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The Swans Are Not Silent #4
Contending for Our All
Biographies of Athanasius, John Owen, and J. Gresham Machen. In the life of each, personal holiness was emphasized publicly and privately, despite hardship and suffering. Fourth volume of The Swans Are Not Silent series.
ebook
First published January 20, 2006
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585 people want to read
About the author
John Piper
609 books4,581 followersJohn Piper is founder and teacher of desiringGod.org and chancellor of Bethlehem College & Seminary. For 33 years, he served as senior pastor at Bethlehem Baptist Church, Minneapolis, Minnesota.
He grew up in Greenville, South Carolina, and studied at Wheaton College, Fuller Theological Seminary (B.D.), and the University of Munich (D.theol.). For six years, he taught Biblical Studies at Bethel College in St. Paul, Minnesota, and in 1980 accepted the call to serve as pastor at Bethlehem.
John is the author of more than 50 books and more than 30 years of his preaching and teaching is available free at desiringGod.org. John and his wife, Noel, have four sons, one daughter, and twelve grandchildren.
Librarian Note: There is more than one author in the GoodReads database with this name. See this thread for more information.
He grew up in Greenville, South Carolina, and studied at Wheaton College, Fuller Theological Seminary (B.D.), and the University of Munich (D.theol.). For six years, he taught Biblical Studies at Bethel College in St. Paul, Minnesota, and in 1980 accepted the call to serve as pastor at Bethlehem.
John is the author of more than 50 books and more than 30 years of his preaching and teaching is available free at desiringGod.org. John and his wife, Noel, have four sons, one daughter, and twelve grandchildren.
Librarian Note: There is more than one author in the GoodReads database with this name. See this thread for more information.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 54 reviews
May 3, 2022
The book was really good. I struggled to read this at points, however. It was excellent in its delivery of showing how the Church has lived through the means of controversy. Men have stood up in the face of controversy for the Truth—but these men did it with love. They did it in grace. They were not perfect, but God blessed their willingness to defend Truth. They fought against heresy—even about the Trinity, they fought out a communion with God and not just knowledge, and they fought against modernism. They all did it in love rooted in Christ.
December 25, 2021
Here's the thing. Approximately 97.3% of what makes John Piper an effective communicator is his affect. So when you take his words and put them in a voice as gray as Bob Souer's, they just don't work. I'm not saying get a Piper impressionist in the studio...just somebody who can put a little emotion into his reading. Is that too much to ask?
I've really enjoyed Piper's biographies over the years, so since they're all free with an Audible subscription, I'm hoping to get through a bunch in the next few months before I cancel again...if I can get past the narration.
I took a weeks-long break after the Athanasius section, so I'm afraid I can't remember a whole lot about him.
I wish we knew a little more John Owen's personal life, but no information has survived. Piper did highlight one remarkable thing about his professional life that I found striking. Owen led a very public life at the center of his century's historical events (he was Cromwell's chaplain), yet with deep personal holiness. Not an easy thing to manage in any era. Also, he needed a Church Curmudgeon in his life to tell him, "Go to bed, sinner!" on a regular basis. Man does not live by sleep alone, but four hours a night is not enough. "He gives to His beloved sleep," and His beloved should receive the gift with more gratitude.
I mostly listened while I was busy with other things, but I managed to snag one quote from the Machen section. As a young man, Machen was nearly swayed away from orthodoxy by a heterodox preacher who appeared to have a livelier faith than Machen was used to seeing. "There is a great lesson here for teachers and preachers: To hold young minds, there should be intellectual credibility and joyful, passionate zeal for Christ." I know that combination was lacking in my early religious upbringing and that it might have preserved me from a lot of stupidity. I am so very grateful that it's not lacking now! Also I wish someone had preserved Machen from his own self-inflicted stupidity. If you're too ill to do things (now listen carefully here), do not do them!
I'm grateful for these men who stood contra mundum. I am grateful for the men I see in the world today who follow their example.
