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D. Martyn Lloyd-Jones #1-2
Viața lui Martyn Lloyd-Jones
Această carte este o versiune refăcută, condensată și parțial rescrisă a celor două volume ale
autorului intitulate D.Martyn Lloyd-Jones: The First Forty Years (D.Martyn Lloyd-Jones: Primii 40 de
ani) (1982) și The Fight of Faith (Lupta credinței) (1990). De la aceste date, viața lui dr. Martyn Lloyd-
Jones a fost subiectul comentariilor și al evaluării în multe publicații, și le-am luat în considerare și pe
acestea. Scopul principal al unei alte biografii, totuși, este acela de a prezenta viața lui dr. Lloyd-
Jones înaintea unei alte generații într-o formă mai accesibilă. Însă întreaga poveste este spusă în
întregime aici.
Când Lloyd-Jones a părăsit medicina, a intenționat să fie doar un evanghelist într-o sală de
misiune din sudul Țării Galilor. El însuși, mai mult decât alții, a fost surprins de faptul că a fost
chemat la o slujire care avea să afecteze bisericile din întreaga lume. Cum s-a întâmplat acest lucru
este explicat aici, dar tema cărții este persoana descrisă de F.F.Bruce: ”Un om smerit în întregime. A
fost un om al rugăciunii, un evanghelist plin de putere, un predicator expozitiv de o calitate rară,în
cel mai deplin sens, un slujitor al Cuvântului lui Dumnezeu.”
În spatele acestei teme este implicat Unul mai mare. În cuvintele lui ML-J: „Toate experiențele
din viața mea sunt o dovadă a suveranității lui Dumnezeu și a intervenției Lui directe în viețile
oamenilor. Nu pot să nu cred ceea ce cred. Aș fi nebun să cred altceva ˗ mâna călăuzitoare a lui
Dumnezeu! Este o uimire pentru mine!”
autorului intitulate D.Martyn Lloyd-Jones: The First Forty Years (D.Martyn Lloyd-Jones: Primii 40 de
ani) (1982) și The Fight of Faith (Lupta credinței) (1990). De la aceste date, viața lui dr. Martyn Lloyd-
Jones a fost subiectul comentariilor și al evaluării în multe publicații, și le-am luat în considerare și pe
acestea. Scopul principal al unei alte biografii, totuși, este acela de a prezenta viața lui dr. Lloyd-
Jones înaintea unei alte generații într-o formă mai accesibilă. Însă întreaga poveste este spusă în
întregime aici.
Când Lloyd-Jones a părăsit medicina, a intenționat să fie doar un evanghelist într-o sală de
misiune din sudul Țării Galilor. El însuși, mai mult decât alții, a fost surprins de faptul că a fost
chemat la o slujire care avea să afecteze bisericile din întreaga lume. Cum s-a întâmplat acest lucru
este explicat aici, dar tema cărții este persoana descrisă de F.F.Bruce: ”Un om smerit în întregime. A
fost un om al rugăciunii, un evanghelist plin de putere, un predicator expozitiv de o calitate rară,în
cel mai deplin sens, un slujitor al Cuvântului lui Dumnezeu.”
În spatele acestei teme este implicat Unul mai mare. În cuvintele lui ML-J: „Toate experiențele
din viața mea sunt o dovadă a suveranității lui Dumnezeu și a intervenției Lui directe în viețile
oamenilor. Nu pot să nu cred ceea ce cred. Aș fi nebun să cred altceva ˗ mâna călăuzitoare a lui
Dumnezeu! Este o uimire pentru mine!”
540 pages, Paperback
First published February 1, 2013
69 people are currently reading
756 people want to read
About the author
Iain H. Murray
60 books239 followersIain Hamish Murray is a British pastor and author. He was educated in the Isle of Man and at the University of Durham before entering ministry in 1955. He served as assistant to Martyn Lloyd-Jones at Westminster Chapel (1956–59) and subsequently at Grove Chapel, London (1961–69) and St. Giles Presbyterian Church, Sydney, Australia, (1981–84). In 1957 he and Jack Cullum founded the Reformed publishing house, the Banner of Truth Trust, of which he continues to serve as a trustee.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 91 reviews
January 6, 2024
D. Martyn Lloyd-Jones este considerat de mai mulți teologi și predicatori deopotrivă, ca fiind cel mai important expozitor biblic al secolului XX. El este doctorul care a „a făcut operație" pe cord deschis multor suflete prin predicarea Evangheliei harului, fără a avea în prealabil o școală teologică finalizată, fără studii superioare de teologie sau oratorie, la fel ca și Spurgeon.
El pur și simplu a fost beneficiarul unui har ceresc deosebit, turnat din abundență peste el și peste lucrarea pe care a săvârșit-o. Predicile sale sunt bogate, iar fidelitatea sa față de Cuvânt s-a dovedit a fi una roditoare în timp. El şi-a pus viața prin credinţă la dispoziția lui Dumnezeu şi predicării Evangheliei lui Isus Cristos, renunțând la o viață confortabilă de medic, de dragul sufletelor celor nemântuiți şi pentru gloria lui Dumnezeu! Ce sacrificiu!
Imediat după ce şi-a început lucrarea, el a zis astfel: "Consider că cea mai înaltă onoare pe care Dumnezeu o poate oferi unui om este aceea de a-l chema să fie un vestitor al Evangheliei." - pag. 125. Apoi, după câțiva ani, a zis că: "Nu există bucurie mai mare pe care o poate avea un slujitor decât aceasta - de a şti cu certitudine că nu el, ci Hristos în el este Cel care săvârşeşte lucrarea." - pag. 159 Ce har minunat este să fii chemat!
