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J. I. Packer: An Evangelical Life
Over the last sixty years, J. I. Packer has exerted a steady and remarkable influence on evangelicalism. In this biography, well-known scholar Leland Ryken acquaints us with Packer’s life, heart, and mind, tracing the outworking of God’s sovereign plan through his childhood, intellectual pursuits, and professional life. Filled with personal anecdotes and little-known facts, this appreciative volume sheds light on the key themes that have given shape to Packer’s life and thought, highlighting his enduring significance for Christians today.
431 pages, Hardcover
First published October 1, 2015
About the author
Leland Ryken
100 books119 followersDr. Ryken has served on the faculty of Wheaton College since 1968. He has published over thirty books and more than one hundred articles and essays, devoting much of his scholarship to Bible translations and the study of the Bible as literature. He served as Literary Chairman for the English Standard Version (ESV) of the Bible and in 2003 received the distinguished Gutenberg Award for his contributions to education, writing, and the understanding of the Bible.
He is the father of Philip Graham Ryken
He is the father of Philip Graham Ryken
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November 23, 2015
One of my favorite evangelical jokes showed up in a Christianity Today a number of years ago. It was an ad for a (fake) new book called The Collected Blurbs of J. I. Packer. The joke, if you don’t already get it, is funny on two counts: Packer is always blurbing books, and he’s always having his occasional works collected by editors.
Because Packer is so ubiquitous in evangelical literature, he's one of those figures you think you know. But as I listened to his biography I put together the narrative which made much better sense of the pieces I’d gathered.
Paradoxes
But not perfect sense. While the picture of a humble, godly, gifted, diligent Christian is quite clear, and fills me with genuine gratitude, there are these "paradoxes" (Ryken’s word): a man who helped bring the Puritans back and yet became one of the major architects of Evangelicals and Catholics Together, a man who never separated from the Anglican church until it finally separated from him (he then joined another Anglican group). I was disappointed to hear Ryken at the beginning of the book disclaiming any necessity to explain these paradoxes, but I'll come back to this.
I've read Knowing God, and The Quest for Godliness. I've read Packer's introduction to Owen's The Death of Death in the Death of Christ—in it I find a model of excellent theological writing (even if I disagree with one point!). And I was moved by Ryken's biography to finally pick up Packer’s “Fundamentalism" and the Word of God. I was indeed struck immediately by the paradoxes that this first book of his (1958) introduces into the Packer life narrative. Packer wrote,
I was also struck by how little seems to have changed since Packer wrote that book: his taxonomy of tradition, reason, and Scripture as major loci for religious authority is as brilliantly simple and helpfully descriptive now as it was then. Ryken gives a personal aside in which he tells how helpful this was for him, too, as a young man. I admit I cannot understand why Packer seems to have changed when the situation he so ably describes—I think—hasn't.
But Ryken later did do some of the work he said he didn't have to do. He provided some helpful, though partial, explanations for these paradoxes of Packer's life. The main one was pointing me to Packer's own defenses of his position, in the essay "A Kind of Noah's Ark" and "The Evangelical Anglican Identity Problem." I listened to the biography (all the way through); I did not read it, so my memory may not be serving me, but the only substantive self-defense I remember Packer giving within the pages of Ryken's biography was an allusion to Christ's command to the church of Sardis: "strengthen what remains" (Rev. 3:2). Packer felt called to bloom in the denomination where he was planted, pretty much no matter what. Rkyen points out that the Puritans, too, in fact, stayed within the Anglican church. And quite a number of the men who produced the Westminster Confession were Anglicans.
But how a Packer who saw his job, and that of all the “plumbers and sewage men” who are called to do theology for the church, as “ridding the church of theological effluent”—how such a man signed ECT, remained Anglican, and retained an editorship of a Christianity Today that Ryken himself perceived as "more liberal than" Packer, I still don't really understand. Understanding these paradoxes was not my main goal in listening to the biography, though it did help—but I've got more study to do.
The Book
The book is a little indulgently long—its length, not so much its content, was what made me think a few times “yes, we’re in hagiography land…” But Ryken is willing to make criticisms, and he most certainly seems to have done his homework. Ryken writes smoothly, and I very much enjoyed his little asides about a successful teaching career and about service to the church through scholarship. I also enjoyed the little anecdotes about the way Packer took stairs two at a time during the meetings of the ESV committee, and the characteristically Packerish way he argued for his points in their translation work.
If I got one major reward for my hours of listening to this book on the bus, on my bike, and while doing dishes, it was this model of a man who sought above all to serve the church, a man who entered the lists time and time again but didn't seem to develop a pugnacious spirit. Indeed, in that 1958 book he said that "Fundamentalism was...somewhat starved and stunted...—shrivelled, coarsened and in part deformed under the strain of battle" (33). Packer, on the other hand, seems clearly to have been motivated in controversy by love for Christ's body. I delight to give honor to whom honor is due, while urging the Christian church not to relegate the paradoxes of Packer's life to the footnotes of history. