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J. I. Packer: His Life and Thought
J. I. Packer was one of the most influential evangelical theological and spiritual writers of the twentieth century, best known for his classic work Knowing God. In the 1990s Christianity Today readers named him one of the most influential theologians of the twentieth century, second only to C. S. Lewis. But who was Jim Packer, and what is the story of the man behind the writings?
Alister McGrath, a bestselling author and friend of Packer, tells the story of Packer's faith and how it sustained him during his time in England and Canada. Along the way he explores Packer's many contributions to theology and spirituality, alternating narrative with reflection. By engagingly setting out Packer's ideas and the central themes of his work, McGrath helps to explain why Packer and his writing continue to be so helpful to millions on the journey of encountering God.
This beautiful recollection of a giant of the Christian faith is both a celebration of his life and the perfect introduction to his thought and writings for a new generation of readers.
Alister McGrath, a bestselling author and friend of Packer, tells the story of Packer's faith and how it sustained him during his time in England and Canada. Along the way he explores Packer's many contributions to theology and spirituality, alternating narrative with reflection. By engagingly setting out Packer's ideas and the central themes of his work, McGrath helps to explain why Packer and his writing continue to be so helpful to millions on the journey of encountering God.
This beautiful recollection of a giant of the Christian faith is both a celebration of his life and the perfect introduction to his thought and writings for a new generation of readers.
216 pages, Kindle Edition
Published November 10, 2020
12 people are currently reading
71 people want to read
About the author
Alister E. McGrath
451 books497 followersAlister Edgar McGrath is a Northern Irish theologian, priest, intellectual historian, scientist, and Christian apologist. He currently holds the Andreas Idreos Professorship in Science and Religion in the Faculty of Theology and Religion at the University of Oxford, and is Professor of Divinity at Gresham College. He was previously Professor of Theology, Ministry, and Education at King's College London and Head of the Centre for Theology, Religion and Culture, Professor of Historical Theology at the University of Oxford, and was principal of Wycliffe Hall, Oxford, until 2005. He is an Anglican priest and is ordained within the Church of England.
Aside from being a faculty member at Oxford, McGrath has also taught at Cambridge University and is a Teaching Fellow at Regent College. McGrath holds three doctorates from the University of Oxford, a DPhil in Molecular Biophysics, a Doctor of Divinity in Theology and a Doctor of Letters in Intellectual History.
McGrath is noted for his work in historical theology, systematic theology, and the relationship between science and religion, as well as his writings on apologetics. He is also known for his opposition to New Atheism and antireligionism and his advocacy of theological critical realism. Among his best-known books are The Twilight of Atheism, The Dawkins Delusion?: Atheist Fundamentalism and the Denial of the Divine, Dawkins' God: Genes, Memes, and the Meaning of Life, and A Scientific Theology. He is also the author of a number of popular textbooks on theology.
Aside from being a faculty member at Oxford, McGrath has also taught at Cambridge University and is a Teaching Fellow at Regent College. McGrath holds three doctorates from the University of Oxford, a DPhil in Molecular Biophysics, a Doctor of Divinity in Theology and a Doctor of Letters in Intellectual History.
McGrath is noted for his work in historical theology, systematic theology, and the relationship between science and religion, as well as his writings on apologetics. He is also known for his opposition to New Atheism and antireligionism and his advocacy of theological critical realism. Among his best-known books are The Twilight of Atheism, The Dawkins Delusion?: Atheist Fundamentalism and the Denial of the Divine, Dawkins' God: Genes, Memes, and the Meaning of Life, and A Scientific Theology. He is also the author of a number of popular textbooks on theology.
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April 8, 2021
Summary: An account of the theologian’s faith, life, and theological engagement.
J. I. Packer was one of my personal theological heroes. His impact on my life came primarily through the book Knowing God, which I read during my student days. As a young Christian, I discovered that the chief end of our lives as well as the work of theology is that we know, love, and glorify God, and not just know about him. The first time through, I read a few pages at a time, stopped, reflected, and prayed in wonder at the greatness, majesty, holiness, and love of God. It is one of those books I’ve re-read several times. I only heard Packer speak once, giving a series of lectures on revival in Ann Arbor, contrasting Jonathan Edwards and Charles Finney, along with an exposition of Psalm 85 as a prayer for revival. The talks were marked by precision of thought and warmth of devotion.
Reading this account of the life and thought of Packer by Alister McGrath, I came to understand that the qualities I appreciated in his lectures and his books reflected his central passion for theological education and catechesis for the good of the church. McGrath traces this thread through his books and thought and his career first in Bristol, then Oxford, then briefly again at Bristol, and finally at Regent in Canada. In fact, McGrath alternates chapters on his life with ones on aspects of his theological work.
He recounts Packer’s early life, his spiritual awakening and early embrace of the theology of the fathers and their ancient wisdom. He describes the relationship with D. Martyn Lloyd Jones and the development of the Puritan Studies Conferences, and their later falling out. At Tyndale Hall in Bristol, Packer comes into his own as a “theological educationalist.” This period marked Packer’s early efforts in publishing, centered around the editorial work on the first edition of The New Bible Dictionary and his first book on Fundamentalism and the Word of God. McGrath includes marvelous material here on how Packer’s devotional life fed both his pastoral and theological work.
Packer’s return to Oxford in the 1960’s as Warden of Latimer House came at a time of ferment within Anglican evangelicalism. McGrath features Packer’s marvelous reply to Bishop Robinson’s Honest to God, the crisis in 1966 with Lloyd Jones leading to the cooling of their relationship and the Keele conference of 1967 defining an evangelical presence within Anglicanism. A key focus in Packer’s thought is theology for the life of the church. After this conference, Packer became convinced that it was time to move on from Latimer. He returned to take up the leadership of Tyndale Hall in a time of crisis leading to a merger creating Trinity College, with him no longer as principal. Time for writing led to a series of articles that became Knowing God.
One of the personal highlights of McGrath’s account was reading about James Sire’s visit with Packer and offer to acquire the U.S. rights of the book for InterVarsity Press, through which the book came into the hands of this young college student and many others becoming one of IVP’s all-time best selling works. By the 1977 Nottingham Conference, however, it became apparent that Packer was increasingly out of step with the younger evangelicals in England. This opened the door to Canada, and Regent College, and the opportunities for Packer to more fully pursue his ideas of theological education for the church, which he did as faculty and in retirement until his death in 2020.
One of the fascinating aspects developed by McGrath is Packer’s conservatism with an irenic streak. Packer was committed to the idea “test everything; hold onto the good.” He believe the good traditions of the past could deliver us from the idiosyncrasies of the present, all under the authority of the Bible. Hence his emphasis on the Reformers and Puritan studies. This put him at variance with others, particularly at two points: the ministry of women and his views of eternal punishment. Yet he also join the Evangelicals and Catholics Together initiative, finding the places of common ground while delineating theological difference with clarity. It strikes me you needed someone like Packer to do this to avoid making a theological hash of the whole affair.