Această biografie este una excelentă din mai multe puncte de vedere. Este tradusă cu mare atenție, redactarea acestei ediții în limba română fiind una de mare succes. Ea este de fapt o versiune abreviată a celor 2 volume dedicate vieții lui, care aparțin tot lui Iain Murray, un autor specializat și consacrat deja de mai multe decenii pe relatarea vieții celor mai influente persoane din istoria mai recentă a creștinismului.
El pur și simplu a fost beneficiarul unui har ceresc deosebit, turnat din abundență peste el și peste lucrarea pe care a săvârșit-o. Predicile sale sunt bogate, iar fidelitatea sa față de Cuvânt s-a dovedit a fi una roditoare în timp. El şi-a pus viața prin credinţă la dispoziția lui Dumnezeu şi predicării Evangheliei lui Isus Cristos, renunțând la o viață confortabilă de medic, de dragul sufletelor celor nemântuiți şi pentru gloria lui Dumnezeu! Ce sacrificiu!
Imediat după ce şi-a început lucrarea, el a zis astfel: "Consider că cea mai înaltă onoare pe care Dumnezeu o poate oferi unui om este aceea de a-l chema să fie un vestitor al Evangheliei." - pag. 125. Apoi, după câțiva ani, a zis că: "Nu există bucurie mai mare pe care o poate avea un slujitor decât aceasta - de a şti cu certitudine că nu el, ci Hristos în el este Cel care săvârşeşte lucrarea." - pag. 159 Ce har minunat este să fii chemat!
Această biografie este una excelentă din mai multe puncte de vedere. Este tradusă cu mare atenție, redactarea acestei ediții în limba română fiind una de mare succes. Ea este de fapt o versiune abreviată a celor 2 volume dedicate vieții lui, care aparțin tot lui Iain Murray, un autor specializat și consacrat deja de mai multe decenii pe relatarea vieții celor mai influente persoane din istoria mai recentă a creștinismului.
July 20, 2016
This is a frequently flawed book, and at times it was only a sense of duty/politeness to the person who eagerly pressed it into my hands that I persevered. But in the end, I couldn't help but walk away awed at both the man and the book that tried to summarize his life (yet, I don't think you'll see me picking up the two-volume version this was condensed from anytime soon).
The first fifty or so pages, recounting his youth, medical school/early practice, and conversion -- and even the beginnings of his ministry -- were pretty tedious, and more often than not, far too detailed.
Once Murray was able to focus on his first years of ministry in Wales, and his eventual move to Westminster Chapel, the book took off. It's clear that the hand of the Lord was upon his ministry, and gave him much evident fruit. It's impossible to disagree with Murray's explanations for Lloyd-Jones' success, and I can only imagine ministers would benefit from reading this with an eye for how to reform their own work. Throughout the chapters detailing his pastoral work -- particularly the chapter "Sundays in the 1950s" -- Murray's affection for, and devotion to, Lloyd-Jones threatens to overwhelm the narrative, and at times it seems that "the Doctor" could do nothing wrong. I remarked during that chapter that I wasn't sure if I was reading biography or hagiography, which may seem a bit harsh. But really, Murray became a rabid fanboy here.
The chapters devoted to the controversies over Evangelical unity, conflict with Graham, Packer and Stott (and names that didn't register with me) were again, far too detailed for my taste -- but it's understandable, I think. Murray was trying to set the record straight on certain issues/incidents, to make sure the historical record gets Lloyd-Jones' perspective on them (particularly when others, claiming to speak on his behalf, got it wrong). Not having a dog in those fights, my eyes glazed over more than I liked, but I sure didn't go back and re-read to make certain I didn't miss anything. Murray is able here to critique Lloyd-Jones a bit in these chapters, which was good to see.
The final chapter, depicting the final three years of his life, as his cancer was gaining the upper hand, was moving, inspirational and convicting. Lloyd-Jones continued to preach when able, to correspond with and advise younger ministers, write and start Murray on his biography -- spurred on by the knowledge that his death was near. Lloyd-Jones spoke of paying attention to death, dying the right way -- with an eye to the glory he was going to, and anticipating it. No way that I try to summarize will do it justice, just read it for yourself. You might want to keep a Kleenex handy. This chapter made all the stuff I'd grumbled and trudged through worth it.
Not Murray's best -- but obviously a work of love for the subject. Can't imagine a little of that won't rub off on the reader.
The first fifty or so pages, recounting his youth, medical school/early practice, and conversion -- and even the beginnings of his ministry -- were pretty tedious, and more often than not, far too detailed.
Once Murray was able to focus on his first years of ministry in Wales, and his eventual move to Westminster Chapel, the book took off. It's clear that the hand of the Lord was upon his ministry, and gave him much evident fruit. It's impossible to disagree with Murray's explanations for Lloyd-Jones' success, and I can only imagine ministers would benefit from reading this with an eye for how to reform their own work. Throughout the chapters detailing his pastoral work -- particularly the chapter "Sundays in the 1950s" -- Murray's affection for, and devotion to, Lloyd-Jones threatens to overwhelm the narrative, and at times it seems that "the Doctor" could do nothing wrong. I remarked during that chapter that I wasn't sure if I was reading biography or hagiography, which may seem a bit harsh. But really, Murray became a rabid fanboy here.