I've really enjoyed Piper's biographies over the years, so since they're all free with an Audible subscription, I'm hoping to get through a bunch in the next few months before I cancel again...if I can get past the narration.
I took a weeks-long break after the Athanasius section, so I'm afraid I can't remember a whole lot about him.
I wish we knew a little more John Owen's personal life, but no information has survived. Piper did highlight one remarkable thing about his professional life that I found striking. Owen led a very public life at the center of his century's historical events (he was Cromwell's chaplain), yet with deep personal holiness. Not an easy thing to manage in any era. Also, he needed a Church Curmudgeon in his life to tell him, "Go to bed, sinner!" on a regular basis. Man does not live by sleep alone, but four hours a night is not enough. "He gives to His beloved sleep," and His beloved should receive the gift with more gratitude.
I mostly listened while I was busy with other things, but I managed to snag one quote from the Machen section. As a young man, Machen was nearly swayed away from orthodoxy by a heterodox preacher who appeared to have a livelier faith than Machen was used to seeing. "There is a great lesson here for teachers and preachers: To hold young minds, there should be intellectual credibility and joyful, passionate zeal for Christ." I know that combination was lacking in my early religious upbringing and that it might have preserved me from a lot of stupidity. I am so very grateful that it's not lacking now! Also I wish someone had preserved Machen from his own self-inflicted stupidity. If you're too ill to do things (now listen carefully here), do not do them!
I'm grateful for these men who stood contra mundum. I am grateful for the men I see in the world today who follow their example.
December 20, 2011
One of the most prolific and most thoughtful current apologists for the Christian faith has taken the lives of three great leaders of Christian thought and presented them in a very readable way. John Piper is an excellent writer and can pull together compelling words that will give us pause. This, the fourth in his series of brief biographies, is one of them. Piper's works are best read slowly and thoughtfully -- prayerfully -- in order to get the most out of them. This one is no exception.
Who would have thought that Athanasius of Egypt (298 - 373), John Owen of England (1616 - 1683), and J. Gresham Machen of the United States (1881 - 1937) could share a common theme for their lives. However, largely because they shared a common faith, this treatise on their struggle for their faith can also stir us a hundred, 350, or 1700 years later. That same faith is something for which every Christian -- today -- must still contend. Yet, as Piper continues to remind us, we must strive together in love.
For those who believe that Christianity is for mindless minions who blindly follow some ancient creed, read this book and think.
Who would have thought that Athanasius of Egypt (298 - 373), John Owen of England (1616 - 1683), and J. Gresham Machen of the United States (1881 - 1937) could share a common theme for their lives. However, largely because they shared a common faith, this treatise on their struggle for their faith can also stir us a hundred, 350, or 1700 years later. That same faith is something for which every Christian -- today -- must still contend. Yet, as Piper continues to remind us, we must strive together in love.
For those who believe that Christianity is for mindless minions who blindly follow some ancient creed, read this book and think.
June 26, 2023
The brief conclusion chapter is timely and tremendous.
July 21, 2021
This was such an inspiring read. I learned some things, grew in my appreciation for these three saints of Jesus, and was challenged in matters of both conviction and character.