McGrath has given us a wonderful summary of the life and thought of Packer. Indeed, we see how what Packer thought shaped how he lived. Packer believed in theological education as not merely an academic exercise but as existing for the strengthening of the church in the knowledge of God. McGrath helps us see how the whole trajectory of Packer’s life was shaped by these commitments. It also leaves me two questions to ponder. One is, amid a changing world, what must be conserved? The second is, amid the powerful and competing influences of our culture, how might we carry forward Packer’s commitment to catechesis, the formation of Christians in thought, word, and deed?
____________________________
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received a complimentary review copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. The opinions I have expressed are my own.
J. I. Packer was one of my personal theological heroes. His impact on my life came primarily through the book Knowing God, which I read during my student days. As a young Christian, I discovered that the chief end of our lives as well as the work of theology is that we know, love, and glorify God, and not just know about him. The first time through, I read a few pages at a time, stopped, reflected, and prayed in wonder at the greatness, majesty, holiness, and love of God. It is one of those books I’ve re-read several times. I only heard Packer speak once, giving a series of lectures on revival in Ann Arbor, contrasting Jonathan Edwards and Charles Finney, along with an exposition of Psalm 85 as a prayer for revival. The talks were marked by precision of thought and warmth of devotion.
Reading this account of the life and thought of Packer by Alister McGrath, I came to understand that the qualities I appreciated in his lectures and his books reflected his central passion for theological education and catechesis for the good of the church. McGrath traces this thread through his books and thought and his career first in Bristol, then Oxford, then briefly again at Bristol, and finally at Regent in Canada. In fact, McGrath alternates chapters on his life with ones on aspects of his theological work.
He recounts Packer’s early life, his spiritual awakening and early embrace of the theology of the fathers and their ancient wisdom. He describes the relationship with D. Martyn Lloyd Jones and the development of the Puritan Studies Conferences, and their later falling out. At Tyndale Hall in Bristol, Packer comes into his own as a “theological educationalist.” This period marked Packer’s early efforts in publishing, centered around the editorial work on the first edition of The New Bible Dictionary and his first book on Fundamentalism and the Word of God. McGrath includes marvelous material here on how Packer’s devotional life fed both his pastoral and theological work.
Packer’s return to Oxford in the 1960’s as Warden of Latimer House came at a time of ferment within Anglican evangelicalism. McGrath features Packer’s marvelous reply to Bishop Robinson’s Honest to God, the crisis in 1966 with Lloyd Jones leading to the cooling of their relationship and the Keele conference of 1967 defining an evangelical presence within Anglicanism. A key focus in Packer’s thought is theology for the life of the church. After this conference, Packer became convinced that it was time to move on from Latimer. He returned to take up the leadership of Tyndale Hall in a time of crisis leading to a merger creating Trinity College, with him no longer as principal. Time for writing led to a series of articles that became Knowing God.
One of the personal highlights of McGrath’s account was reading about James Sire’s visit with Packer and offer to acquire the U.S. rights of the book for InterVarsity Press, through which the book came into the hands of this young college student and many others becoming one of IVP’s all-time best selling works. By the 1977 Nottingham Conference, however, it became apparent that Packer was increasingly out of step with the younger evangelicals in England. This opened the door to Canada, and Regent College, and the opportunities for Packer to more fully pursue his ideas of theological education for the church, which he did as faculty and in retirement until his death in 2020.
One of the fascinating aspects developed by McGrath is Packer’s conservatism with an irenic streak. Packer was committed to the idea “test everything; hold onto the good.” He believe the good traditions of the past could deliver us from the idiosyncrasies of the present, all under the authority of the Bible. Hence his emphasis on the Reformers and Puritan studies. This put him at variance with others, particularly at two points: the ministry of women and his views of eternal punishment. Yet he also join the Evangelicals and Catholics Together initiative, finding the places of common ground while delineating theological difference with clarity. It strikes me you needed someone like Packer to do this to avoid making a theological hash of the whole affair.
McGrath has given us a wonderful summary of the life and thought of Packer. Indeed, we see how what Packer thought shaped how he lived. Packer believed in theological education as not merely an academic exercise but as existing for the strengthening of the church in the knowledge of God. McGrath helps us see how the whole trajectory of Packer’s life was shaped by these commitments. It also leaves me two questions to ponder. One is, amid a changing world, what must be conserved? The second is, amid the powerful and competing influences of our culture, how might we carry forward Packer’s commitment to catechesis, the formation of Christians in thought, word, and deed?
____________________________
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received a complimentary review copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. The opinions I have expressed are my own.
February 14, 2022
Short sweet reflection on Packer's life.
It's humbling to see Packer's lifelong focus on writing things that would be of use to the church and building up a experiential, devotional view of theology--particularly to see how well he fulfilled that vision. It's hard to imagine my own spiritual growth apart from his work.
Interesting to see an account of his split with Lloyd-Jones that is highly sympathetic to Packer's decisions. I think that portion is instructive in showing some of the foundational framing of issues that was determined by each person's ecclesial tradition, for good and ill. At times I felt McGrath's own agendas were more apparent (and occluded Packer himself)--for example, McGrath seems to diminish the significance of inerrancy/infallibility debates in North America, in a way that I'm not sure a man who was a part of writing the Chicago Statement on Inerrancy would entirely agree with.
That said, a warm and fitting tribute to a life well lived.
It's humbling to see Packer's lifelong focus on writing things that would be of use to the church and building up a experiential, devotional view of theology--particularly to see how well he fulfilled that vision. It's hard to imagine my own spiritual growth apart from his work.
Interesting to see an account of his split with Lloyd-Jones that is highly sympathetic to Packer's decisions. I think that portion is instructive in showing some of the foundational framing of issues that was determined by each person's ecclesial tradition, for good and ill. At times I felt McGrath's own agendas were more apparent (and occluded Packer himself)--for example, McGrath seems to diminish the significance of inerrancy/infallibility debates in North America, in a way that I'm not sure a man who was a part of writing the Chicago Statement on Inerrancy would entirely agree with.
That said, a warm and fitting tribute to a life well lived.
September 16, 2025
"Theologians are not empty vessels containing abstract theological ideas, but are living souls who exhibit and embody those ideas and values in their lives. Packer embodies his theology by living out the central truths he discovered and sought to preserve and communicate. Our concern in this book is not primarily with documenting the details of Packer's life, but with the greater question of what he has seen, and what he wanted to pass on to others."
