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Weakness Is the Way: Life with Christ Our Strength
For Christians, weakness should be a way of life. Yet most of us try desperately to be sufficient on our own, and we resent our limitations and our needs. Renowned theologian and Bible teacher J. I. Packer reflects on his experience of weakness―having been hit by a truck at a young age and now facing the realities of aging―in order to teach us the importance of embracing our own frailty, and also to help us look to Christ for strength, affirmation, and contentment. Find here a path from discouragement to freedom in light of our all-sufficient God.
128 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2013
104 people are currently reading
1203 people want to read
About the author
J.I. Packer
448 books932 followersWhat do J. I. Packer, Billy Graham and Richard John Neuhaus have in common? Each was recently named by TIME magazine as among the 25 most influential evangelicals in America.
Dr. Packer, the Board of Governors’ Professor of Theology at Regent College, was hailed by TIME as “a doctrinal Solomon” among Protestants. “Mediating debates on everything from a particular Bible translation to the acceptability of free-flowing Pentecostal spirituality, Packer helps unify a community [evangelicalism] that could easily fall victim to its internal tensions.”
Knowing God, Dr. Packer’s seminal 1973 work, was lauded as a book which articulated shared beliefs for members of diverse denominations; the TIME profile quotes Michael Cromartie of the Ethics and Public Policy Center in Washington as saying, “conservative Methodists and Presbyterians and Baptists could all look to [Knowing God] and say, ‘This sums it all up for us.’”
In a similar tribute to Dr. Packer almost ten years ago, American theologian Mark Noll wrote in Christianity Today that, “Packer’s ability to address immensely important subjects in crisp, succinct sentences is one of the reasons why, both as an author and speaker, he has played such an important role among American evangelicals for four decades.”
For over 25 years Regent College students have been privileged to study under Dr. Packer’s clear and lucid teaching, and our faculty, staff and students celebrate the international recognition he rightly receives as a leading Christian thinker and teacher.
(https://www.regent-college.edu/facult...)
Dr. Packer, the Board of Governors’ Professor of Theology at Regent College, was hailed by TIME as “a doctrinal Solomon” among Protestants. “Mediating debates on everything from a particular Bible translation to the acceptability of free-flowing Pentecostal spirituality, Packer helps unify a community [evangelicalism] that could easily fall victim to its internal tensions.”
Knowing God, Dr. Packer’s seminal 1973 work, was lauded as a book which articulated shared beliefs for members of diverse denominations; the TIME profile quotes Michael Cromartie of the Ethics and Public Policy Center in Washington as saying, “conservative Methodists and Presbyterians and Baptists could all look to [Knowing God] and say, ‘This sums it all up for us.’”
In a similar tribute to Dr. Packer almost ten years ago, American theologian Mark Noll wrote in Christianity Today that, “Packer’s ability to address immensely important subjects in crisp, succinct sentences is one of the reasons why, both as an author and speaker, he has played such an important role among American evangelicals for four decades.”
For over 25 years Regent College students have been privileged to study under Dr. Packer’s clear and lucid teaching, and our faculty, staff and students celebrate the international recognition he rightly receives as a leading Christian thinker and teacher.
(https://www.regent-college.edu/facult...)
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 156 reviews
June 9, 2013
I was drawn to this little book by the title. I mean, who writes a book on weakness? Well, J. I. Packer evidently does. And whatever Packer writes about is typically well-written, insightful, and worth the time and effort to read.
I was also drawn to the book because I know how easy it is to try to conceal my own personal weaknesses in an effort to make people think I’m strong. But I’m not. Not physically. Not spiritually or emotionally. Not naturally anyway. And neither are you. So there’s no need to pretend we’re strong when we’re not. There’s no need to put up a front of self-sufficiency and secretly despise our dis-abilities. We can and should readily acknowledge the fact that we’re weak and in need of Christ’s help.