A couple of great quotations:
"Athanasius contra mundum should inspire every pastor to stand his ground meekly and humbly and courageously whenever a biblical truth is at stake. But be sure that you always out rejoice your adversaries. If something is worth fighting for, it is worth rejoicing over. And the joy is essential in the battle, for nothing is worth fighting for that will not increase our everlasting joy in God." (Piper)
“When we have communion with God in the doctrine we contend for—then shall we be garrisoned by the grace of God against all the assaults of men.” (Owen)
"Whenever [Owen] undertook to defend a truth, he sought first of all to take that truth deeply into his heart and gain a real spiritual experience of it so that there would be no artificiality in the debate and no mere posturing or gamesmanship. He was made steady in the battle because he had come to experience the truth at the personal level of the fruits of holiness and knew that God was in it." (Piper)
"Every really great Christian utterance, it may almost be said, is born in controversy. It is when men have felt compelled to take a stand against error that they have risen to the really great heights in the celebration of truth." (Machen)
"Some controversy is crucial for the sake of life-giving truth. Running from it is a sign of cowardice. But enjoying it is usually a sign of pride...The reason enjoying controversy is a sign of pride is that humility loves truth-based unity more than truth-based victory. Humility loves Christ exalting exultation more than Christ-defending confrontation— even more than Christ-defending vindication. Humility delights to worship Christ in spirit and truth. If it must fight for worship sustaining truth, it will, but that is not because the fight is pleasant. It’s not even because victory is pleasant. It’s because
knowing and loving and proclaiming Christ for who he really is and what he really did is pleasant." (Piper)
"Contending for our all cannot be done in a way that contradicts the character of our all—namely, Jesus Christ. This means that when we contend for the fullness of Christ with our lips, we must confirm the love of Christ with our lives." (Piper)
“The love that Athanasius showed in this controversy had the effect of 'obviating countless schisms and attaching to the Church many who might otherwise have been driven back into Arianism.'" (Piper)
"Not His holiness without His love: this is only harshness. Not His love without His holiness: that is only compromise. Anything that an individual Christian or Christian group does that fails to show the simultaneous balance of the holiness of God and the love of God presents to a watching world not a demonstration of the God who exists but a caricature of the God who exists." (Schaeffer)
"But when we come to the place where there is a real difference, and we exhibit uncompromised principles but at the same time observable love, then there is something that the world can see, something they can use to judge that these really are Christians, and that Jesus has indeed been sent by the Father." (Schaeffer)
A couple of great quotations:
"Athanasius contra mundum should inspire every pastor to stand his ground meekly and humbly and courageously whenever a biblical truth is at stake. But be sure that you always out rejoice your adversaries. If something is worth fighting for, it is worth rejoicing over. And the joy is essential in the battle, for nothing is worth fighting for that will not increase our everlasting joy in God." (Piper)
“When we have communion with God in the doctrine we contend for—then shall we be garrisoned by the grace of God against all the assaults of men.” (Owen)
"Whenever [Owen] undertook to defend a truth, he sought first of all to take that truth deeply into his heart and gain a real spiritual experience of it so that there would be no artificiality in the debate and no mere posturing or gamesmanship. He was made steady in the battle because he had come to experience the truth at the personal level of the fruits of holiness and knew that God was in it." (Piper)
"Every really great Christian utterance, it may almost be said, is born in controversy. It is when men have felt compelled to take a stand against error that they have risen to the really great heights in the celebration of truth." (Machen)
"Some controversy is crucial for the sake of life-giving truth. Running from it is a sign of cowardice. But enjoying it is usually a sign of pride...The reason enjoying controversy is a sign of pride is that humility loves truth-based unity more than truth-based victory. Humility loves Christ exalting exultation more than Christ-defending confrontation— even more than Christ-defending vindication. Humility delights to worship Christ in spirit and truth. If it must fight for worship sustaining truth, it will, but that is not because the fight is pleasant. It’s not even because victory is pleasant. It’s because
knowing and loving and proclaiming Christ for who he really is and what he really did is pleasant." (Piper)
"Contending for our all cannot be done in a way that contradicts the character of our all—namely, Jesus Christ. This means that when we contend for the fullness of Christ with our lips, we must confirm the love of Christ with our lives." (Piper)
“The love that Athanasius showed in this controversy had the effect of 'obviating countless schisms and attaching to the Church many who might otherwise have been driven back into Arianism.'" (Piper)
"Not His holiness without His love: this is only harshness. Not His love without His holiness: that is only compromise. Anything that an individual Christian or Christian group does that fails to show the simultaneous balance of the holiness of God and the love of God presents to a watching world not a demonstration of the God who exists but a caricature of the God who exists." (Schaeffer)
"But when we come to the place where there is a real difference, and we exhibit uncompromised principles but at the same time observable love, then there is something that the world can see, something they can use to judge that these really are Christians, and that Jesus has indeed been sent by the Father." (Schaeffer)
November 16, 2019
The fourth book in the series from John Piper covering figures from church history specifically related to the spread of Christianity and the Reformed theological system, this book is just as good as the others in the series.
