Knowing God by J. I. Packer Summary and Reviews
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Book Reviews of Knowing God
Book Review: Delve into the most sublime of all subjects!
Summary: 5 Stars
Engaging a discussion with J.I. Packer on this particular isssue has been most enriching! Packer's age shines through in this great work, and the reader is quickly made aware that he is conversing with a veteran in the field! Comprehensive in scope, this book walks down the hall of God's self-revelation and commences to invite us into the knowledge of the Holy. Doors are flinging open everywhere as this great teacher introduces us afresh to the dazzling splendor of God's character! He re-acquaints us with the exhilaration of gaping at His Majesty. This magnum opus from the good professor is at the top of my recommendation list. Time will prove what a vast contribution Packer has made in this masterpiece!Book Review: Essential Christian Read
Summary: 5 Stars
I recently had the opportunity to write a book review for our church newsletter. I was very appreciative to be asked do so.
Overview
Do you know God or just know about Him? Do you seek to know God through Scripture or through personal experience? Are you skeptical about the Bible being divine revelation from God?
In Knowing God, J.I. Packer sets out to answer who God is as revealed in the Bible and how we are to know Him. Packer asserts that `ignorance of God' is seen as the root weakness in today's church. He examines the ignorance of God's ways, and also as they relate to daily living. (12)
To address these issues Packer breaks the book into three main sections. I. Know the Lord, II. Behold Your God! III. If God Be For Us . . .
I. Know the Lord
Here Packer starts with the "Study of God," which is theology, and explains the importance of it. He also handles objections to studying theology. "Disregard the study of God, and you sentence yourself to stumble and blunder though life blindfolded... (19) Five basic principles for knowing God are laid out as a guide. In brief, they are 1. the Bible, 2. God is Lord, 3. God is Savior, 4. God is triune and 5. living by God's Word. (20)
Packer moves on to explain that this knowledge of God must be applied to daily living. The first section of the book will challenge the reader on what it means to know God and for God to know him.
II. Behold Your God!
This section surveys the characteristics of God and how they are displayed in His actions. This is the longest section of the book, and this brief description will not do justice to its depth. Packer moves from God being unchanging and majestic, and then through other characteristics such as wisdom, love, grace, justice, etc. He contrasts God and man, showing how man should act and think of himself in light of God's revelation of Himself.
Packer explains that while God gives wisdom about Himself to Christians, this does not give them the ability to understand the secret purposes of God. (101) He further explains that wisdom helps us depend on God and live godly lives.
Packer's in depth exploration on the love of God will help the reader gain a fuller understanding of what the Bible reveals in this area. For example, Packer explains that the phrase "God is love" is one of the most misunderstood statements in the Bible. (117) Following love is the understanding of God's grace. Packer explains that many churched people don't have a concept of grace. (129) "Grace and salvation belong together as cause and effect." (132)
Packer teaches that in trying to grasp the wisdom, love and grace of God there is the often overlooked wrath, justice, jealousy and the relation of goodness and severity. He explains that there are more references in Scripture of God's anger, fury and wrath than of God's love. (149) Packer paints a picture in these chapters so that the reader can see the greatness of God, and his own helplessness.
III. If God Be For Us...
Here Packer comes to the Gospel and the concept of adoption as children of God. "The Gospel tells us that our Creator has become our Redeemer." (189) Packer demonstrates that God is also our guide. He shows that, for many, guidance is a chronic problem. (230) He purports that the basic mistake is looking inward for a prompting of the Holy Spirit apart from the written word. (234) Packer reveals that the essence of Christianity is found by knowing God in Christ. (278)
Evaluation
Knowing God is a classic on the basics of who God is. First printed in 1973, it was re-printed in 1993 for its 20 year anniversary. The utility of this book ranges from personal devotion to small group settings. There is also an optional study guide available. Knowing God is practically useful by systematically spelling out who God is and how to know Him in a biblical framework.
New and maturing Christians will find this book useful yet challenging, and may find it helpful to work through it with a mentor. More mature Christians will also be fed by its teachings. Some readers may be challenged by the theological vocabulary that Packer uses, but this is another opportunity to learn and grow. Knowing God will help the reader understand biblically who God is and who we are in Jesus Christ. This book is not only relevant to today's Christian, it is an essential read.
J.I. Packer is Board of Governors' Professor, Theology, Regent College. MA, DPhil (Oxford). He recently celebrated is 82nd birthday.
Book Review: Essential Theology
Summary: 5 Stars
I have bought more than fifty copies of Knowing God for use in teaching the subject. Packer does an excellent job of helping us to have a relationship with the God of the universe rather than just knowing something about Him. I have never found another book that does as good a job of teaching meaningful theology to people who really want to know God.Book Review: Exceedingly Readable: Turns Theology into a Page-Turner
Summary: 5 Stars
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.
Book Review: Excellent Book
Summary: 5 Stars
"Knowing God" is one of the most eloquent, scripture-driven, inspiring books I have ever read. Chapter 19 on being "Sons of God" is one of the gems of the book, painting a glorious picture of God adopting sinners.