Written with his characteristic lucid and accessible style, Alister McGrath has given us a brilliant reflection on the main themes of J.I. Packer's thought. The format is really effective, as McGrath intersperses a brief survey of the main events in Packer's life with more analytical chapters where he synthesises some of the main markers that distinguished Packer's approach to theology and spirituality. The highlight is that theology and spirituality are distinguishable but inseparable, and that true theology must be applied to, and have an impact upon, the life of both the individual Christian and of the church as a community of believers. It is also worth noting that while this is certainly not a hagiography, McGrath is largely uncritical of Packer throughout the book. Even more controversial aspects of his career, like Growing into Union (co-authored with Anglo Catholic Anglicans) and the better-known Evangelicals and Catholics Together, are assessed in the most charitable and positive light.
Packer can best be described as a conservative Reformed and evangelical Anglican, but McGrath doesn't focus on his doctrinal positions. Instead, he builds up a framework to understand Packer's approach to theology. The first piece that he highlights is the high value Packer places on the Christian past: "Packer developed a theological framework for ensuring that Christians could benefit from the deep wisdom of the Christian past without becoming trapped in a bygone era." In sum, wise retrieval of the past leads to personal and communal renewal in the present.
Second, McGrath shows how Packer was committed to learning from history, and particularly in retrieving the Puritan heritage. One of his fundamental ideas is that the wisdom of the past can be reappropriated by today's Christians, allowing it both to enrich and to challenge our own ideas and lives. In focusing on the Puritan heritage, Packer was applying this general principle to a specific body of wisdom and expertise, which he believed was particularly relevant to the present day. What Packer saw as consistent across all the Puritans is a "rigorous biblical commitment to doctrinal and ethical precision, aiming at holiness of life." Theology for the Puritans was never an abstract theoretical pursuit, but part of what they described as experimental (i.e. experiential) religion. As Packer describes it, "The Puritan's awareness that in the midst of life we are in death, just one step from eternity, gave them a deep seriousness, calm yet passionate, with regard to the business of living." So, this life is a gymnasium and dressing room, where we are prepared for heaven; preparation for death is the first step in learning to truly live.
Third, McGrath demonstrates Packer's commitment to the Bible, and specifically its authority, interpretation and translation. Packer is clear that the bible sets both the agenda and the parameters for our lives as Christians, both individually and communally. This in turn defines a fourth area of focus, that is, the role of theology in the life of the church: "Our business is to present the Christian faith clothed in modern terms, not to propagate modern thought clothed in Christian terms. Our business is to interpret and criticise modern thought by the gospel, not vice versa."
Next, McGrath draws out the way Packer conceptualised the relationship between theology and spirituality, especially as seen in his seminal work "Knowing God". Packer's account of what it means to know God is cognitive, experiential and relational. "Packer argues that it is never enough to know about God; true Christian theology is about knowing God - a relational and transformative process of knowing and being known, which sustains and informs the Christian life. The Christian encounter with God is transformative...The ultimate test of whether we have grasped theological truth is thus not so much whether we have comprehended it rationally, but whether it has transformed us experientially. In an important sense, we are not called on to master theology, but to allow it to master us."
Last, we see what it means for Packer to be a conservative, best summarised as holding on to what is good. Packer understood conservatism as both a conviction and a process, "a determination to hold on to what is good, lest it be lost; and a process of sifting which helps us identify what really matters, so that it can be preserved and applied to the needs of our day...Packer offers us a luminous example of a reflective religious conservatism capable of development and expansion in the future." A related consideration is how we should engage with tradition, particularly in light of the Protestant and evangelical tendency to regard it with suspicion. Packer suggests three ways in which we can engage positively with tradition, and which will inform both our biblical interpretation and our theological reflection. These are in liberating us from our own thoughts and being challenged by alternative perspectives; helping us avoid being locked into today's way of thinking and chronological snobbery and; setting us free from the limitations of our own traditions. If individualism in evangelicalism can "engender a dangerously superficial and ephemeral form of Christianity," then tradition can help provide the rootedness that is needed as an antidote to these destabilising tendencies. Again, "Rediscovering the corporate and historic nature of the Christian faith reduces the danger of entire communities of faith being misled by charismatic individuals, and affirms the ongoing importance of the Christian past as a stabilising influence in potentially turbulent times." In short, tradition should have a ministerial role rather than a magisterial role, and should both inform and nourish our faith without undermining the place of the Bible itself. "The Bible retains its authority, which is served and illuminated by its wise interpreters."
All the above is clearly relevant to today's church, especially when so much contemporary debate has been overheated by social media: "In part, Packer's anxiety about such overheated theological disputes was the tendency of some of their leading figures to portray opponents whose ideas they found threatening as enemies who needed to be vanquished." That is surely a word for our times!
In considering Packers' likely legacy within evangelicalism, McGrath concludes that: "Many found in Packer's writings an intelligent and deep vision of the Christian faith, firmly rooted in the Bible on the one hand, and in the long tradition of biblical reflection, especially within Puritanism, on the other. Others found him to be a gateway to the riches of the believing past, like one who opened up a treasure chest of wisdom and helped us explore what lay within. Yet perhaps his legacy might lie most enduringly in his insistence that we need to go deeper into our faith, not resting content with superficial engagement. We can learn from those who have gone before us, and who urge us to follow them in discovering and exploring what Packer so eloquently called the 'biggest thing that ever was.'"
Written with his characteristic lucid and accessible style, Alister McGrath has given us a brilliant reflection on the main themes of J.I. Packer's thought. The format is really effective, as McGrath intersperses a brief survey of the main events in Packer's life with more analytical chapters where he synthesises some of the main markers that distinguished Packer's approach to theology and spirituality. The highlight is that theology and spirituality are distinguishable but inseparable, and that true theology must be applied to, and have an impact upon, the life of both the individual Christian and of the church as a community of believers. It is also worth noting that while this is certainly not a hagiography, McGrath is largely uncritical of Packer throughout the book. Even more controversial aspects of his career, like Growing into Union (co-authored with Anglo Catholic Anglicans) and the better-known Evangelicals and Catholics Together, are assessed in the most charitable and positive light.
Packer can best be described as a conservative Reformed and evangelical Anglican, but McGrath doesn't focus on his doctrinal positions. Instead, he builds up a framework to understand Packer's approach to theology. The first piece that he highlights is the high value Packer places on the Christian past: "Packer developed a theological framework for ensuring that Christians could benefit from the deep wisdom of the Christian past without becoming trapped in a bygone era." In sum, wise retrieval of the past leads to personal and communal renewal in the present.
Second, McGrath shows how Packer was committed to learning from history, and particularly in retrieving the Puritan heritage. One of his fundamental ideas is that the wisdom of the past can be reappropriated by today's Christians, allowing it both to enrich and to challenge our own ideas and lives. In focusing on the Puritan heritage, Packer was applying this general principle to a specific body of wisdom and expertise, which he believed was particularly relevant to the present day. What Packer saw as consistent across all the Puritans is a "rigorous biblical commitment to doctrinal and ethical precision, aiming at holiness of life." Theology for the Puritans was never an abstract theoretical pursuit, but part of what they described as experimental (i.e. experiential) religion. As Packer describes it, "The Puritan's awareness that in the midst of life we are in death, just one step from eternity, gave them a deep seriousness, calm yet passionate, with regard to the business of living." So, this life is a gymnasium and dressing room, where we are prepared for heaven; preparation for death is the first step in learning to truly live.