This particular volume was entertaining, edifying and encouraging to me personally as I knew very little of any of the trio of historical church figures. From the Roman Church and 4th Century to the Puritans and the 15th Century to finally the Presbyterian Church and the 19th and 20th Centuries, the stories of these giants of the Christian faith help to show that God is always at work around us and always protects His word and preserves it in the lives of at least a few.
These three figures from Church History are most notable by their refusal to give in to the tide of compromise happening around them in the church during their lives. The deity of Jesus, the existence and attributes of God, and the fidelity of Scripture were just some of the weighty matters these individuals waded into in order to remain faithful to the One Who had saved them.
This particular volume was entertaining, edifying and encouraging to me personally as I knew very little of any of the trio of historical church figures. From the Roman Church and 4th Century to the Puritans and the 15th Century to finally the Presbyterian Church and the 19th and 20th Centuries, the stories of these giants of the Christian faith help to show that God is always at work around us and always protects His word and preserves it in the lives of at least a few.
These three figures from Church History are most notable by their refusal to give in to the tide of compromise happening around them in the church during their lives. The deity of Jesus, the existence and attributes of God, and the fidelity of Scripture were just some of the weighty matters these individuals waded into in order to remain faithful to the One Who had saved them.
September 3, 2024
The Swans series by Piper combines biography with pastoral wisdom, introducing us to key Christian figures while illustrating and applying vital common themes. Both the biography and the application were well done here - I plan on reading more on/from the three subjects of this volume and then moving to another of the Swans series.
March 16, 2020
I really liked this!
February 25, 2020
I only picked up this book to read the first section on Athanasius but ended up reading the whole thing. A quick and compact read but full of good lessons from the lives of faithful, flawed men of the past. I agree with Piper that we can learn much from Christian biographies as we look to leaders from the past and imitate them as they imitated Christ. All these men showed that while as Christians we do not love controversy, we should be ready to boldly, humbly, and lovingly contend for the truth of Jesus Christ. We do this not for the sake of winning the debate but because the glory of God and the unity and testimony of the Church is at stake. Unity is not the primary goal but a by-product of commitment to what is objectively true and right rather than vaguely-defined moral ideals or utilitarian-based ethics. And yes, Athanasius was pretty cool. I wish his chapter was a little longer but I guess there's not much more to know about him.
June 9, 2024
John Piper's six- or seven-volume series (The Swans Are Not Silent) introduces readers to three lives at a time. This fourth volume delves into the lives, writings, and ministries of an Early Church Father (Athanasius), an 18th-century scholar (John Owen), and a 20th-century theologian (Gresham Machen) — all three known for contending for the biblical faith even during times of great duress and theological controversy. My wife and I read Contending for Our All aloud to each other. We came away having a greater awareness of who these men were and why the issues they contended for are so important to us even today. I highly recommend every single one of these precious volumes. Thank you, John Piper, for acquainting us with such powerful lives without glossing over their weaknesses and frailties.
June 30, 2021
Really good. The Machen bio was particularly interesting. Machen was sort of a maverick, starting his own seminary and denomination after getting shafted for forming The Independent Board for Presbyterian Foreign Missions. Machen blazed a trail that I find myself on to this day, denying liberalism, and holding as best one can to the historically reformed doctrine of the faith. There are modern day mirrors of Machen, though I'm sure the Machen purists would throw a fit if I named one in particular (Hint: he's not from Russia).
In any event, this was a good one. Full of good information and easy to chew.
In any event, this was a good one. Full of good information and easy to chew.
July 18, 2020
Found it hard to read - sentences are long, lack punctuation and then 17th century quotes thrown in. Had to keep re-reading to get the sense of things because of this. But no bad thing to wrestle with something cos there's gold in there. Loved especially the section on John Owen. Machen was interesting to read about as I know he has been described as being racist - however a challenge to have better community, deeper friendships and accountability. Also how we can be strong in one area, but completely wrong in another. Plus bonus Francis Schaeffer!