The chapters devoted to the controversies over Evangelical unity, conflict with Graham, Packer and Stott (and names that didn't register with me) were again, far too detailed for my taste -- but it's understandable, I think. Murray was trying to set the record straight on certain issues/incidents, to make sure the historical record gets Lloyd-Jones' perspective on them (particularly when others, claiming to speak on his behalf, got it wrong). Not having a dog in those fights, my eyes glazed over more than I liked, but I sure didn't go back and re-read to make certain I didn't miss anything. Murray is able here to critique Lloyd-Jones a bit in these chapters, which was good to see.
The final chapter, depicting the final three years of his life, as his cancer was gaining the upper hand, was moving, inspirational and convicting. Lloyd-Jones continued to preach when able, to correspond with and advise younger ministers, write and start Murray on his biography -- spurred on by the knowledge that his death was near. Lloyd-Jones spoke of paying attention to death, dying the right way -- with an eye to the glory he was going to, and anticipating it. No way that I try to summarize will do it justice, just read it for yourself. You might want to keep a Kleenex handy. This chapter made all the stuff I'd grumbled and trudged through worth it.
Not Murray's best -- but obviously a work of love for the subject. Can't imagine a little of that won't rub off on the reader.
January 23, 2021
Que livro! Que biografia!
Read
November 19, 2024This book was good for my soul. Getting a glimpse into his early years as a pastor was quite encouraging. The last half wasn't as enjoyable, but the last two chapters were great.
January 13, 2024
O viață trăită pentru gloria lui Dumnezeu. O biografie impresionantă. Un final potrivit prin citatul din Psalmul 17:15: Dar eu, în nevinovăția mea, voi vedea Fața Ta: cum mă voi trezi, mă voi sătura de chipul Tău."
Un om prin care Dumnezeu m-a crescut prin cărțile sale de la începutul vieții mele de credințe.
Un om prin care Dumnezeu m-a crescut prin cărțile sale de la începutul vieții mele de credințe.
December 30, 2020
Exceptional!
What an extraordinary gift Dr Martyn Lloyd-Jones was to the church and how much there is to learn from his faithful example. Praise God!
I love all of Iain Murray’s work... but the personal touch of this book was particularly special.
What an extraordinary gift Dr Martyn Lloyd-Jones was to the church and how much there is to learn from his faithful example. Praise God!
I love all of Iain Murray’s work... but the personal touch of this book was particularly special.
March 19, 2020
“The Doctor” was a theological and pastoral anachronism. If Spurgeon was the last of the Puritans, Lloyd-Jones was the resurrection of those forgotten giants. He is revered among evangelical and expository preachers today. But he was regarded by many of his ministerial peers as an upstart and an outsider.
A medical doctor by profession, the young Lloyd-Jones was on track to become a prominent and lucrative London physician. Instead, he made the unprecedented decision to walk away from it all. With no formal theological training, he became an evangelist in a small mission church in Wales.
Lloyd-Jones was content investing spiritually in the lives of his humble, out-of-the-way congregation. It’s just that he wasn’t destined to remain in that fishing village indefinitely.
For one, his preaching was SO very different. Verse-by-verse exposition of Scripture is common now. It had all but died out by the time Lloyd-Jones came along. He wasn’t trying to start a new trend. He simply felt that Scripture spoke for itself. Short on illustrations, but long on logic, Lloyd-Jones preached simply and effectively.
The results spoke for themselves. Lives were changed. The church became a life-giving center in the community. Invitations to preach elsewhere increased. And after a decade, the Doctor was called to minister alongside G. Campbell Morgan, pastor of Westminster Chapel in London.
Morgan was one of the last-living pulpiteers of the Victorian Era--the “Golden Age of Preaching.” Lloyd-Jones would ultimately succeed him and fill the pulpit at Westminster for nearly 30 years.
Ian Murray, the Doctor's biographer, knew Lloyd-Jones personally during the Westminster years. As a co-laborer and close friend, Murray was uniquely positioned to write about him.
What I found the most fascinating was the pivotal role Lloyd-Jones plays in modern church history. The Doctor eschewed joining committees, had no aspirations to fame, and reluctantly assumed leadership roles.
Yet he was a guiding hand in IVF’s development and influence. He was the catalyst for the public resurgence of long-neglected Puritan writings. He was integral in the founding of The Banner of Truth Trust. And, he put expository preaching back on the map.
Lloyd-Jones is a legend in evangelical Christendom now. He often had little support during his lifetime. Keep in mind that his was a period when modernism and higher criticism had undermined people’s confidence in the Bible. Lloyd-Jones’ insistence on the authority and inerrancy of Scripture earned him more critics than friends.
In his early days of ministry, the experience of speaking at an IVF conference “confirmed his earlier impression that he was out of his element in English evangelicalism...Speakers and hearers alike, Dr. Lloyd-Jones felt, had little interest in the kind of literature which meant so much to him. Their sense of church history seemed to be practically non-existent. Theology of any kind was viewed with suspicion, and the degree of concern for an intellectual understanding of the Christian Faith was almost childish in its proportions.”
However, by the time Lloyd-Jones passed away in 1981 these critiques were no longer valid within a number of evangelical circles. The Doctor is due a generous portion of credit for the ground-work he inadvertently laid. He never tried to be a figure whose books and sermons have been read and heard since his death by more than read and heard them in his lifetime.
The irony is that for all of his reputation as being exclusive, the Doctor was widely-appreciated for his personal approachability and consistent humility.
In closing: “To a group of men who were paying compliments to her husband’s [preaching] powers, Bethan Lloyd-Jones once quietly remarked, ‘No one will understand my husband until they realize that he is first of all a man of prayer and then, an evangelist.’”