And this is precisely the point of Packer’s book. He writes, “In many respects, and certainly in spiritual matters, we are all weak and inadequate, and we need to face it. Sin, which disrupts all relationships, has disabled us all across the board. We need to be aware of our limitations and to let this awareness work in us humility and self-distrust, and a realization of our helplessness on our own. Thus we may learn our need to depend on Christ, our Savior and Lord, at every turn of the road, to practice that dependence as one of the constant habits of our heart, and hereby to discover what Paul discovered before us: “when I am weak, then I am strong” (2 Cor. 12:10).” (15-16)
Notice that a Christian view of weakness doesn’t lead ultimately to a debilitating sense of failure, inferiority, and worthlessness. Ultimately it leads to Christ. And that’s where Packer keeps pointing the reader, because that’s where Paul kept pointing himself and the Corinthians.
As far as reading difficulty goes, Packer is a scholar and theologian, so expect to be stretched and challenged. (I learned several new words like “lugubrious” and “chivvying.”) However, he also weaves in references to Winnie the Pooh, Charlie Brown, and Humphrey Bogart to level it out a bit. It also helps that the book was born out of Packer’s own personal experience as an elderly man struggling with the effects of physical and cognitive deterioration. Therefore, his style is consistently warm-hearted, devotional, and applicational.
But throughout the primary exemplar of boasting in weakness is Paul not Packer. That’s because the book is essentially a selective exposition of certain key passages in 2 Corinthians, Paul’s very passionate and transparent correspondence with the notoriously “carnal” Corinthian church.
So here’s my recommendation. It’s a small book. Only 118 pages. And small pages at that. Invest a couple of hours needed to read through it and be encouraged in your weakness to look to Christ for strength. Then, put this book next to your commentaries and Bible study helps on 2 Corinthians and don’t forget to consult it the next time you interact with Paul’s Corinthian correspondence.
I was also drawn to the book because I know how easy it is to try to conceal my own personal weaknesses in an effort to make people think I’m strong. But I’m not. Not physically. Not spiritually or emotionally. Not naturally anyway. And neither are you. So there’s no need to pretend we’re strong when we’re not. There’s no need to put up a front of self-sufficiency and secretly despise our dis-abilities. We can and should readily acknowledge the fact that we’re weak and in need of Christ’s help.
And this is precisely the point of Packer’s book. He writes, “In many respects, and certainly in spiritual matters, we are all weak and inadequate, and we need to face it. Sin, which disrupts all relationships, has disabled us all across the board. We need to be aware of our limitations and to let this awareness work in us humility and self-distrust, and a realization of our helplessness on our own. Thus we may learn our need to depend on Christ, our Savior and Lord, at every turn of the road, to practice that dependence as one of the constant habits of our heart, and hereby to discover what Paul discovered before us: “when I am weak, then I am strong” (2 Cor. 12:10).” (15-16)
Notice that a Christian view of weakness doesn’t lead ultimately to a debilitating sense of failure, inferiority, and worthlessness. Ultimately it leads to Christ. And that’s where Packer keeps pointing the reader, because that’s where Paul kept pointing himself and the Corinthians.
As far as reading difficulty goes, Packer is a scholar and theologian, so expect to be stretched and challenged. (I learned several new words like “lugubrious” and “chivvying.”) However, he also weaves in references to Winnie the Pooh, Charlie Brown, and Humphrey Bogart to level it out a bit. It also helps that the book was born out of Packer’s own personal experience as an elderly man struggling with the effects of physical and cognitive deterioration. Therefore, his style is consistently warm-hearted, devotional, and applicational.
But throughout the primary exemplar of boasting in weakness is Paul not Packer. That’s because the book is essentially a selective exposition of certain key passages in 2 Corinthians, Paul’s very passionate and transparent correspondence with the notoriously “carnal” Corinthian church.
So here’s my recommendation. It’s a small book. Only 118 pages. And small pages at that. Invest a couple of hours needed to read through it and be encouraged in your weakness to look to Christ for strength. Then, put this book next to your commentaries and Bible study helps on 2 Corinthians and don’t forget to consult it the next time you interact with Paul’s Corinthian correspondence.
