Jason Dollar . Net

Here is a book that requires very little introduction, and very little review. In fact, it might be said that Packer’s classic has been reviewed to death. Christians love it. People who read it, usually recommend it and call it a powerful work that helps them “know God” better.

I join the ranks of those who heartily recommend Knowing God to others. It is one of those books that dives into some of the depths of Christian theology, but that is written in such a way that is accessible to most folks, if they give it a good try. Not only that, but it is written to the end that Christians would know God better, and thus is not dead orthodoxy, but rather a tool the living God has used to draw many closer to His heart.

J.I. Packer is one of the best know evangelical theologians writing today. In July, Lord willing, Packer will turn 84 years of age, and continues to speak and teach as Professor of Theology at Regent College in Vancouver, British Columbia. He has written, or co-written, dozens of books and articles, but none better known than Knowing God, which was originally published in 1973, and has easily sold more than 1 million copies worldwide.

Essentially, the book is a collection of articles originally written for a magazine, but that have been brought together by virtue of their similar themes, mostly related to the person of God, and how people might know Him better, and come closer to Him.

The 22 chapters of the book are divided into 3 major sections: Know the Lord, Behold Your God! and If God Be For Us. It might seem obvious where Packer goes in each of these sections, and it is. The strength of the book is not in the uniqueness of the topics covered. Many hundreds, and indeed thousands of books cover these same basic topics. Rather, the strength of the book lies in how Packer discusses each issue. His style is exceedingly readable, and indeed, he has made theology, which has seen some very boring days, into a page-turner.

R.C. Sproul comments on the book: “A masterpiece by a master theologian.” Elisabeth Elliot, wife of martyred missionary Jim Elliot, has said of Knowing God that it “plainly shows us ordinary folks what it means to know God.”

If you are not in the habit of reading your Bible, you should repent, change your ways, and dig into God’s Word. This may not be the book for you if even the Bible does not hold your interest.

But if you are student of God’s Word, and you are longing for the heart of God, this book will only help in the process. Be aware that knowledge, for knowledge’s sake, is not Packer’s goal. So many Christians wrongly seek deeper knowledge just as some form of entertainment, or in order to be smarter than others. Neither Packer’s work, nor biblical truth will allow that. I suggest you read Packer, not because he is a well-known theologian, or a good writer, or to be able to show others how much theology you know, but rather to help you re-focus your attention on the God who lives eternally, and who saves graciously for His own glory.

For many more reviews on Amazon’s website, click the book cover below.