A medical doctor by profession, the young Lloyd-Jones was on track to become a prominent and lucrative London physician. Instead, he made the unprecedented decision to walk away from it all. With no formal theological training, he became an evangelist in a small mission church in Wales.
Lloyd-Jones was content investing spiritually in the lives of his humble, out-of-the-way congregation. It’s just that he wasn’t destined to remain in that fishing village indefinitely.
For one, his preaching was SO very different. Verse-by-verse exposition of Scripture is common now. It had all but died out by the time Lloyd-Jones came along. He wasn’t trying to start a new trend. He simply felt that Scripture spoke for itself. Short on illustrations, but long on logic, Lloyd-Jones preached simply and effectively.
The results spoke for themselves. Lives were changed. The church became a life-giving center in the community. Invitations to preach elsewhere increased. And after a decade, the Doctor was called to minister alongside G. Campbell Morgan, pastor of Westminster Chapel in London.
Morgan was one of the last-living pulpiteers of the Victorian Era--the “Golden Age of Preaching.” Lloyd-Jones would ultimately succeed him and fill the pulpit at Westminster for nearly 30 years.
Ian Murray, the Doctor's biographer, knew Lloyd-Jones personally during the Westminster years. As a co-laborer and close friend, Murray was uniquely positioned to write about him.
What I found the most fascinating was the pivotal role Lloyd-Jones plays in modern church history. The Doctor eschewed joining committees, had no aspirations to fame, and reluctantly assumed leadership roles.
Yet he was a guiding hand in IVF’s development and influence. He was the catalyst for the public resurgence of long-neglected Puritan writings. He was integral in the founding of The Banner of Truth Trust. And, he put expository preaching back on the map.
Lloyd-Jones is a legend in evangelical Christendom now. He often had little support during his lifetime. Keep in mind that his was a period when modernism and higher criticism had undermined people’s confidence in the Bible. Lloyd-Jones’ insistence on the authority and inerrancy of Scripture earned him more critics than friends.
In his early days of ministry, the experience of speaking at an IVF conference “confirmed his earlier impression that he was out of his element in English evangelicalism...Speakers and hearers alike, Dr. Lloyd-Jones felt, had little interest in the kind of literature which meant so much to him. Their sense of church history seemed to be practically non-existent. Theology of any kind was viewed with suspicion, and the degree of concern for an intellectual understanding of the Christian Faith was almost childish in its proportions.”
However, by the time Lloyd-Jones passed away in 1981 these critiques were no longer valid within a number of evangelical circles. The Doctor is due a generous portion of credit for the ground-work he inadvertently laid. He never tried to be a figure whose books and sermons have been read and heard since his death by more than read and heard them in his lifetime.
The irony is that for all of his reputation as being exclusive, the Doctor was widely-appreciated for his personal approachability and consistent humility.
In closing: “To a group of men who were paying compliments to her husband’s [preaching] powers, Bethan Lloyd-Jones once quietly remarked, ‘No one will understand my husband until they realize that he is first of all a man of prayer and then, an evangelist.’”
April 29, 2014
"Dying... He worshiped" is the last chapter on the life of Martyn Lloyd-Jones, which indeed summarized the life of the great preacher from last century. The beginning of the book was a bit slow, but my heart moved closely with his ministry once it had begone. the I realize though it was a biography of a man from the past, it is every bit of an indication of all that is going on in today's world. One of those convicting book that would set your heart on fire.
May 8, 2024
I loved this biography on Dr Lloyd Jones. His transition from being an esteemed medical doctor to becoming a minister of God’s word is absolutely fascinating. His thoughts about so many things are incredibly profound and there is so much to learn from him. He stood firm in the midst of liberalism within his denomination, he helped lead a vibrant college ministry, Inter-varsity, he co-pastored during World War 2 amidst bombings and national fear, he publicly disagreed with JI Packer, John Stott, and Billy Graham yet was respected by these same men for his Godly wisdom and commitment to God’s word. He also played an integral part in the publication and readership of puritan authors and helped create Banner of Truth. He also wrote several books for the next generation of ministers that are widely read and sought after to this day. While he had so many accomplishments, Most striking to me was how he faithfully pursued the Lord for almost 60 years with most of it being dedicated to humbly serving God where he was called. The way he lived and especially how he died showed just how much God had captured his heart. He was a giant of the faith and I will try and read anything that he has written in the future. This biography was written firsthand by someone that knew Dr. Jones and it is very thorough and insightful. It has lengthy details that might be dull to a casual reader but were incredibly illuminating and helpful to me after hearing some about Dr Jones. While this might not be the first biography that I would recommend, it is powerful and I was overcome with emotion while reading about how faithful this man was to his family, his church, his ministry, and his God. It was excellent!
August 14, 2020
An insightful and fascinating investigation. Highlights included the treatment of ML-J’s question “What is a Christian” regarding ecumenism, the necessity of believing Scripture is inerrant, the role of logic in preaching and teaching, and the innovative method of faithful expository preaching.
February 1, 2025
One of the best books I’ve ever read.
He was never more in earnest than when he said, 'I am such a sinner that God has always had to compel me to do things.' And again: 'My whole life experiences are proof of the sovereignty of God and his direct interference in the lives of men. I cannot help believing what I believe. I would be a madman to believe anything else.'
He was never more in earnest than when he said, 'I am such a sinner that God has always had to compel me to do things.' And again: 'My whole life experiences are proof of the sovereignty of God and his direct interference in the lives of men. I cannot help believing what I believe. I would be a madman to believe anything else.'