Third, McGrath demonstrates Packer's commitment to the Bible, and specifically its authority, interpretation and translation. Packer is clear that the bible sets both the agenda and the parameters for our lives as Christians, both individually and communally. This in turn defines a fourth area of focus, that is, the role of theology in the life of the church: "Our business is to present the Christian faith clothed in modern terms, not to propagate modern thought clothed in Christian terms. Our business is to interpret and criticise modern thought by the gospel, not vice versa."
Next, McGrath draws out the way Packer conceptualised the relationship between theology and spirituality, especially as seen in his seminal work "Knowing God". Packer's account of what it means to know God is cognitive, experiential and relational. "Packer argues that it is never enough to know about God; true Christian theology is about knowing God - a relational and transformative process of knowing and being known, which sustains and informs the Christian life. The Christian encounter with God is transformative...The ultimate test of whether we have grasped theological truth is thus not so much whether we have comprehended it rationally, but whether it has transformed us experientially. In an important sense, we are not called on to master theology, but to allow it to master us."
Last, we see what it means for Packer to be a conservative, best summarised as holding on to what is good. Packer understood conservatism as both a conviction and a process, "a determination to hold on to what is good, lest it be lost; and a process of sifting which helps us identify what really matters, so that it can be preserved and applied to the needs of our day...Packer offers us a luminous example of a reflective religious conservatism capable of development and expansion in the future." A related consideration is how we should engage with tradition, particularly in light of the Protestant and evangelical tendency to regard it with suspicion. Packer suggests three ways in which we can engage positively with tradition, and which will inform both our biblical interpretation and our theological reflection. These are in liberating us from our own thoughts and being challenged by alternative perspectives; helping us avoid being locked into today's way of thinking and chronological snobbery and; setting us free from the limitations of our own traditions. If individualism in evangelicalism can "engender a dangerously superficial and ephemeral form of Christianity," then tradition can help provide the rootedness that is needed as an antidote to these destabilising tendencies. Again, "Rediscovering the corporate and historic nature of the Christian faith reduces the danger of entire communities of faith being misled by charismatic individuals, and affirms the ongoing importance of the Christian past as a stabilising influence in potentially turbulent times." In short, tradition should have a ministerial role rather than a magisterial role, and should both inform and nourish our faith without undermining the place of the Bible itself. "The Bible retains its authority, which is served and illuminated by its wise interpreters."
All the above is clearly relevant to today's church, especially when so much contemporary debate has been overheated by social media: "In part, Packer's anxiety about such overheated theological disputes was the tendency of some of their leading figures to portray opponents whose ideas they found threatening as enemies who needed to be vanquished." That is surely a word for our times!
In considering Packers' likely legacy within evangelicalism, McGrath concludes that: "Many found in Packer's writings an intelligent and deep vision of the Christian faith, firmly rooted in the Bible on the one hand, and in the long tradition of biblical reflection, especially within Puritanism, on the other. Others found him to be a gateway to the riches of the believing past, like one who opened up a treasure chest of wisdom and helped us explore what lay within. Yet perhaps his legacy might lie most enduringly in his insistence that we need to go deeper into our faith, not resting content with superficial engagement. We can learn from those who have gone before us, and who urge us to follow them in discovering and exploring what Packer so eloquently called the 'biggest thing that ever was.'"
January 14, 2021
On July 17, 2020, J. I. Packer passed away. In “J. I. Packer,” Alister McGrath presents the life and thought of one of the most influential evangelical theological and spiritual writers of the twentieth century.
Legacy and Influence
McGrath is a bestselling author and friend of Packer. In about 150 pages and in 13 chapters, he paints a picture of a full life filled with faith. Bouncing between chapters of biographical narrative and theological reflection, McGrath leaves his readers with a profound sense of legacy and influence.
Packer loved the Puritans, and his study no doubt influenced his reading and writing. In academics, he was unparalleled -- and he was highly sought as a teacher and speaker. Packer knew the importance of having a writing platform, and he wanted to bring theology outside of the classroom and into the life of the Church. Many loved him for his ability to write succinctly and clearly for the regular Christian.
Highs and Lows
Particularly interesting to me was Packer’s involvement in beginning the publishing work of InterVarsity Press, as well as his contributions to the English Standard Version of the Bible. It is clear that God used Packer mightily and in many ways. Working with words, writing articles, and publishing books have never looked more exciting.
McGrath, however, does not leave out some of the difficulties and disappointments in Packer’s life. He speaks of his bullying as a child, the many job losses he endured, professional challenges, parting ways with Martin Llyod-Jones, the controversy over evangelical collaboration with Catholicism, and his final days of failing health. Packer truly experienced the highs and lows of life, and McGrath tastefully takes us along for the journey.
Knowing God
While I was familiar with Packer’s bestselling book “Knowing God,” I was not familiar with the story of the author and his life work. After reading this book, I have the impression of a man who tried his best at truly knowing God. He dedicated his life and work to it. He wanted to discover and explore the “biggest thing that ever was.” I am inspired and encouraged to do the same.
I received a media copy of J. I. Packer and this is my honest review
Legacy and Influence
McGrath is a bestselling author and friend of Packer. In about 150 pages and in 13 chapters, he paints a picture of a full life filled with faith. Bouncing between chapters of biographical narrative and theological reflection, McGrath leaves his readers with a profound sense of legacy and influence.
Packer loved the Puritans, and his study no doubt influenced his reading and writing. In academics, he was unparalleled -- and he was highly sought as a teacher and speaker. Packer knew the importance of having a writing platform, and he wanted to bring theology outside of the classroom and into the life of the Church. Many loved him for his ability to write succinctly and clearly for the regular Christian.
Highs and Lows
Particularly interesting to me was Packer’s involvement in beginning the publishing work of InterVarsity Press, as well as his contributions to the English Standard Version of the Bible. It is clear that God used Packer mightily and in many ways. Working with words, writing articles, and publishing books have never looked more exciting.
McGrath, however, does not leave out some of the difficulties and disappointments in Packer’s life. He speaks of his bullying as a child, the many job losses he endured, professional challenges, parting ways with Martin Llyod-Jones, the controversy over evangelical collaboration with Catholicism, and his final days of failing health. Packer truly experienced the highs and lows of life, and McGrath tastefully takes us along for the journey.
Knowing God
While I was familiar with Packer’s bestselling book “Knowing God,” I was not familiar with the story of the author and his life work. After reading this book, I have the impression of a man who tried his best at truly knowing God. He dedicated his life and work to it. He wanted to discover and explore the “biggest thing that ever was.” I am inspired and encouraged to do the same.