March 11, 2025
I’m not sure I’ll get my thoughts across with these comments, but here goes… I’ve long found it a joy to help others; after all, I was in the hospitality work-world for 25 years. When the Holy Spirit came to me a few years ago, I felt a strong sense that my calling is quite simply to be a blessing to others. Reading this book really helped to solidify my inner thoughts and feelings and perhaps justify (to myself) that I am growing in my walk with the Lord and really understanding what the Christian calling means. Spiritual maturity, perhaps?
I completely understand, now, what it means to be content with my weaknesses, knowing that I will become strong in the Lord. Praise God for pastors and authors who speak and write in a way to allow each of us understanding that we can’t quite grasp on our own.
I completely understand, now, what it means to be content with my weaknesses, knowing that I will become strong in the Lord. Praise God for pastors and authors who speak and write in a way to allow each of us understanding that we can’t quite grasp on our own.
April 13, 2025
I am weak. If I refuse to acknowledge this fact or try to make myself strong by worldly standards then I am only making myself more weak. The only way to be strong is to be in Christ and live for Him and by Him. The greater my dependence on Christ in every area of life, the stronger I will be.
I thought this book was a very good introduction into the topic, and now I would really like to do a more in depth study into weakness and being strong in Christ that looks throughout the Bible and includes more practical applications beyond just giving more.
I had more thoughts on this book but I forgot them after spending the weekend with a bunch of teenagers lol.
I thought this book was a very good introduction into the topic, and now I would really like to do a more in depth study into weakness and being strong in Christ that looks throughout the Bible and includes more practical applications beyond just giving more.
I had more thoughts on this book but I forgot them after spending the weekend with a bunch of teenagers lol.
March 14, 2025
With my spiritual growth and increasing Gospel fluency over the past couple of years, I've gained awareness of what this book quickly points out. That i am weak, inadequate, and a failure to God's standards, and that sin, which disrupts all relationships, has disabled me all across the board. I am weak! But! For the sake of Christ, I am content with my weakness. For when I am weak, then I am strong. Lean on Christ! I love the Look to, Love, and Lean on Christ section of the book.
Christ and the Christian's giving section is so informative and motivating. I enjoyed the perspective of needing three conversions: conversion of the mind to Gospel truth, conversion of the heart to embrace the Lord Jesus Christ as Savior and Master, and conversion of the purse or wallet and the laying of money at Christ's feet.
Great 2 Corinthians deep dive as well! I will definitely read it again!
Christ and the Christian's giving section is so informative and motivating. I enjoyed the perspective of needing three conversions: conversion of the mind to Gospel truth, conversion of the heart to embrace the Lord Jesus Christ as Savior and Master, and conversion of the purse or wallet and the laying of money at Christ's feet.
Great 2 Corinthians deep dive as well! I will definitely read it again!
May 2, 2023
4.6 stars. I love all of the content and I love the focus of this book. And I know that my next comment will frustrate some, but….I just don’t resonate with Packer’s writing style. I am not sure what it is, because he is solid Biblically and the content and layout make sense, but for me there is just a miss when it comes to connecting (same can be said for Knowing God, I struggled with that one too).
However, in spite of all that I was blessed by this book. The portion on giving really came at a good time for me as I was preaching on a passage in Matthew, and Packer’s comments helped me get clear on what Matthew was saying. This is a good book
However, in spite of all that I was blessed by this book. The portion on giving really came at a good time for me as I was preaching on a passage in Matthew, and Packer’s comments helped me get clear on what Matthew was saying. This is a good book
March 1, 2025
Packer is always gold! Wonderful reflections as he neared the end of his race. Some great insights into 2 Corinthians.