January 24, 2025
I have forgotten now how I ever learned about the Welsh-English preacher Dr. Martyn Lloyd Jones (MLJ). Goodreads helps me figure out that I read my first book by him in 2020, Joy Unspeakable. Since that time, I have read two more of his books and will continue to read everything I can by him. His books are such an interesting phenomenon as they are his expositional sermons captured in chapters. While that may not sound appealing, they are incredible.
Somewhere recently I read a quote by MLJ that besides daily Bible reading and prayer, he most suggested the regular reading of biographies - especially spiritual biographies. I have always loved biographies and so decided to make them a bigger part of my 2025 reading life and, in fact, to start with this highly regarded biography by Iain Murray of MLJ himself. (This book is a recast, condensed, and a bit rewritten version of the author’s previous two volume 1000+ page biography.)
Not only is this one of the best written biographies I have yet read, I have been so deeply impacted to learn of MLJ’s life. He was a man of deep, transformative, uncompromising faith who was used by God in amazing ways. He truly lived out the five Reformation solas of Faith Alone, Grace Alone, Christ Alone, Glory of God Alone, and Scripture Alone.
The final chapter “Dying…He Worshipped” makes the entire biography worth reading, although I truly loved every chapter (I’m still researching ecumenism) and really enjoyed the pace of reading one chapter per day.
From the final chapter and his final days: “When you come to where I am, there is only one thing that matters, that is your relationship to him and your knowledge of him. Nothing else matters. All our righteousness are as filthy rags. Our best works are tainted. We are sinners saved by grace. We are debtors to mercy alone.”
While reading the many chapters describing the impact that MLJ’s preaching had on countless lives, I had the passing thought of how amazing it would be to hear his sermons and not just read them. Impulsively I did a Google search and to my greatest delight discovered the Martyn Lloyd-Jones Trust! This is a website (mljtrust.org), an app, and a podcast which features hundreds and hundreds of his recorded sermons! I had no idea this existed.
My experience of listening to MLJ preach for the first time was a bit surreal. He was a smaller man and his voice fits that stature, and yet also possesses an authority and wisdom that can only come from the Lord. Additionally, as I should have expected, the first sermon of his that I “randomly” chose to listen to proved to offer me insight into a current area of great need in my life.
MLJ was rightly insistent that idolizing men has been one of the greatest faults in the church. And so, as he would wish, I will not allow myself to do that with MLJ. However, he was a man of great faith and wisdom calling us to walk by faith alone and able to wisely guide us in how to do so.
I am greatly looking forward to listening to every one of his sermons in the years to come. How thrilling that they are free to listen to! I previously thought l would have to figure out how to afford all of his books. What an incredible blessing!
Lastly, I’ve decided the next biography I will read will be that of MLJ’s wife, Bethan. It seems fitting to move on to learn who she was and the influence she obviously had on this great man.
Highly recommend this wonderful biography!
Somewhere recently I read a quote by MLJ that besides daily Bible reading and prayer, he most suggested the regular reading of biographies - especially spiritual biographies. I have always loved biographies and so decided to make them a bigger part of my 2025 reading life and, in fact, to start with this highly regarded biography by Iain Murray of MLJ himself. (This book is a recast, condensed, and a bit rewritten version of the author’s previous two volume 1000+ page biography.)
Not only is this one of the best written biographies I have yet read, I have been so deeply impacted to learn of MLJ’s life. He was a man of deep, transformative, uncompromising faith who was used by God in amazing ways. He truly lived out the five Reformation solas of Faith Alone, Grace Alone, Christ Alone, Glory of God Alone, and Scripture Alone.
The final chapter “Dying…He Worshipped” makes the entire biography worth reading, although I truly loved every chapter (I’m still researching ecumenism) and really enjoyed the pace of reading one chapter per day.
From the final chapter and his final days: “When you come to where I am, there is only one thing that matters, that is your relationship to him and your knowledge of him. Nothing else matters. All our righteousness are as filthy rags. Our best works are tainted. We are sinners saved by grace. We are debtors to mercy alone.”
While reading the many chapters describing the impact that MLJ’s preaching had on countless lives, I had the passing thought of how amazing it would be to hear his sermons and not just read them. Impulsively I did a Google search and to my greatest delight discovered the Martyn Lloyd-Jones Trust! This is a website (mljtrust.org), an app, and a podcast which features hundreds and hundreds of his recorded sermons! I had no idea this existed.
My experience of listening to MLJ preach for the first time was a bit surreal. He was a smaller man and his voice fits that stature, and yet also possesses an authority and wisdom that can only come from the Lord. Additionally, as I should have expected, the first sermon of his that I “randomly” chose to listen to proved to offer me insight into a current area of great need in my life.
MLJ was rightly insistent that idolizing men has been one of the greatest faults in the church. And so, as he would wish, I will not allow myself to do that with MLJ. However, he was a man of great faith and wisdom calling us to walk by faith alone and able to wisely guide us in how to do so.
I am greatly looking forward to listening to every one of his sermons in the years to come. How thrilling that they are free to listen to! I previously thought l would have to figure out how to afford all of his books. What an incredible blessing!
Lastly, I’ve decided the next biography I will read will be that of MLJ’s wife, Bethan. It seems fitting to move on to learn who she was and the influence she obviously had on this great man.
Highly recommend this wonderful biography!
