions about preaching are supremely uplifting. The third section "Preaching the Word" is the most rewarding.

[Phillip Nash · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a series of talks and essays by Packer at his best. Clear, articulate and Biblically oriented. For any preachers a must and for those uncertain about the authority of the Word of God, a great reassurance. We need many more people like him today.