August 3, 2020
Received this book from a friend and decided to read it as part of my night time routine. The super cool thing is that I was serendipitously reading 2 Corinthians, which he references quite a bit. I am new to Packer’s writing, and was thoroughly impressed and challenged. The moments where I felt weary and tired, Packer’s words helped recenter my focus. This is a book I’ll refer back to as I am sure that I only scratched the surface on the content presented. Next up, “Knowing God.”
May 5, 2023
Packer was a gem
August 1, 2013
J.I. Packer knows something about weakness. As a child he suffered a near fatal accident when hit by a truck. He had to wear a steel plate over a hole in his head for a year (incidentally, the injury kept him out of World War II and sent him off to Oxford. How’s that for providence!). Now that he is ‘well advanced in years’ he has to deal with aging, mortality, and convalescing from a hip replacement surgery. The apostle Paul also knew something about weakness. He suffered his share of persecution and hardship. In 2 Corinthians, Paul sets out to defend his apostleship from the Corinthian church who dismissed him for his weakness. Paul points the Corinthians to the fact that “weakness is the way” for those who seek to live out the Christian life.
In “Weakness is the Way: Life With Christ Our Strength,” Packer reflects on Paul’s words about weakness and what they have to say to us. In four brief chapters these meditations describe what weakness is, the Christian calling, the Christian understanding of giving, and the Christian hope in the resurrection. The first meditation speaks about 2 Corinthians more generally, whereas the other three chapters interact directly with particular passages from the letter.
Packer has a rare gift of packaging deep theological insights accessibly. As he broods over this peculiar Corinthian correspondence, he challenges us to learn from Paul to not rest on our own strength, but to confidently lean on Christ to be our strength and provision. He challenges us to trust God in and through our giving rather than trusting our own wealth and financial security. Finally Packer paints a compelling vision of the Christian hope in the resurrection which looks ahead to the good things God has in store in Christ for us.
Paul wrote, “When I am weak I am strong” (2 Cor. 12:10). Our spiritual state is that we are all weak and inadequate. Sin in our lives has crippled us. What Packer and Paul have to teach us is that our true strength lies not in our own resources and whatever energy we can muster. Jesus Christ is our strength. This of course, is not news to anyone who has walked with Christ: weakness has always been the way. But this is a message we need to hear often. I know I do.
I give this book five stars–★★★★★.
Thank you to Crossway Books for providing me a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.
In “Weakness is the Way: Life With Christ Our Strength,” Packer reflects on Paul’s words about weakness and what they have to say to us. In four brief chapters these meditations describe what weakness is, the Christian calling, the Christian understanding of giving, and the Christian hope in the resurrection. The first meditation speaks about 2 Corinthians more generally, whereas the other three chapters interact directly with particular passages from the letter.
Packer has a rare gift of packaging deep theological insights accessibly. As he broods over this peculiar Corinthian correspondence, he challenges us to learn from Paul to not rest on our own strength, but to confidently lean on Christ to be our strength and provision. He challenges us to trust God in and through our giving rather than trusting our own wealth and financial security. Finally Packer paints a compelling vision of the Christian hope in the resurrection which looks ahead to the good things God has in store in Christ for us.
Paul wrote, “When I am weak I am strong” (2 Cor. 12:10). Our spiritual state is that we are all weak and inadequate. Sin in our lives has crippled us. What Packer and Paul have to teach us is that our true strength lies not in our own resources and whatever energy we can muster. Jesus Christ is our strength. This of course, is not news to anyone who has walked with Christ: weakness has always been the way. But this is a message we need to hear often. I know I do.
I give this book five stars–★★★★★.
Thank you to Crossway Books for providing me a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.
April 13, 2024
Good stuff. I appreciated Packer’s perspective that weakness is not merely a circumstance but a conscious choice we make, emphasizing the importance of becoming less so that Christ becomes everything. His personal story of a childhood accident that left a dent in his head and ultimately led to his dedicated life of writing, was particularly intriguing. His arguments draw heavily from Paul’s defense of his ministry in 2 Corinthians.