December 6, 2024
I very much enjoyed this biography of ML-J. Murray does excellently at establishing the Doctor's historical and cultural context, as well as presenting his views sympathetically. The book is full of Lloyd-Jones' insights into life and ministry, many of which I marked for later reference. The man's life was quite encouraging on the whole, but especially the details of his final weeks.
What holds me back from rating the book higher, however, is that it feels very much like hagiography in places. It is clear that ML-J left a great impression on his biographer, who apparently thought the readers needed to be reminded frequently of how clever people thought he was, how powerful people found his preaching to be, and so on. Obviously, those are relevant details to be included, but when the information is delivered through lengthy block-quotes from letters and articles in nearly every chapter, I think a line has been crossed. His personal involvement and overt admiration for ML-J had me wondering if Murray might not have glossed over the man's errors.
The most egregious problem, I found, was chapter 27. This section dealt at length with ML-J's involvement in the dispute over whether evangelicals in Britain ought to continue in fellowship with the liberals in their denominations (and the Anglo-Catholics, in the case of the CofE). The bulk of this chapter was taken up not with an explanation of Lloyd-Jones' views and the events that resulted from them but rather with polemics against John Stott and J. I. Packer. the chapter felt more like apologetics on behalf of the Doctor rather than a simple biographical account.
But on the whole, this biography is a worthwhile read, especially for anyone intending to go into ministry. At the conclusion of its 458 pages, I find myself astonished at the idea that it should be a condensation of a larger biography. I cannot imagine what else Murray may have had to say, and (frankly) I don't have the patience to find out.
What holds me back from rating the book higher, however, is that it feels very much like hagiography in places. It is clear that ML-J left a great impression on his biographer, who apparently thought the readers needed to be reminded frequently of how clever people thought he was, how powerful people found his preaching to be, and so on. Obviously, those are relevant details to be included, but when the information is delivered through lengthy block-quotes from letters and articles in nearly every chapter, I think a line has been crossed. His personal involvement and overt admiration for ML-J had me wondering if Murray might not have glossed over the man's errors.
The most egregious problem, I found, was chapter 27. This section dealt at length with ML-J's involvement in the dispute over whether evangelicals in Britain ought to continue in fellowship with the liberals in their denominations (and the Anglo-Catholics, in the case of the CofE). The bulk of this chapter was taken up not with an explanation of Lloyd-Jones' views and the events that resulted from them but rather with polemics against John Stott and J. I. Packer. the chapter felt more like apologetics on behalf of the Doctor rather than a simple biographical account.
But on the whole, this biography is a worthwhile read, especially for anyone intending to go into ministry. At the conclusion of its 458 pages, I find myself astonished at the idea that it should be a condensation of a larger biography. I cannot imagine what else Murray may have had to say, and (frankly) I don't have the patience to find out.
May 14, 2019
This combined and condensed single volume of The Doctor's life is a wonderful and inspiring read. Murray writes lucidly and succinctly so that we do not get bogged down in needless details. He captures the prominent reason why ML-J was important and how he should be understood. It is vital that young practitioners of expository preaching carry his convictions with his humble spirit. I love the mentoring and supporting relationship between Jones and Campbell Morgan. I'd love to know more about that dynamic. It is critical and telling of Campbell Morgan's spirit and maturity.
August 9, 2020
This book is about the glory of God in the life of a simple man. A man God used to edify millions of people across time and generations, pointing them their state as sinners and their great need of a Great Savior.
I thank God for the influence of this man in my life and for the opportunity to know more of who he was and how God worked through his life.
To God be the glory.
I thank God for the influence of this man in my life and for the opportunity to know more of who he was and how God worked through his life.
To God be the glory.
September 7, 2018
This is what the Lord used to push me into ministry. The man had the sort of grace on his ministry that Spurgeon, Whitefield and Edwards had on their preaching ministry. There's some lengths at the end of this single volume where Murray seeks to defend MLJ'S legacy which went a bit far but I cannot take a star off for that. This book convinced me to buy the two volume edition. Highly recommended.
February 4, 2025
Absolutely fantastic.
September 9, 2025
I kept encountering quotes from Martyn Lloyd-Jones in other books and sermons to the point where I wanted to learn more about the man. This book is a condensed version (still 460 pages) of Murray's two-volume biography (about 1,200 pages) which is considered the definitive treatment of ML-J's life. In addition to detailing Lloyd-Jones' story, the book is also a micro-history of 20th century church movements in the UK. I mostly enjoyed that aspect, except for a three-chapter digression where the author spends a few too many pages examining the ecumenical vs. evangelical battle that English churches dealt with around the 1960s. I would have rather learned more about ML-J's overseas trips, especially to the United States (being an American reader). But his preaching abroad is one of the aspects that the author had to abridge in order to get the story down to one volume. One other note: this book is an ML-J-authorized biography, written by his longtime friend and associate, Iain Murray, so there's little critical analysis, and at times the story sounds a little more like PR than a biography. Nevertheless, I came away from the book with an even greater admiration for Dr. Lloyd-Jones and an understanding of why he is so often quoted.
March 14, 2023
“We get endless sermons on psychology, but amazingly few on Christianity…The great cardinal principles of our belief are scarcely ever mentioned, indeed there is a movement on foot to amend them so as to bring them up-to-date. How on earth can you talk of bringing these eternal truths up-to-date? They are not only up-to-date, they are and will be ahead of the times to all eternity.”
I’ve heard the name “Martyn Lloyd-Jones” for years and I’ve just now made the time to find out who he is. I’m glad that I did. This biography is very well done. It is clearly written by a man who knew Lloyd-Jones and loved him. The personal touch makes it a really easy and enjoyable read. I give it 4 stars. I enjoyed it, you might too!