I received a media copy of J. I. Packer and this is my honest review
January 4, 2021
Very helpful study of the trajectory of Packer's life and assessments of his contributions. Very readable and personal.
April 22, 2021
Кратка, много достъпна книжка, която съчетава биография с анализ на основните идеи от богословието на Пакър. Чудесно начално въведение към неговите жиовт и мисъл.
December 5, 2020
I can remember years ago Dallas Willard saying, in effect, “One of the great failures of the Church today is the lack of discipleship.”
That comes to mind as I read Alister McGrath’s latest book, J.I. Packer: His Life and Thought. McGrath has a much larger biography on Packer, but this was written as a tribute to Packer on his death earlier this year.
This book is more of a tribute to the legacy of Packer and McGrath takes the time to interweave the story of Packer’s life with Packer’s vision for Christian faith.
For someone like me who was not as familiar with Packer’s life, this book is helpful in a broad overview of his life along with key theological “moments” in the Church where Packer stepped in to provide particular essays, books, or speeches that helped guide the evangelical movement in the 20th Century. I also knew of Packer’s deep admiration for Puritan theology and life, and this was highlighted in McGrath’s book.
The main pattern of the book is to have a chapter on a period on Packer’s life followed by a chapter on the background thinking of Packer or events that helped shaped Packer at that particular time period in his life. I enjoyed the pattern because it helped set Packer in time for me as I thought back to those particular theological battles/struggles in the 20th Century.
Packer was influenced early on by the Puritan John Owen. It formed his church and spiritual life. The Puritan teaching also formed Packer in his life goals. He would anchor himself solidly in the church and not just in academia. Packer embodied the example I had hoped to bring: someone who loved to learn AND loved to teach what he learned to the Church. The model of pastor-theologian has been long missing in the Western Church landscape, but Packer embodied it well.
When Packer made the decision in the late 1970s to move from Great Britain to Regent College in Vancouver, he did so in part because Regent was determined to teach lay people theology. Their initial goal was to equip people in other vocations with good theological foundations and that was attractive to Packer.
Late in life, long after he had retired from teaching, Packer did not give up speaking and writing. He was a key figure in the development of the English Standard Version translation. He was a key theological guide to the resource used in my church (Anglican Church in North America): To Be a Christian: An Anglican Catechism. What McGrath called Packer’s “last crusade” was to remind the Church of what Dallas Willard had said: we are not doing well in discipleship.
Packer gave himself to emphasizing the need for catechesis in the Church. Catechism is the teaching of the Church, to be sure, but it is more than that. It is a road of discipleship. It is road to help believers mature.
I am part of a men’s Bible study at our church. I am by far the youngest. Most are in their 70s and older. For Advent, we have taken up To Be a Christian. These men want to grow in their faith. They want to deepen their maturity so they can keep on effectively leading others. They don’t mind being reminded of the basic teachings of the faith.
We need to know what we believe and why we believe it. We need to hold to a greater vision of Christian faith and enable others to grasp it and grow into it. In our day, in our culture, in our context, this remains the greatest need of the Church.
This book is a great introduction to the life and thinking of Packer. I found it readable and greatly informative. When I basically knew Packer as the author of Knowing God, this book added to my understanding of a scholar who longed to serve the Church.
That comes to mind as I read Alister McGrath’s latest book, J.I. Packer: His Life and Thought. McGrath has a much larger biography on Packer, but this was written as a tribute to Packer on his death earlier this year.
This book is more of a tribute to the legacy of Packer and McGrath takes the time to interweave the story of Packer’s life with Packer’s vision for Christian faith.
For someone like me who was not as familiar with Packer’s life, this book is helpful in a broad overview of his life along with key theological “moments” in the Church where Packer stepped in to provide particular essays, books, or speeches that helped guide the evangelical movement in the 20th Century. I also knew of Packer’s deep admiration for Puritan theology and life, and this was highlighted in McGrath’s book.
The main pattern of the book is to have a chapter on a period on Packer’s life followed by a chapter on the background thinking of Packer or events that helped shaped Packer at that particular time period in his life. I enjoyed the pattern because it helped set Packer in time for me as I thought back to those particular theological battles/struggles in the 20th Century.
Packer was influenced early on by the Puritan John Owen. It formed his church and spiritual life. The Puritan teaching also formed Packer in his life goals. He would anchor himself solidly in the church and not just in academia. Packer embodied the example I had hoped to bring: someone who loved to learn AND loved to teach what he learned to the Church. The model of pastor-theologian has been long missing in the Western Church landscape, but Packer embodied it well.
When Packer made the decision in the late 1970s to move from Great Britain to Regent College in Vancouver, he did so in part because Regent was determined to teach lay people theology. Their initial goal was to equip people in other vocations with good theological foundations and that was attractive to Packer.
Late in life, long after he had retired from teaching, Packer did not give up speaking and writing. He was a key figure in the development of the English Standard Version translation. He was a key theological guide to the resource used in my church (Anglican Church in North America): To Be a Christian: An Anglican Catechism. What McGrath called Packer’s “last crusade” was to remind the Church of what Dallas Willard had said: we are not doing well in discipleship.
Packer gave himself to emphasizing the need for catechesis in the Church. Catechism is the teaching of the Church, to be sure, but it is more than that. It is a road of discipleship. It is road to help believers mature.
I am part of a men’s Bible study at our church. I am by far the youngest. Most are in their 70s and older. For Advent, we have taken up To Be a Christian. These men want to grow in their faith. They want to deepen their maturity so they can keep on effectively leading others. They don’t mind being reminded of the basic teachings of the faith.
We need to know what we believe and why we believe it. We need to hold to a greater vision of Christian faith and enable others to grasp it and grow into it. In our day, in our culture, in our context, this remains the greatest need of the Church.
This book is a great introduction to the life and thinking of Packer. I found it readable and greatly informative. When I basically knew Packer as the author of Knowing God, this book added to my understanding of a scholar who longed to serve the Church.
January 14, 2021
# J.I. Packer: His Life and Thought
J.I. Packer’s passing was one of the great losses of 2020. If you are looking for a short primer on his life and works, but aren’t quite ready for a full biography, *J.I. Packer: His Life and Thought* by Alister McGrath is the perfect book for you. McGrath does an excellent job of alternating short biographical sketches with what Packer was working on at the time and the impact it had on the church.
McGrath points out in the introduction that many think of Packer as a North American theologian and don’t know much about his impact on evangelicalism in the United Kingdom. He writes:
> This book focuses on Packer’s origins, education and ministry in the United Kingdom, which were an essential part of his formation as a Christian and as a theologian.
McGrath begins with the quintessential Packer origin story. Packer was apparently always a bookish child, but a childhood accident that prevented him from being able to roughhouse made him even more so, which really set the course of his life.