November 27, 2024
Encouraging walk through 2 Corinthians. I listened to the audio and now I want to go back and read through again. Enjoyed Packer’s writing style.
July 23, 2013
Anyone who has seen the publisher's promo video for this book might be forgiven for thinking it is a brief autobiographical sketch of the life of J.I. Packer. It is not. This is a relatively short but very practical, devotional, and edifying exposition of the main themes and thrusts of Paul's second letter to the Corinthian church.
2 Corinthians is usually considered the least understood of Paul's letters, perhaps because it is his least didactic and most intimately personal letter. 2 Corinthians has typically received less attention that Paul's other epistles, but for the student of Scripture willing to dig deep it is a gold mine, especially for someone involved in or contemplating pastoral, church planting or any type of missions ministry. It is also a work of great comfort and encouragement for the Christian who feels ineffective or ill-equipped for the gospel work God has placed them in or called them to. Conversely, 2 Corinthians should provide a sobering warning to anyone who never faces opposition or affliction in their Christian life. This is a letter of encouragement in the midst of weakness, knowing that God himself provides the strength to do all that which he calls his people to do.
This book was compiled from course lectures but in spite of this, it nowhere feels choppy or disjointed. There are tiny tidbits of Dr. Packer's life experience mentioned in the book, as well as some other illustrations used to flesh-out the various points of teaching, but not so much as one might have expected from the publisher's promotion. This book is accessible to new believers and lay people and is not intended to be a deep, scholarly treatment for students and pastors only. (Having first received this material in a lecture setting, I know that Dr. Packer's intention is not to teach to the intellectual top 20% of the class and leave the rest behind. Packer teaches so as to leave none behind.) That said, his very accessible treatment of 2 Corinthians is nevertheless based on thorough and careful exegesis of the Greek text and deep theological and pastoral reflection upon it, all in light of Paul's other writings and in the context of the Bible as a whole. Weakness as the way of ministering the gospel in particular and living the Christian life in general is variously, and sometimes simultaneously, the subtle underlying theme of the whole epistle of 2 Corinthians as well as in places the overt and direct focus of Paul's teaching. Packer opens up Paul's running theme of personal weakness but strength in Christ faithfully and applies it helpfully to today's church context.
Of particular note is the very helpful section on Christian money-management and giving. While all parts of this book are eminently helpful, this particular section itself is well worth twice the price of the book, partly because money is seldom taught on in the church today and partly because, when it is, so much of the modern church's teaching on money is patently unbiblical. Paul deals with the very ticklish subject of money in this letter and Dr. Packer boils his teaching down to some very succinct, very practical and applicable principles that the wealthy North American church would do well to put into practice, especially in light of the easy access we have to information about our poor and suffering Christian brothers and sisters in churches around the world.
All in all, I highly recommend this small book. It would make a great small group or Bible study guide and for anyone preaching or teaching through 2 Corinthians, this would be an excellent supplement to more scholarly treatments. And as with all of his teachings, Dr. Packer's modus operandi comes through loud and clear: that theology is for doxology (that studying Scripture in depth ought to result in a response of worship).
For those wishing to go deeper in the study of 2 Corinthians, I recommend Witherington's socio-rhetorical commentary, "Conflict and Community in Corinth", which covers both epistles, Harris's 2 Corinthians volume in the NIGTC series, Garland's commentary in the NAC series, Barnett in the NICNT and, for more of a devotional level commentary, his volume in the BST series, and Barnett's study, "The Corinthian Question".
2 Corinthians is usually considered the least understood of Paul's letters, perhaps because it is his least didactic and most intimately personal letter. 2 Corinthians has typically received less attention that Paul's other epistles, but for the student of Scripture willing to dig deep it is a gold mine, especially for someone involved in or contemplating pastoral, church planting or any type of missions ministry. It is also a work of great comfort and encouragement for the Christian who feels ineffective or ill-equipped for the gospel work God has placed them in or called them to. Conversely, 2 Corinthians should provide a sobering warning to anyone who never faces opposition or affliction in their Christian life. This is a letter of encouragement in the midst of weakness, knowing that God himself provides the strength to do all that which he calls his people to do.