I’ve heard the name “Martyn Lloyd-Jones” for years and I’ve just now made the time to find out who he is. I’m glad that I did. This biography is very well done. It is clearly written by a man who knew Lloyd-Jones and loved him. The personal touch makes it a really easy and enjoyable read. I give it 4 stars. I enjoyed it, you might too!
January 3, 2017
There's a reason Iaian H. Murray is my favorite biographer of heroes of the faith. But this book is a special treat. Murray was Martyn Lloyd-Jones' personal assistant for many years and new the man intimately. While Murray seems to take special pains to not make the book about his relationship with the Doctor, there is no question that his vantage point lends a certain authority to his account. Martyn Lloyd-Jones was truly a giant in his generation. And his legacy lives on, indeed continues to grow in momentum, in part due to the proliferation of his sermons through the MLJ Trust, but in no small part through the Banner of Truth Trust, the publisher of this volume and many, many other solid, rich books in the Reformed tradition. There is a wonderful story in this book that explains how Banner of Truth traces its history backward through Lloyd-Jones, to an obscure young Believer who had discovered that Puritan writings were very much out of style, and therefore very accessible.
June 5, 2018
Perhaps the best book I’ve ever read. Iain Murray’s meticulous and thorough account of The Dr was a pleasure to read. I found myself lost in it often. A book of nearly 500 pages usually intimidates me but I devoured this in just 10-12 reading sessions, 2 weeks. Murray took us through MLJ life that revealed not only his passion and biblical literacy but his glaring humility. MLJ was truly a unique gift to the church and a mighty tool of the Lord. Though The Dr died in 1981 I became so gripped by the account of his life that I nearly cried at the last sentences as Iain closed with the death of MLJ. I can’t begin to share the contents because there are jewels on every page. I couldn’t more highly recommend a book than this. The church needs to learn from such a life and follow his example. We’d be better off imitating The Dr as he imitated Christ.
January 31, 2016
I got much insight into Lloyd-Jones, an evangelist preacher. I am thankful for him, and encouraged by our Lord for what He brings us through.
The author gave each of the chapters a different topic. That allows you to see an important slice of life, but also tends to get you to see life in slices, rather than the whole. I also detested the jumping back and forth in time the author did. Instead of unfolding Lloyd-Jones' life, he seemed to hop back a decade to support a point he wanted to make, then forward 8 years then back 6.
The book also caused me to be concerned due to Packer's and Stott's positions in unifying believers and unbelievers in the churches. And the book even hints of Billy Graham's position. A dark era.
A very good book about a man that I respect and value.
The author gave each of the chapters a different topic. That allows you to see an important slice of life, but also tends to get you to see life in slices, rather than the whole. I also detested the jumping back and forth in time the author did. Instead of unfolding Lloyd-Jones' life, he seemed to hop back a decade to support a point he wanted to make, then forward 8 years then back 6.
The book also caused me to be concerned due to Packer's and Stott's positions in unifying believers and unbelievers in the churches. And the book even hints of Billy Graham's position. A dark era.
A very good book about a man that I respect and value.
February 3, 2016
Although Martyn Lloyd-Jones died the year I was born, there are few who have had a more profound impact on my views of pastoral ministry and preaching. Lloyd-Jones is perhaps one of the greatest examples of fidelity to the biblical model of shepherding the in the past 100 years. The culture into which he sought to minister (mid-20th century England) was not at all unlike the present culture in North America.
This shorter version of Llyod-Jones' authorized biography is a great place to get to know this medically trained beacon of gospel power. I heartily recommend it.
This shorter version of Llyod-Jones' authorized biography is a great place to get to know this medically trained beacon of gospel power. I heartily recommend it.
November 22, 2013
Lloyd-Jones, now 30 years after his death, remains one of the most prominent and well-known biblical expositors of the 20th century. His journey to Christian faith, and then to the pulpit, is a powerful testimony of the transformative power of the Gospel he would dedicate his life to proclaiming. Condensing and recasting his previous two-volume biography, Murray recounts the Doctor’s life with both the poise of a historian and the aplomb of a friend. Highly recommended.
August 15, 2015
A tremendous biography which left me thirsting more for God each time I read the book. Lloyd-Jones' life and testimony points to God's glory and loving providence.
I love the apparent tensions in some of Lloyd-Jones' theology which indicate he was a man bound by Biblical logic - not merely his own.
Grateful for God's work through this man, and I pray for continued grace to be ministered through this man's testimony and writings.
I love the apparent tensions in some of Lloyd-Jones' theology which indicate he was a man bound by Biblical logic - not merely his own.
Grateful for God's work through this man, and I pray for continued grace to be ministered through this man's testimony and writings.
September 22, 2017
Was very good. Boring at times although, still entertaining mostly. MLJ was a game changer in the field of preaching. His humbleness outside the pulpit was to be desired. He had a message and a heart for God. Please get to know this great evangelist.
June 7, 2013
Very informative on the situation of 20th century evangelicalism, and the efforts that brought change to take us where we are today in regards to Reformed theology and practice.
July 9, 2014
Learning about the great Welsh Doctor has brought much needed medication to my soul.
"We are sinners saved by grace. We are debtors to mercy alone."
"We are sinners saved by grace. We are debtors to mercy alone."
May 21, 2019
Hard to read at times, but definitely a convicting and encouraging read.
