Knowing God by J. I. Packer Summary and Reviews
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Book Reviews of Knowing God
Book Review: A Classic - Sometimes
Summary: 3 Stars
Knowing God has been a Christian classic for over 35 years. Packer is often brilliant in his insight, like his chapters on God's will, knowledge and the struggle of the Christian life. These are comprehensive discussions on vital Christian life topics. At other times he gets so involved in the minutiae that it is difficult to stay with him. Examples include his sections on the 2nd commandment, Israel and the golden calf and the importance of adoption. Really a collection of a series of articles, I'm not sure I can recommend the book, as the gems, as wonderful as they are, can be buried fairly deep.Book Review: A Classic Head and Heart Book
Summary: 5 Stars
"Knowing God" by J. I. Packer will soon hit the quater-century mark in longetivity. Ever since its publication, it has been, correctly, considered a classic on theology proper (the doctrine of God the Father).
A primary reason for its instant classic (perhaps an oxymoron) status is Packer's smooth blending of head and heart. Though an undoubtedly one of the Evangelical world's most brilliant scholar/researcher, Packer's heart for God shines through in "Knowing God." His work is one-part A. W. Tozer and one-part John Calvin. Quite the powerful combination.
For a modern scholarly yet devoltional treatment of the person and works of God, one can hardly do better than "Knowing God."
Reviewer: Bob Kellemen, Ph.D., is the author of "Soul Physicians" and "Spiritual Friends."
Book Review: A Classic Study of Who God Really Is
Summary: 4 Stars
"What were we made for? To know God." ~ pg. 33
For the modern reader, "Knowing God" can be an intense experience. Unless you have been a Christian for most of your life and have attended regular services or read the Bible numerous times, much of the information can either be comforting or unsettling. If you are used to hearing about God being called "Universal Intelligence" or "A Higher Power," then this book will bring you to a startling reality of who God really is as described in the Bible. Yes he is merciful, loving, forgiving and wise. He is also at times jealous or can be filled with righteous indignation. He is both a judge and a loving father.
What we see as negative qualities are extremely well explained by J. I. Packer. I especially enjoyed reading about how God can be jealous without sinning.
Reading "Knowing God" can be a humbling and enlightening experience. God is presented in all His glory and is revealed in God the Father, Christ the Son and the Holy Spirit. For the most part, J. I. Packer focuses on God the Father and Jesus Christ and briefly mentions the importance of the Holy Spirit.
Each chapter comes across as a sermon or essay in which multiple topics combine into a coherent whole. There are some difficult areas like the explanations of how God judged people in the New and Old Testaments. There are also sections on why Christians suffer and how you can lead a more godly life despite trials and tribulations.
One of the most interesting topics presented is how Christians can gain wisdom. Steps are given and can be easily followed.
At one point in the book the author describes the reading of the Bible as somewhat depressing at times. I found this true while reading the Old Testament mostly because there is so much violence and sin. Yet now that I'm at the Psalms things seem to be looking up. The author then says we are fools not to read the Bible. So what choice do you really have but to endure certain books and delve more deeply into others?
While reading "Knowing God" you may experience a wide variety of emotions like anger, distress, guilt, fear, awe, relief and love. If you doubt your salvation or feel there is no way God could forgive all your sins you will especially enjoy reading the chapter on Romans.
For the most part, J. I. Packer focuses intensely on each point being made and rarely includes any illustrations. He also doesn't avoid any difficult topics yet spends only a small amount of time talking about heaven and hell.
Overall, I felt this was one of the best books I've ever read about God. It is truly a classic every Christian should find time to read. It took me two days to read but I'd suggest you take a week because there is so much information to digest.
~The Rebecca Review
Book Review: A Classic Treatise on "knowing" the God of the Bible
Summary: 5 Stars
This book is considered a contemporary Christian classic in Christian circles. The list of names who have endorsed and praised this book is like a 'who's who' of Christian thought. Needless to say, this book has quite a reputation to live up to. After reading it, my opinion is that it does indeed live up to its billing.This book is a lengthy, methodical, and comprehensive analysis of the God of the Bible, and how we should respond to what the Bible says about Him. At the outset, Packer draws a compelling distinction between 'knowing God', and simply knowing 'about' God. The rest of his book then seeks to flood the reader with knowing God and how awesome a task this really is.
On an overall scale, I took two main things away from this book, both of which are desperately needed in the body of Christ today:
1) To its credit, this book does not sugarcoat God. Packer directly takes on the conventional practice of defining God exclusively as a 'God of love' in a humanly subjective sense. This book clearly demonstrates that God is indeed a God of love, but in ways that are not regularly talked about in our churches or felt by professing believers. Further, Packer does justice to God by discussing at length the judicial aspect of God as repeatedly discussed in Scripture. Any analysis of God that's even remotely worthwhile will enter into this domain. Packer does it without apology and presents God not as a benevolent and non offensive deity that doesn't care enough about sin and evil to judge it accordingly (and to then call this kind of god a god of love), but as a God who is zealously interested in His creation and wants human beings to live upright lives and that because of His loving holiness, cannot allow evil and injustice to go unpunished. This concept is essential to any real understanding of God, and understanding that when the idea of 'God is love' is meant to communicate the idea that God should never judge anybody or anything because it would somehow be unloving for the Creator of the universe to do so, that this kind of 'love' does not resemble the God of the Bible, and that we should be thankful that God's love does not resemble an approach as unloving, apathetic, and crippling as this.
2) Packer, by analyzing the nature and character of God, also spends considerable time analyzing the nature and character of human beings. And similar to his ongoing examination of God, Packer does not sugarcoat his analysis of the human condition. Throughout the book, Packer's essential theme is that God is completely holy and perfect, and that human beings aren't, and that as human beings, we would be wise to continually recognize the difference between us and God. I think Packer impeccably drives home the point that as human beings, we simply can't have an adequate appreciation for God's holiness and love for us until we come to grips with how sinful and unholy we are, and how this sinful nature manifests itself in the world we live in each day.
On both of these points, Packer uses straight talk, straight out of Scripture. Packer is clearly writing in response to what he believes is a systematic watering down within the body of Christ of the holiness of God and the hopelessness of humanity outside of God's grace. Packer clearly believes that large segments of the body of Christ today are scared to preach these things or declare personal allegiance to such ideas, because they seem so 'unenlightened', 'outdated', or bordering too close to the fire and brimstone kind of messages that folks today recoil at. So as not to be misunderstood, I don't believe this book to be a fire and brimstone book. But I do believe it be a level headed and thoroughly Bible-based examination of God and humanity. And while certain parts of this book may be uncomfortable for some to read (I was a little uncomfortable with some of what was written), it was really clear to me that the thorough and genuine joy, hope, and purpose of the Christian life is best achieved when we understand both God and ourselves in light of what Scripture says about both. Without 'knowing' this, we are inevitably left with a reduced view of the perfection of God, as well as an inflated view of ourselves. And this worldview is very dangerous, and also very debilitating. Such a worldview provides scant comfort when we are suffering or enduring trials and difficulties. But a true knowledge of God, as Packer so eloquently shows, leads to an entirely different perspective and can truly lead to a dependence on God that knows no limits as to the benefits we will receive from such a dependence.
A great book, a true classic. A must have, in my opinion.
Book Review: A MUST read
Summary: 5 Stars
Packer dispells the confusion about what is essential in a relationship with the only true and living God, Jesus Christ.