This book was compiled from course lectures but in spite of this, it nowhere feels choppy or disjointed. There are tiny tidbits of Dr. Packer's life experience mentioned in the book, as well as some other illustrations used to flesh-out the various points of teaching, but not so much as one might have expected from the publisher's promotion. This book is accessible to new believers and lay people and is not intended to be a deep, scholarly treatment for students and pastors only. (Having first received this material in a lecture setting, I know that Dr. Packer's intention is not to teach to the intellectual top 20% of the class and leave the rest behind. Packer teaches so as to leave none behind.) That said, his very accessible treatment of 2 Corinthians is nevertheless based on thorough and careful exegesis of the Greek text and deep theological and pastoral reflection upon it, all in light of Paul's other writings and in the context of the Bible as a whole. Weakness as the way of ministering the gospel in particular and living the Christian life in general is variously, and sometimes simultaneously, the subtle underlying theme of the whole epistle of 2 Corinthians as well as in places the overt and direct focus of Paul's teaching. Packer opens up Paul's running theme of personal weakness but strength in Christ faithfully and applies it helpfully to today's church context.
Of particular note is the very helpful section on Christian money-management and giving. While all parts of this book are eminently helpful, this particular section itself is well worth twice the price of the book, partly because money is seldom taught on in the church today and partly because, when it is, so much of the modern church's teaching on money is patently unbiblical. Paul deals with the very ticklish subject of money in this letter and Dr. Packer boils his teaching down to some very succinct, very practical and applicable principles that the wealthy North American church would do well to put into practice, especially in light of the easy access we have to information about our poor and suffering Christian brothers and sisters in churches around the world.
All in all, I highly recommend this small book. It would make a great small group or Bible study guide and for anyone preaching or teaching through 2 Corinthians, this would be an excellent supplement to more scholarly treatments. And as with all of his teachings, Dr. Packer's modus operandi comes through loud and clear: that theology is for doxology (that studying Scripture in depth ought to result in a response of worship).
For those wishing to go deeper in the study of 2 Corinthians, I recommend Witherington's socio-rhetorical commentary, "Conflict and Community in Corinth", which covers both epistles, Harris's 2 Corinthians volume in the NIGTC series, Garland's commentary in the NAC series, Barnett in the NICNT and, for more of a devotional level commentary, his volume in the BST series, and Barnett's study, "The Corinthian Question".
June 24, 2025
Alas, this was not as I expected. I’m all for books on weakness and relying on Christ as your strength, and he did touch on these themes in this book, but it was most definitely not a book that focussed on this in depth and I felt the title and description were very misleading here. The content was fine and obviously biblical, but I wouldn’t recommend or turn to this as a book on the topic of weakness at all. It was short enough that I finished it, but I probably wouldn’t have otherwise.
June 18, 2025
Short but sweet book. Very to the point. There definitely is power in weakness. Good to see early Christians teach all this.
February 12, 2020
“Look forward and look to Christ.” Yes, and Amen! Christ is the hope that sustains us, so let us be of good courage. A short encouraging read.
January 17, 2023
Disclaimer: I read listening to HOOPLA.
Great exposition and encouragement on 2 Corinthians (entirety of book) and the theme of weakness in the Christian life.
Great exposition and encouragement on 2 Corinthians (entirety of book) and the theme of weakness in the Christian life.
May 25, 2023
I confess I listened to this on audible whilst walking the dog. What a wonderful way to meditate on scripture - full of gems. The chapter on giving is brilliant as is the chapter on hope.
October 6, 2025
Whenever I read Packer I am led to love and respect my Lord so much more. I am grateful for this book and its author.