August 31, 2018
I came to know about Martyn Llyod-Jones (from here on out, ML-J) from a good friend of mine a few years ago. In 2012, the ML-J Trust released thousands of sermons previously known only to ML-J’ family to the public. I remember on one of the first days of the release, you were only able to download 10 sermons a day. I began to download and listen to ML-J exposit the book of Romans, and was hooked on everything he produced from sermons to books. Ever since then, I have had a great respect for this man, and I picked up Iain Murray’s biography of ML-J to know more about the man whom I had listened to for so long.
I really like Iain Murray; I read his biography on John MacArthur last year, and I currently own his biography on Jonathan Edwards (which I am anxious to start). Murray does not simply tell the story of whomever he is writing about, he speaks volumes about their theological convictions in a way only a Christian can articulate. For example, a secular biographer on Jonathan Edwards may write about his life, but he will never understand him in the same way a Christian will: a man who sought to glorify God with all his being. This is how I feel about Murray’s approach to ML-J.
I won’t go as far to tell his story, but will rather give some points about ML-J’s life that really made me think. First (and perhaps most important), the condition of England in the 1930’s-1950’s when ML-J was first beginning to preach was similar to the current state of American Evangelicalism. People were leaving the church in droves, secularization was taking over and God was put to the side in favor of atheism, agnosticism and eastern spirituality. Many churches during this time were trying to “win” the favor of the crowds by staging dramas during church, dances, and other events that garnered to popular culture and what we know of as the “seeker sensitive” church. ML-J, when he took over Westminster Chapel in the 1940’s, did not approach church this way. In fact, just the opposite. He believed that church was for the building up of the saints through teaching and that’s exactly what he did. There was no pomp, no fancy lights, no coffee shop, no gimmicks: he simply preached the word of God. And amazingly, he saw the population of the church grow from around 400 in the 1940’s to over 2000 by the 1950’s-60’s. He preached for 45 minutes to an hour, had no jokes in the sermon, sang hymns for worship (there was no worship pastor and if they sang them hollow or did not focus on the words he would scold the congregation), and still attracted thousands that give testament to his style. We Evangelicals should take note of this.
Second, there is a movie out now called “Logic on Fire” about ML-J’s life. That phrase speaks to how ML-J approached a sermon; by reason. Much like the Apostle Paul, ML-J can take you systematically through a structured plan that starts at A and ends at D, explaining how he got there through B and C. This is typified particularly when you listen to his sermons (which I highly recommend). Some attribute this to his early medical training where one had to be very thorough and make observations in a logical way.
Third, it is amazing to me that a man who has impacted so many had no formal theological training. This is proof that God can use anyone for His purposes.
There is probably more that I could say, but I will let you pick up the book. I would say that this is one of the most important books I have ever read, in the ecclesiastical sense anyway because it gives credence to what I have always thought a successful church looks like. ML-J had a desire to glorify God and did so by doing what His word commanded: preach to word. That is all he did and I believe it is that simple for us today. Church is not about having an awesome band, fancy lights, a big building or anything like that. It’s about feeding men and women the raw, unadulterated word of God. I highly recommend this book.
I really like Iain Murray; I read his biography on John MacArthur last year, and I currently own his biography on Jonathan Edwards (which I am anxious to start). Murray does not simply tell the story of whomever he is writing about, he speaks volumes about their theological convictions in a way only a Christian can articulate. For example, a secular biographer on Jonathan Edwards may write about his life, but he will never understand him in the same way a Christian will: a man who sought to glorify God with all his being. This is how I feel about Murray’s approach to ML-J.
I won’t go as far to tell his story, but will rather give some points about ML-J’s life that really made me think. First (and perhaps most important), the condition of England in the 1930’s-1950’s when ML-J was first beginning to preach was similar to the current state of American Evangelicalism. People were leaving the church in droves, secularization was taking over and God was put to the side in favor of atheism, agnosticism and eastern spirituality. Many churches during this time were trying to “win” the favor of the crowds by staging dramas during church, dances, and other events that garnered to popular culture and what we know of as the “seeker sensitive” church. ML-J, when he took over Westminster Chapel in the 1940’s, did not approach church this way. In fact, just the opposite. He believed that church was for the building up of the saints through teaching and that’s exactly what he did. There was no pomp, no fancy lights, no coffee shop, no gimmicks: he simply preached the word of God. And amazingly, he saw the population of the church grow from around 400 in the 1940’s to over 2000 by the 1950’s-60’s. He preached for 45 minutes to an hour, had no jokes in the sermon, sang hymns for worship (there was no worship pastor and if they sang them hollow or did not focus on the words he would scold the congregation), and still attracted thousands that give testament to his style. We Evangelicals should take note of this.
Second, there is a movie out now called “Logic on Fire” about ML-J’s life. That phrase speaks to how ML-J approached a sermon; by reason. Much like the Apostle Paul, ML-J can take you systematically through a structured plan that starts at A and ends at D, explaining how he got there through B and C. This is typified particularly when you listen to his sermons (which I highly recommend). Some attribute this to his early medical training where one had to be very thorough and make observations in a logical way.
Third, it is amazing to me that a man who has impacted so many had no formal theological training. This is proof that God can use anyone for His purposes.
There is probably more that I could say, but I will let you pick up the book. I would say that this is one of the most important books I have ever read, in the ecclesiastical sense anyway because it gives credence to what I have always thought a successful church looks like. ML-J had a desire to glorify God and did so by doing what His word commanded: preach to word. That is all he did and I believe it is that simple for us today. Church is not about having an awesome band, fancy lights, a big building or anything like that. It’s about feeding men and women the raw, unadulterated word of God. I highly recommend this book.
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