June 8, 2022
As always for Piper, the book was well written and full of passion. The mini biographies were the perfect length: short enough to be contained in one, long chapter, but long enough to contain the most important details and observations about each man's life. Encouraging stories about how God used three men, of very different time periods, to boldly stand for the truth. The story of Athanasius was particularly encouraging: the majority of the professing church against him, banished five separate times, he continued to faithfully defend the deity of Jesus Christ, and love his people.
October 30, 2019
Read as part of 21 Servants of Sovereign Joy
Short biographies of Faithful, Flawed, and Fruitful Christians throughout church history. Wonderful theological and practical reflections. Highly recommend!
Reading this has convinced me to strive to always be reading a Christian biography. It has been so helpful to my worship of the Lord, and as examples worth learning from both from the good and the bad.
Short biographies of Faithful, Flawed, and Fruitful Christians throughout church history. Wonderful theological and practical reflections. Highly recommend!
Reading this has convinced me to strive to always be reading a Christian biography. It has been so helpful to my worship of the Lord, and as examples worth learning from both from the good and the bad.
September 3, 2020
Audiobook Review
Again, I am thrilled will this series.
However, I struggled a little bit with understanding this book. I had restart this book several times in order to grasp the concept.
Again, I enjoy hearing about of the heroes of faith and I must admit that I’d never heard of these men. But I am grateful for these men that were able to bring us a deeper understanding of who our God is.
Thank you to both author and narrator
Again, I am thrilled will this series.
However, I struggled a little bit with understanding this book. I had restart this book several times in order to grasp the concept.
Again, I enjoy hearing about of the heroes of faith and I must admit that I’d never heard of these men. But I am grateful for these men that were able to bring us a deeper understanding of who our God is.
Thank you to both author and narrator
November 18, 2021
This was a great refresher for Saint Athanasius and John Owen as well as an introduction for J. Gresham Machen, a man who I had not heard of, but who seems very interesting and who I would like to read more. The book is pretty short so it's a quick read and is deep enough to appreciate but is not so deep that it's a distraction to listen to while driving. If you're looking for an introduction to three great men of God this is the book for you.
May 24, 2023
This was both an incredibly interesting and difficult read. I am glad that I was working through it with others because there were definitely parts that I didn’t understand. 😂 I’m realizing how much church history I’m lacking! 🫣I might venture to read some more from this series to learn! Overall, it’s well done and was really edifying in my life as I seek to live out my faith.
July 24, 2018
I greatly enjoyed the chapter on Athanaius and intend to read more of him. Owen’s own admission that his writings are inaccessible didn’t help his cause. And I found just how much I differ from Machen, and therefore don’t intend to touch his work.
August 29, 2017
A good book. Some great insights on truth from some voices from the past.
February 19, 2018
Good luck.
January 16, 2021
Very good I really didn’t know much of anything about any of these three men
June 9, 2021
Really good
June 27, 2021
Really good
June 13, 2023
Three fascinating saints that fought for the faith.
February 4, 2024
Loved it! I have loved every book in this series, even if I have read them out of order thus far;).
February 6, 2025
Athanasius
John Owen
J Gresham Machen
Living through controversy and sharing the gospel while holding firm to convictions that Jesus Chris is our all
John Owen
J Gresham Machen
Living through controversy and sharing the gospel while holding firm to convictions that Jesus Chris is our all
March 2, 2011
This is my first "The Swans Are Not Silent" book. I picked up this book because of my sincere interest into the life of my favorite theologian, John Owen.
I originally purchased this book back on June 2010 but didn't pick it up to read it until just now.
To my sheer delight and joy, when this book did come up in my queue, I was thrilled to see Athanasius' name next to John Owen. For you see, over Christmas, I just finished Athanasius' On The Incarnation of the Word which made Christmas all the more special (and reading that book during Christmas is a tradition I am sure to pick up). But I digress.
So if Piper sought to put Machen (some dude I never heard of) alongside Athanasius and Owen, I am sure to pay attention.