August 20, 2022
Using 2 Corinthians, J. I. Packer encourages the reader to reflect on and rejoice in their weaknesses. I found it interesting how he emphasized the importance of giving generously. He said that a 10% tithe is never commanded in the NT, but rather, we are told to give generously. He suggested that giving 10% be a crutch that gets you in the habit of giving until you don’t need it anymore and begin to overflow in generosity. This too is a form of weakness in which the Christian can give sacrificially within their means, recognizing God as Provider and Sustainer and not looking to money as security. The ending is a helpful reminder to keep your gaze on Christ as you journey, for the hope of glory is what sustains us.
June 14, 2013
Let me start by saying, after watching this video, it was likely that nothing short of a masterpiece could have lived up to my expectations of this book.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=seBsfK...
See what I mean...
If you’ve never experienced a Packer book before and are considering this as your first read, might I suggest you pick up a different work– maybe Knowing God or Evangelism and the Sovereignty of God. If you have read Packer before, then it’s likely that you too have been impacted by his heart, mind, and his clarity in teaching difficult doctrines of truth. This book will be a refreshing reminder of why you love and appreciate this man of God.
In a sentence, Weakness is the Way is a conversational exposition on 2 Corinthians 5:6-6:2.
If you’ll allow me to review this book with an analogy: it was as if I was sitting on a cozy rug listening to Grandpa Packer teach me a passage of Scripture, while rocking in his favorite chair. Like all grandfathers, he stopped from time to time to interject a personal story and a Peanuts or Winnie the Pooh reference (no kidding). But overall, it was nice to spend some time with him- as we’re not sure how much longer he’ll be with us- and edifying, because, even in his old age, he is still careful and clear in his exposition of God’s Word.
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book for free from Crossway Publishing for this review. I have not received any compensation for writing this post. Also, some of the links in the post above are “affiliate links.” This means if you click on the link and purchase the item, I will receive an affiliate commission. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=seBsfK...
See what I mean...
If you’ve never experienced a Packer book before and are considering this as your first read, might I suggest you pick up a different work– maybe Knowing God or Evangelism and the Sovereignty of God. If you have read Packer before, then it’s likely that you too have been impacted by his heart, mind, and his clarity in teaching difficult doctrines of truth. This book will be a refreshing reminder of why you love and appreciate this man of God.
In a sentence, Weakness is the Way is a conversational exposition on 2 Corinthians 5:6-6:2.
If you’ll allow me to review this book with an analogy: it was as if I was sitting on a cozy rug listening to Grandpa Packer teach me a passage of Scripture, while rocking in his favorite chair. Like all grandfathers, he stopped from time to time to interject a personal story and a Peanuts or Winnie the Pooh reference (no kidding). But overall, it was nice to spend some time with him- as we’re not sure how much longer he’ll be with us- and edifying, because, even in his old age, he is still careful and clear in his exposition of God’s Word.
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book for free from Crossway Publishing for this review. I have not received any compensation for writing this post. Also, some of the links in the post above are “affiliate links.” This means if you click on the link and purchase the item, I will receive an affiliate commission. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”
March 10, 2016
This is likely J.I Packer's last book; he lost his eyesight in his old age during the last year. And what a fitting end to his career. While an intellectual giant, he was a kind and gentle leader. His influence on evangelical thought in the English speaking world is hard to overstate, and yet he has always resisted the megalomania that the modern evangelical celebrity culture has produced.
Weakness is the Way is a book length reflection on the theme of "weakness" in Paul's second letter to the Corinthians. It is a short and devotional book, worthy of a life well lived according to its theme. Highly recommended.
Weakness is the Way is a book length reflection on the theme of "weakness" in Paul's second letter to the Corinthians. It is a short and devotional book, worthy of a life well lived according to its theme. Highly recommended.
December 17, 2018
Came across this little book at my dad's house and finished it off the same day. I love reading Packer, so it is the kind of thing where my appreciation for the author has determined before I even crack the cover that I will love this book.