The book follows Packer through key moments and phases in his life. McGrath zooms in on important time periods, like Packer coming to faith and stumbling upon the Puritans when he needed a practical theological framework. He goes into detail around the writing of Packer’s important works and some of the controversies that he dealt with. And then he zooms back out to summarize periods of teaching and serving in ministry.
As the title suggests, McGrath weaves chapters between the biographical narrative to explain Packer’s theological thoughts. McGrath includes just enough details to keep the narrative flow of the book, while also giving a taste of Packer’s theology and writing. And then he brings right back into the biographical narrative. As previously mentioned, the book focuses on his time and work in the UK, while only spending a few chapters at the end to summarize his popular time in North America.
*J.I. Packer: His Life and Thought* made me want to read more Packer. In just a short book, it made it clear that Packer had a deep love for the practical aspect of theology. It wasn’t just abstractions and theory to him. He wanted to know how to live out his faith in a deep way, and that’s what he studied, taught, and wrote about.
He also had a love for the local church and people. He knew very earlier that he wasn’t being called to just academics. He was to serve God’s people as a “theological educator.” Throughout his career in the UK, he was always concerned with teaching “how to do theology,” rather than just giving people the final product. Even into his retirement years, Packer emphasized the churches need to rediscover the “lost art of catechesis.”
Packer states:
> Christians who know their faith, can explain it to enquirers and sustain it against skeptics, and can put it to work in evangelism, church fellowship, and the many forms of service to God and man for which circumstances call.
*J.I. Packer: His Life and Thought* packs a lot into a short read. You can’t help love Packer’s humble desire to help people know God and live out their faith in practical ways. It’s a great introduction into his work. You can get a copy here.
J.I. Packer’s passing was one of the great losses of 2020. If you are looking for a short primer on his life and works, but aren’t quite ready for a full biography, *J.I. Packer: His Life and Thought* by Alister McGrath is the perfect book for you. McGrath does an excellent job of alternating short biographical sketches with what Packer was working on at the time and the impact it had on the church.
McGrath points out in the introduction that many think of Packer as a North American theologian and don’t know much about his impact on evangelicalism in the United Kingdom. He writes:
> This book focuses on Packer’s origins, education and ministry in the United Kingdom, which were an essential part of his formation as a Christian and as a theologian.
McGrath begins with the quintessential Packer origin story. Packer was apparently always a bookish child, but a childhood accident that prevented him from being able to roughhouse made him even more so, which really set the course of his life.
The book follows Packer through key moments and phases in his life. McGrath zooms in on important time periods, like Packer coming to faith and stumbling upon the Puritans when he needed a practical theological framework. He goes into detail around the writing of Packer’s important works and some of the controversies that he dealt with. And then he zooms back out to summarize periods of teaching and serving in ministry.
As the title suggests, McGrath weaves chapters between the biographical narrative to explain Packer’s theological thoughts. McGrath includes just enough details to keep the narrative flow of the book, while also giving a taste of Packer’s theology and writing. And then he brings right back into the biographical narrative. As previously mentioned, the book focuses on his time and work in the UK, while only spending a few chapters at the end to summarize his popular time in North America.
*J.I. Packer: His Life and Thought* made me want to read more Packer. In just a short book, it made it clear that Packer had a deep love for the practical aspect of theology. It wasn’t just abstractions and theory to him. He wanted to know how to live out his faith in a deep way, and that’s what he studied, taught, and wrote about.
He also had a love for the local church and people. He knew very earlier that he wasn’t being called to just academics. He was to serve God’s people as a “theological educator.” Throughout his career in the UK, he was always concerned with teaching “how to do theology,” rather than just giving people the final product. Even into his retirement years, Packer emphasized the churches need to rediscover the “lost art of catechesis.”
Packer states:
> Christians who know their faith, can explain it to enquirers and sustain it against skeptics, and can put it to work in evangelism, church fellowship, and the many forms of service to God and man for which circumstances call.
*J.I. Packer: His Life and Thought* packs a lot into a short read. You can’t help love Packer’s humble desire to help people know God and live out their faith in practical ways. It’s a great introduction into his work. You can get a copy here.
November 22, 2020
J. I. Packer: His Life and Thought offers the readers the life, faith, career, works and controversies of this influential theologian. The set up of the book is giving the narrative first then the analysis from McGarth. So this is not the usual all narrative and then the conclusion will give the analysis of the person. This will give you a breather from the narrative to examine what takeaways we can get from that part of Packer’s life. Both the narratives and reflections are meaty and in some parts of the book, you can’t distinguish each other. I like how McGarth gives a satisfying context of certain events, people, books and career moves of Packer that shaped his life. You won’t get lost reading this book.
I haven’t read much of Packer’s major works and biographies about him specifically what McGarth wrote . Even his momumental book, Knowing God hasn’t landed on my reading list. But reading this book, you’ll get a glimpse of some of his notable books, how it came about, the impact it brought to him and the evangelical world without giving all of it’s content. Yes, you have to buy those and read it. All are given fair treatments even on Knowing God.
Of course, there is more than just the books he wrote. J. I. Packer: His Life and Thought highlights his career in the academics, his relationship with John Stott and Martyn Lloyd Jones, his move and flourishing in Canada. McGarth gives readers a good serving of those in the book.
No hype, drama or sensationalism throughout this short volume. It’s a straight to the point account and reflection of this theologian. This is not to say that McGarth serves a cold slab of meat. You’ll still find some striking stuff within those pages. Another is that you’ll notice some redundancy on points McGarth is driving. But once you drive by that part, it will be a good ride again.
All in all, J. I. Packer: His Life and Thought is brief biography concentrated mostly on how Packer was shaped and became a leading voice of Christianity. Going through this book is a fitting retrospect and rediscovery of this, as McGrath puts it ‘organic theologian’. If you want something that is more focus of the mind that was shaped and that had shape Christianity then, J. I. Packer: His Life and Thought is a best jump off to dig in to his books and biographies.
My verdict:
4.5 out of 5
I haven’t read much of Packer’s major works and biographies about him specifically what McGarth wrote . Even his momumental book, Knowing God hasn’t landed on my reading list. But reading this book, you’ll get a glimpse of some of his notable books, how it came about, the impact it brought to him and the evangelical world without giving all of it’s content. Yes, you have to buy those and read it. All are given fair treatments even on Knowing God.
Of course, there is more than just the books he wrote. J. I. Packer: His Life and Thought highlights his career in the academics, his relationship with John Stott and Martyn Lloyd Jones, his move and flourishing in Canada. McGarth gives readers a good serving of those in the book.
No hype, drama or sensationalism throughout this short volume. It’s a straight to the point account and reflection of this theologian. This is not to say that McGarth serves a cold slab of meat. You’ll still find some striking stuff within those pages. Another is that you’ll notice some redundancy on points McGarth is driving. But once you drive by that part, it will be a good ride again.