While this is a book about their lives and their works, it was less about those men and more about defending the truth and "contending for our all".
I love the theory that is being passed around that we, as humans, have so evolved in our behavior in thinking. Yet, when I read history, I am blown away that we are still doing the same exact things that we were doing 10,000 years ago or even 100 years ago. We have not changed. Sin is still sin. We are still born depraved. Praise God that he still saves.
It is no truer than defending Biblical doctrine or 'what the Bible teaches' and it is no more needed in current age of the children of the Enlightenment (post-modern, whatever you want to call it).
What I see commonly is two thoughts: Orthodox Christians who assume the truth (dangerous) and Liberal Christians who fail to see that there is nothing new under the sun and continuous push for new truths and revelations that are not there (far more dangerous still). Yet, for those who do know the truth will not reach out to the Liberals or to the flock in a gentle, loving, compassionate way, they lash out using truth as a double-edge sword and leaving a heap of bodies in their wake.
Shall we take the examples of these three men who did not see the people who opposed the truth of God as enemies but as prisoners of war. This book is a staunch reminder that while we are to "preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, and exhort, with complete patience and teaching" (2 Timothy 4:1-5) but to be constant reminded that "... we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places." (Ephesians 6:12). Shall we follow in their footsteps in worshiping our sweet, loving God in Spirit and in truth? My hope in Christ alone and I pray that He will make all things right one day and he will do so despite our best efforts to separate ourselves from each other.
I originally purchased this book back on June 2010 but didn't pick it up to read it until just now.
To my sheer delight and joy, when this book did come up in my queue, I was thrilled to see Athanasius' name next to John Owen. For you see, over Christmas, I just finished Athanasius' On The Incarnation of the Word which made Christmas all the more special (and reading that book during Christmas is a tradition I am sure to pick up). But I digress.
So if Piper sought to put Machen (some dude I never heard of) alongside Athanasius and Owen, I am sure to pay attention.
While this is a book about their lives and their works, it was less about those men and more about defending the truth and "contending for our all".
I love the theory that is being passed around that we, as humans, have so evolved in our behavior in thinking. Yet, when I read history, I am blown away that we are still doing the same exact things that we were doing 10,000 years ago or even 100 years ago. We have not changed. Sin is still sin. We are still born depraved. Praise God that he still saves.
It is no truer than defending Biblical doctrine or 'what the Bible teaches' and it is no more needed in current age of the children of the Enlightenment (post-modern, whatever you want to call it).
What I see commonly is two thoughts: Orthodox Christians who assume the truth (dangerous) and Liberal Christians who fail to see that there is nothing new under the sun and continuous push for new truths and revelations that are not there (far more dangerous still). Yet, for those who do know the truth will not reach out to the Liberals or to the flock in a gentle, loving, compassionate way, they lash out using truth as a double-edge sword and leaving a heap of bodies in their wake.
Shall we take the examples of these three men who did not see the people who opposed the truth of God as enemies but as prisoners of war. This book is a staunch reminder that while we are to "preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, and exhort, with complete patience and teaching" (2 Timothy 4:1-5) but to be constant reminded that "... we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places." (Ephesians 6:12). Shall we follow in their footsteps in worshiping our sweet, loving God in Spirit and in truth? My hope in Christ alone and I pray that He will make all things right one day and he will do so despite our best efforts to separate ourselves from each other.
November 24, 2014
Athanasius was the Bishop of Alexandria who perhaps did more than anyone else to contend for the New Testament's revelation that God exists as three Persons. As Robert Letham says: "Athanasius' contribution to the theology of the Trinity can scarcely be overestimated. ... He turned discussion away from philosophical speculation and back to a biblical and theological basis."
J.I. Packer calls John Owen "the greatest among the Puritan theologians." He taught Theology at Oxford and served a chaplain to Oliver Cromwell.
His works are still very influential today. Famously King Charles II asked Owen why he often went to hear John Bunyan preach and Owen replied:
"Could I posses the tinker's abilities for preaching, please your majesty, I would gladly relinquish all my learning."
