A Quest for Godliness: The Puritan Vision of the Christian Life

by J. I. Packer

A Rich Vision for Christian Living from Great Puritan Leaders

A Quest for Godliness explores the depth and breadth of Puritan spiritual life. Drawing on a lifetime of study, renowned evangelical theologian and church leader J. I. Packer surveys the lives and teachings of great Puritan leaders such as John Owen, Richard Baxter, and Jonathan Edwards. He examines the Puritan view of the Bible, spiritual gifts, the Sabbath, worship, social action, and the family. The Puritans’ faith, Packer argues, stands in marked contrast with the superficiality of modern western Christianity.

In a time of failing vision and decaying values, this powerful portrait of the Puritans is a beacon of hope that calls Christians to radical commitment and action, both of which are desperately needed today. Beautifully written, A Quest for Godliness is a moving and challenging exploration of Puritan life and thought. 

Classic Work from J. I.  Theologian and author of several books, including Knowing God; Keep in Step with the Spirit; and God Has Spoken Timeless Puritan Teaching for Modern  A descriptive survey of the history of the Puritans, from leaders including John Owen, Richard Baxter, and Jonathan Edwards Ideal for Pastors, Students, and Lay  Essential lessons on evangelism, preaching, Christian living, and more

Genres: Theology

372 pages, Kindle Edition

Published September 16, 2025

Reviews

[Rachel · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’ve wrestled with whether or not to give this four or five stars (Goodreads should have half stars!). I enjoyed the content and writing of this book very much, but it’s not my favorite work of Packer’s. The reason I hesitate to give it a full five star rating is that I feel the title was a bit misleading, specifically the subtitle. I feel as though it should be “The Influence of John Owen on Puritan Thought” or something along those lines. The bulk of this book is spent explaining things pertaining to Owen in particular. It felt much more like a book about him and his beliefs and practices rather than one on puritans as a whole.

I adore the puritans. I enjoyed this book very much. I just wish I would have known from the beginning where Packer was going with it!

[Elliot H · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Quest for Godliness is an excellent introduction and summary of Puritan thought and piety. By reading it you will gain a clear understanding of what the Puritan movement stood for and why their writings, teaching, and preaching have been treasured for the last 400 years. The book is worth reading for the epilogue alone. My only complaint is that this edition has endnotes instead of footnotes!

[Emily Schoeffler · Rating 4 out of 5]

Packer made me curious to learn more about the Puritans, so job well done

[Emily · Rating 4 out of 5]

Let me say, only J.I. Packer could make me cry reading about the Puritans. In typical Packer style, his writing is dense (and I often had to reread many sections to make sure I was absorbing… ok understanding… what he was articulating). Yet, it was a surprisingly fascinating read for me and deeply Gospel centered. Perhaps one of the most beautiful parts of the book was Packer consistently emphasizing how we are theological “dwarfs” compared to the giant theological nature of the Puritans, yet the very man writing on their behalf is one of the great theological giants himself. Lord, thank you for J.I. Packer and his love for you. I can only imagine Jonathan Edward’s and Packer in heaven :)

[Borisz P · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great book. Packer gives a thorough description about the Puritan vision christian life. It’s comprehensive, dedicated, with a caring motive. The language is a bit hard to read at certain points, but worths the effort. The life, and the theological foundations of the puritans are written with great details. Some of the most important persons of the era examined, with original quotes also.