I have two main thoughts as a result of reading this book: First, it was not what I expected (and unlike some readers and reviewers here I did not even see the trailer for the book which was even more misleading than the title). I expected more personal reflection, but found instead a meditation on portions of 2nd Corinthians and the life of Paul, including a chapter on financial giving. Don't get me wrong, they were great meditations that I gleaned a lot from, but it just wasn't what I thought I was getting.
Second, I just love Packer's pastoral heart and demeanor when he writes. He is an eminent theologian, but you always get the sense that the coals are still warm from his own personal devotion and worship to Christ. This relentless bent towards doxology makes his books some of the most spiritually beneficial stuff you can find.
I have two main thoughts as a result of reading this book: First, it was not what I expected (and unlike some readers and reviewers here I did not even see the trailer for the book which was even more misleading than the title). I expected more personal reflection, but found instead a meditation on portions of 2nd Corinthians and the life of Paul, including a chapter on financial giving. Don't get me wrong, they were great meditations that I gleaned a lot from, but it just wasn't what I thought I was getting.
Second, I just love Packer's pastoral heart and demeanor when he writes. He is an eminent theologian, but you always get the sense that the coals are still warm from his own personal devotion and worship to Christ. This relentless bent towards doxology makes his books some of the most spiritually beneficial stuff you can find.
April 30, 2020
This is a very helpful book for anyone who feels their weaknesses and desires to honor God in the midst of them. Working through 2 Corinthians, Packer describes the Christian way of life as a walk of weakness. But our call, he says, is to acknowledge our weakness and humbly turn to Christ for strength and grace. Surprisingly, he dedicates a whole chapter on financial giving. Our temptation can be to turn to money in weakness, but God calls us to do just the opposite and learn the skill of Christian giving. He ends on the note of hope that all believers have —even as our bodies age —as we long to be with Christ in glory.
February 4, 2021
Mr. Packer’s commentary on second Corinthians brings about a whole new understanding of weakness, God’s glory in and through us, hope, and financial giving (that last one I did not expect to have in there but I feel both challenged and renewed and my vision for generosity). Highly recommend this read if you feel tempted in any way to hide your weaknesses, because weak people are whom exactly God chooses to use.
April 19, 2023
4.5 ⭐
A careful, vibrant assessment of how Paul's lived weakness underscored his apostolic authority in his correspondence with the Corinthian church. This little book has actually become my favorite writing on Paul that I've read. Paul is here in all his authority, humanity, difficulty, and intelligence; Packer helped me to see the richness of what it meant to be an apostle.
A careful, vibrant assessment of how Paul's lived weakness underscored his apostolic authority in his correspondence with the Corinthian church. This little book has actually become my favorite writing on Paul that I've read. Paul is here in all his authority, humanity, difficulty, and intelligence; Packer helped me to see the richness of what it meant to be an apostle.
January 9, 2024
Pretty much a microcosm commentary of 2 Corinthians. 1/2 the book rips into the read in the most gracious way possible about money and generosity. It feels out of place at first, but ultimately it is deeply intertwined with the Bible’s approach to weakness. Encouraged once again by Packer.
January 13, 2024
J.I. Packer develops the theme of weakness in 2 Corinthians and unpacks its relation to worldly strength and wisdom, finances, and death as an entrance into the beatific vision.
I enjoyed the main point but also felt that the flow was somewhat disjointed and I struggled to follow the connections between each of these themes.
I enjoyed the main point but also felt that the flow was somewhat disjointed and I struggled to follow the connections between each of these themes.
August 11, 2022
It’s all good stuff (like you’d expect from Packer), yet the trouble is that it just doesn’t actually say much about either weakness or 2 Corinthians. A bit of a disappointment.
March 7, 2024
But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me.
-the Apostle Paul, 2 Corinthians 12:9
Do we live like that is true?
-the Apostle Paul, 2 Corinthians 12:9
Do we live like that is true?
June 5, 2018
An expositor's work on 2 Corinthians.
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