J. Gresham Machen was a Professor of New Testament at Princeton Seminary during the height of the Fundamentalist-Modernist Controversies. To that point Princeton had the greatest legacy of any seminary in history. But tragically the Board of Directors decided to side with the Modernists and Machen
left Princeton and started the Independent Board for Presbyterian Foreign Missions, Westminster Seminary and the Orthodox Presbyterian Church. Machen's book Christianity and Liberalism is still influential. In it he says: "Liberalism on the one hand and the religion of the historic church on the other are not two varieties of the same religion, but two distinct religions proceeding from altogether separate roots." However he declined invitations to teach at Dallas Seminary or be the President of Bryant College saying: "Thoroughly consistent Christianity, to my mind, is found only in the Reformed or Calvinist Faith; and consistent Christianity, I think, is the Christianity easiest to defend. Hence I never call myself a “Fundamentalist.” . . . what I prefer to call my self is not a “Fundamentalist” but a “Calvinist” – that is, an adherent of the Reformed Faith. As such I regard myself as standing in the great central current of the Church’s life – the current that flows down from the Word of God through Augustine and Calvin, and which has found noteworthy expression in America in the great tradition represented by Charles Hodge and Benjamin Breckinridge Warfield and the other representatives of the “Princeton School.”
J.I. Packer calls John Owen "the greatest among the Puritan theologians." He taught Theology at Oxford and served a chaplain to Oliver Cromwell.
His works are still very influential today. Famously King Charles II asked Owen why he often went to hear John Bunyan preach and Owen replied:
"Could I posses the tinker's abilities for preaching, please your majesty, I would gladly relinquish all my learning."
J. Gresham Machen was a Professor of New Testament at Princeton Seminary during the height of the Fundamentalist-Modernist Controversies. To that point Princeton had the greatest legacy of any seminary in history. But tragically the Board of Directors decided to side with the Modernists and Machen
left Princeton and started the Independent Board for Presbyterian Foreign Missions, Westminster Seminary and the Orthodox Presbyterian Church. Machen's book Christianity and Liberalism is still influential. In it he says: "Liberalism on the one hand and the religion of the historic church on the other are not two varieties of the same religion, but two distinct religions proceeding from altogether separate roots." However he declined invitations to teach at Dallas Seminary or be the President of Bryant College saying: "Thoroughly consistent Christianity, to my mind, is found only in the Reformed or Calvinist Faith; and consistent Christianity, I think, is the Christianity easiest to defend. Hence I never call myself a “Fundamentalist.” . . . what I prefer to call my self is not a “Fundamentalist” but a “Calvinist” – that is, an adherent of the Reformed Faith. As such I regard myself as standing in the great central current of the Church’s life – the current that flows down from the Word of God through Augustine and Calvin, and which has found noteworthy expression in America in the great tradition represented by Charles Hodge and Benjamin Breckinridge Warfield and the other representatives of the “Princeton School.”
December 31, 2011
This is the fourth book of the "Swans Are Not Silent" series by John Piper. For this book, up front I must say that the first chapter on the life of Athanasius is worth the price of admission! Piper, in around 40 pages, showed a true champion of the faith amongst the early church fathers whose stand was critical in securing some of the foundations and fundamentals of the faith in the early church, especially against Arianism. Through his numerous exiles or times of release, Athanasius stood firm till the end of his life. On John Owen, chapter two displayed a man whose life was so busy, hard to keep up with, and filled with sorrow. Some of my theological heroes love John Owen, who like Martyn Lloyd-Jones said was the Mt Everest of the saints of history (I'm a Jonathan Edwards guy myself), but I'm not sure Piper came through enough to grant him that lofty setting in this book. Certainly a larger biography could accomplish this. Yet, it was highly valuable reading to see where this man of God stood in his critical time and place in history. Chapter three on J. Gresham Machen was the weakest in my opinion. I do not mind covering theological greats whose endurance stood the test of time in their God-given moment to stand for truth. Machen's justifiable contentions with the theological liberals of his day were admirable and preserved a place for Evangelical thought in the intellectual arena. I only tend to think that others who stood the test in more critical moments would have been "better" choices. Two I have in mind include B.B. Warfield and Francis Schaeffer. In fact, Piper enters thoughts by Schaeffer regarding Christian love near the end of the book. Schaeffer is vital because not only did he attempt to demonstrate what true Christianity was and why it was missing in his times, he was also very prophetic in showing how the Evangelical church was entering an age of departure from truth itself. A malady of which the many Evangelical churches suffer with today. Still, this book, like the entire "Swans" series is worthy of a close page-by-page read for all who take their faith seriously - and those who have no faith to help them see how real men and women of faith direct their lives in the Lord.