All in all, J. I. Packer: His Life and Thought is brief biography concentrated mostly on how Packer was shaped and became a leading voice of Christianity. Going through this book is a fitting retrospect and rediscovery of this, as McGrath puts it ‘organic theologian’. If you want something that is more focus of the mind that was shaped and that had shape Christianity then, J. I. Packer: His Life and Thought is a best jump off to dig in to his books and biographies.
My verdict:
4.5 out of 5
May 1, 2021
J. I. Packer His Life and Thought by Alister McGrath – Learn about this influential Christian Thinker
Following the death of J. I. Packer in 2020, I was interested in reading J. I. Packer His Life and Thought by Alister McGrath. I wanted to know more about this well-respected man who had impacted Christians through his writing, most notably through Knowing God.
This book is not your typical biography, instead, the author focused on J. I. Packer’s Christian faith, theology, writing, and influence within the Christian community. I appreciated learning about what was happening within Christianity during Packer’s life and career and his commitment to the authority of Scripture and defense of the faith.
My favorite part of this book was learning how J. I. Packer came to faith in Jesus Christ and seeing God’s hand direct this young man and use him as a strong defender of the Christian faith. I would have liked to hear more about the personal aspects of Packer’s life and have a fuller picture of this man of God.
If your faith walk has been influenced by J. I. Packer’s writing, or you would like to learn more about this man who influenced Christian thinking during his lifetime and beyond, I encourage you to read J. I. Packer His Life and Through by Alister McGrath.
I would like to thank InterVarsity Press and NetGalley for the opportunity to read a complimentary copy of J. I. Packer His Life and Thought by Alister McGrath. I was under no obligation to give a favorable review.
Following the death of J. I. Packer in 2020, I was interested in reading J. I. Packer His Life and Thought by Alister McGrath. I wanted to know more about this well-respected man who had impacted Christians through his writing, most notably through Knowing God.
This book is not your typical biography, instead, the author focused on J. I. Packer’s Christian faith, theology, writing, and influence within the Christian community. I appreciated learning about what was happening within Christianity during Packer’s life and career and his commitment to the authority of Scripture and defense of the faith.
My favorite part of this book was learning how J. I. Packer came to faith in Jesus Christ and seeing God’s hand direct this young man and use him as a strong defender of the Christian faith. I would have liked to hear more about the personal aspects of Packer’s life and have a fuller picture of this man of God.
If your faith walk has been influenced by J. I. Packer’s writing, or you would like to learn more about this man who influenced Christian thinking during his lifetime and beyond, I encourage you to read J. I. Packer His Life and Through by Alister McGrath.
I would like to thank InterVarsity Press and NetGalley for the opportunity to read a complimentary copy of J. I. Packer His Life and Thought by Alister McGrath. I was under no obligation to give a favorable review.
December 28, 2020
J. I. Packer passed away in 2020, and when I heard the news, my immediate response was resolution: I would re-read Knowing God, and so I started immediately, taking in a few pages every night. Around the time I finished, I learned that InterVarsity Press had published a new biography of Packer, written by Alister McGrath, proof that God is indeed sovereign over even our reading lives!
J. I. Packer: His Life and Thought is an unusual biography that also doubles as a theology refresher course, but as McGrath examines Packer’s legacy, it is abundantly clear that this was the only way it could have been written, for Packer’s life and his vision of the Christian faith were intimately interconnected. His spiritual formation and his growth as a theologian invite the reader into awe as we stand beside Packer and behold the glory of God, inexpressible, and yet worth spending a life time appreciating and inviting others to enjoy and to dimly grasp.
“Look!” said Packer. “This is the biggest thing that ever was!”
May God grant this perspective to each of us–along with the wisdom to peer faithfully into the mysteries in a life devoted both to knowing God and to delighting in being known by God.
Many thanks to InterVarsity Press for providing a copy of this book to facilitate my review, which is, of course, offered freely and with honesty.
J. I. Packer: His Life and Thought is an unusual biography that also doubles as a theology refresher course, but as McGrath examines Packer’s legacy, it is abundantly clear that this was the only way it could have been written, for Packer’s life and his vision of the Christian faith were intimately interconnected. His spiritual formation and his growth as a theologian invite the reader into awe as we stand beside Packer and behold the glory of God, inexpressible, and yet worth spending a life time appreciating and inviting others to enjoy and to dimly grasp.
“Look!” said Packer. “This is the biggest thing that ever was!”
May God grant this perspective to each of us–along with the wisdom to peer faithfully into the mysteries in a life devoted both to knowing God and to delighting in being known by God.
Many thanks to InterVarsity Press for providing a copy of this book to facilitate my review, which is, of course, offered freely and with honesty.
December 30, 2021
This book was very enjoyable and deepened my love and appreciation for the late Dr. Packer. It wasn't an overwhelmingly detailed biography and just provided a summary of his life in some broad strokes. The format of switching between biography and a summary of his thought at each period was a really clever idea, and I'd like to see more biographies like that. Some of the chapters on his thought did get a little repetitive, but I really enjoyed seeing how Packer approached difficult questions in his career.
It was also interesting to read about some of the controversies in which Dr. Packer was embroiled from a different point of view. The author argued that the Lloyd-Jones faction couldn't see the benefit of evangelicals remaining to reform the Church of England due to shortsighted thinking, which was a different perspective than I've seen elsewhere. Also, he presents the ECT controversy from Dr. Packer's perspective as Protestants and Catholics working as co-belligerents with respect to their conservative outlook in order to combat the rising tide of secularism in public life. From this presentation, it wasn't the intent to gloss over disagreements related to justification and authority, but rather to work for common goals within society. The primary charge leveled against the ECT proponents is that they weren't dealing honestly with each other since the conception of what it means to even be a Christian between the two groups was significantly different.
It was also interesting to read about some of the controversies in which Dr. Packer was embroiled from a different point of view. The author argued that the Lloyd-Jones faction couldn't see the benefit of evangelicals remaining to reform the Church of England due to shortsighted thinking, which was a different perspective than I've seen elsewhere. Also, he presents the ECT controversy from Dr. Packer's perspective as Protestants and Catholics working as co-belligerents with respect to their conservative outlook in order to combat the rising tide of secularism in public life. From this presentation, it wasn't the intent to gloss over disagreements related to justification and authority, but rather to work for common goals within society. The primary charge leveled against the ECT proponents is that they weren't dealing honestly with each other since the conception of what it means to even be a Christian between the two groups was significantly different.
December 29, 2022
A well written biography that explores the life and theology of evangelicalism's most influential Christians of the twentieth century.
Familiar with a few of his works, mainly Knowing God, I embraced this opportunity to learn more about the man who has been and influential figure for so many years. This book tells of his early years and his calling to serve in theological academia, as well as takes the time to explore his more defining interpretations throughout his life. I think that I was surprised to learn that his passing was more recent than I had previously believed, and thought that tit was amazing how the author had been able to sit down and talk with him before his passing.