August 17, 2013
One of the areas of Christian thought missing among most evangelicals is knowledge of church history. John Piper, in his “The Swans are Not Silent” book series, overviews the lives of Athanasius, John Owen, and J. Gresham Machen in this fascinating book. While none of the three men were perfect individuals, much application can be drawn from the lives of the world’s past defenders of Christian doctrine.
Theologically, Piper gives a helpful overview of the doctrines the men fought to defend. Athanasius and the deity of Christ, John Owen with pursuit of holiness and Christ’s sufficiency, and J. Gresham Machen with his battles against liberalism are all discussed and articulated. While plenty of readers will differ on opinion in less significant doctrines (for example, those less "Reformed" would not agree with Owen's view on limited/particular atonement), that should not put off one from considering this book. Clearly, all three men were biblical defenders for the sake of Christ and His Church.
Historically, there is an adequate amount of material to provide for a general overview of each life. Piper hits on the most significant issues while leaving plenty of material to be found in other works, namely biographies of these men. Less than two hundred pages, Contending for Our All gives just enough of a sample from these defenders of Christianity to spark interest for the consideration of a more substantial volume(s) for each of these men. Thus, if your desires pertain to a very thorough overview of one or all three of these men, you may need to check out Amazon or Ebay for a good deal on a very substantial biography(ies).
Practically, the twenty-first century Christian would be horribly misled to think that nothing can be learned from each of these men. Athanasius, Owen, and Machen all lived lives of ministry directly ignited by their passion for God’s Word. Thus, while all three men sought to defend orthodox theological positions, their beliefs of doctrine were not divorced from their ministerial endeavors. Subsequently, it is quite evident that the phrase “Contending for Our All” encompasses more than just doctrine. Therefore, obtaining and carefully reading Piper’s book on these heroes of the Christian faith would be a most excellent decision.
Theologically, Piper gives a helpful overview of the doctrines the men fought to defend. Athanasius and the deity of Christ, John Owen with pursuit of holiness and Christ’s sufficiency, and J. Gresham Machen with his battles against liberalism are all discussed and articulated. While plenty of readers will differ on opinion in less significant doctrines (for example, those less "Reformed" would not agree with Owen's view on limited/particular atonement), that should not put off one from considering this book. Clearly, all three men were biblical defenders for the sake of Christ and His Church.
Historically, there is an adequate amount of material to provide for a general overview of each life. Piper hits on the most significant issues while leaving plenty of material to be found in other works, namely biographies of these men. Less than two hundred pages, Contending for Our All gives just enough of a sample from these defenders of Christianity to spark interest for the consideration of a more substantial volume(s) for each of these men. Thus, if your desires pertain to a very thorough overview of one or all three of these men, you may need to check out Amazon or Ebay for a good deal on a very substantial biography(ies).
Practically, the twenty-first century Christian would be horribly misled to think that nothing can be learned from each of these men. Athanasius, Owen, and Machen all lived lives of ministry directly ignited by their passion for God’s Word. Thus, while all three men sought to defend orthodox theological positions, their beliefs of doctrine were not divorced from their ministerial endeavors. Subsequently, it is quite evident that the phrase “Contending for Our All” encompasses more than just doctrine. Therefore, obtaining and carefully reading Piper’s book on these heroes of the Christian faith would be a most excellent decision.
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