There are probably more in depth books out there, but I think that this book's relatively shorter length and concise style is a strength. Hitting the highlights of his impact throughout his career, as well as his takes on a Biblically conservative view-respectful of tradition but willing to improve as well.
A wonderful read, that left me feeling more educated about J. I. Packer's life and beliefs.
I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
Familiar with a few of his works, mainly Knowing God, I embraced this opportunity to learn more about the man who has been and influential figure for so many years. This book tells of his early years and his calling to serve in theological academia, as well as takes the time to explore his more defining interpretations throughout his life. I think that I was surprised to learn that his passing was more recent than I had previously believed, and thought that tit was amazing how the author had been able to sit down and talk with him before his passing.
There are probably more in depth books out there, but I think that this book's relatively shorter length and concise style is a strength. Hitting the highlights of his impact throughout his career, as well as his takes on a Biblically conservative view-respectful of tradition but willing to improve as well.
A wonderful read, that left me feeling more educated about J. I. Packer's life and beliefs.
I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
February 22, 2023
This is a very thoughtful, well written, and comprehensive (but short) biography of an extremely influential Christian thought leader of the 20th and early 21st century. It is obvious the author knew Packer personally, which is quite helpful for a biographer. This is also well-researched, which I also deeply appreciate.
However: I struggled with Packer's Reformed Theology, and it often got in my way of enjoying this book more. This obviously is my personal problem, and I own it. If anything, it confirmed for me that I am 100% Wesleyan-Arminian in my theology. I didn't think I was so one-sided until I read this book, but now I know, so I learned that about myself. I don't know how Rev. Dr. Packer would feel about that, but I think I'll be able to ask him one day, as I'm pre-destined for Heaven and will surely see him there (it's a joke).
Highly Recommend.
However: I struggled with Packer's Reformed Theology, and it often got in my way of enjoying this book more. This obviously is my personal problem, and I own it. If anything, it confirmed for me that I am 100% Wesleyan-Arminian in my theology. I didn't think I was so one-sided until I read this book, but now I know, so I learned that about myself. I don't know how Rev. Dr. Packer would feel about that, but I think I'll be able to ask him one day, as I'm pre-destined for Heaven and will surely see him there (it's a joke).
Highly Recommend.
May 25, 2024
'We are called to make our study of theology a devotional discipline…”
I appreciated this relatively brief overview of Packer’s biography as well as the central ideas and focus of his theology and teaching. I think the work serves as a great starting point, and while a bit dry at times, points the interested reader to Packer’s own words and work.
While not a scholarly approach, the alternating of chapters between life events and doctrinal developments was helpful to break up some of the more obscure Anglican interdenominational challenges. I would like to learn more about the Regent years and Packer’s role with the ESV and how he is viewed across the Anglican communion. Great intro and readable.
I appreciated this relatively brief overview of Packer’s biography as well as the central ideas and focus of his theology and teaching. I think the work serves as a great starting point, and while a bit dry at times, points the interested reader to Packer’s own words and work.
While not a scholarly approach, the alternating of chapters between life events and doctrinal developments was helpful to break up some of the more obscure Anglican interdenominational challenges. I would like to learn more about the Regent years and Packer’s role with the ESV and how he is viewed across the Anglican communion. Great intro and readable.
January 21, 2025
Fabulous work by Alister McGrath on the life and thought of evangelical scholar J. I. Packer. I thought McGrath's approach to writing alternating chapters containing Packer's biography followed by a chapter on his theology was effective.
Keying off of Packer's well-known book, "Knowing God", McGrath states: "It is never enough for us to know about God, true Christian theology is about knowing God - a relational and transformative process of knowing and being known...We are not called to master theology, but to allow it to master us." (p. 84)
A must read for those who admire Packer, McGrath's insights will get you reading and re-reading his books again.
Keying off of Packer's well-known book, "Knowing God", McGrath states: "It is never enough for us to know about God, true Christian theology is about knowing God - a relational and transformative process of knowing and being known...We are not called to master theology, but to allow it to master us." (p. 84)
A must read for those who admire Packer, McGrath's insights will get you reading and re-reading his books again.
January 27, 2021
This was an interesting book. I enjoyed learning about J.I.’s journey to becoming a Christian and how his theology developed.
I will say this wasn’t what I was expecting though. It really was more of a biography then anything else. I guess I should have read the backcover copy better.
It was still interesting just not what I was expecting. You want to learn more about this strong believer you will enjoy this read.
A copy of this book was given to me through Netgalley. All opinions are my own.
I will say this wasn’t what I was expecting though. It really was more of a biography then anything else. I guess I should have read the backcover copy better.
It was still interesting just not what I was expecting. You want to learn more about this strong believer you will enjoy this read.
A copy of this book was given to me through Netgalley. All opinions are my own.
November 5, 2021
Really enjoyed this book. This book is covered in highlighter markings and references to other works that I am intrigued to read.
Slower in the first 1/3rd but could hardly put it down after that. McGrath does an exceptional job chronicling a man who the church has much to be grateful for. Packer was willing to be misunderstood, losing friends on each side of the theological spectrum because of convictions he was willing to stand for.
Slower in the first 1/3rd but could hardly put it down after that. McGrath does an exceptional job chronicling a man who the church has much to be grateful for. Packer was willing to be misunderstood, losing friends on each side of the theological spectrum because of convictions he was willing to stand for.
December 8, 2021
Good but short biography on Packer
I would refer the reader to McGrath's other biography on Packet for more details of his life. This book covers the highlights of Packers life. It covers Packer's early life, his becoming a Christian, and his writing and teaching career. Packed was an important and influential Christian who spelled out in detail what is to be a Christian.
I would refer the reader to McGrath's other biography on Packet for more details of his life. This book covers the highlights of Packers life. It covers Packer's early life, his becoming a Christian, and his writing and teaching career. Packed was an important and influential Christian who spelled out in detail what is to be a Christian.
January 30, 2022
A sufficient, by-the-books biography of J.I. Packer-- we get a good sense of his life and the basic contours of his, in my terms, "middle-brow spirituality." Yet, McGrath, I felt, was hesitant to critique Packer. Instead, the author only gestures to problematic arguments against, for example, annihilationism or female ordination.
February 22, 2021
The unusual style means that the book jumps around a bit, but McGrath still gives readers a great overview of Packer's life and his key theological ideas, using a compelling writing style. A great introduction to J.I. Packer.
Read
March 4, 2021An excellent book by McGrath who sets out the story of Packet's life alongside his theological development and contribution. A wonderful summary of evangelicalism's most recent outstanding theologian who was practical and academic and how lived out his beliefs.
May 31, 2021
Excellent reflections on the influence of Packer on evangelical thought in Britain and North America.
May 20, 2024
Love Packer’s life and writing; this was slow and meandering
Displaying 1 - 24 of 24 reviews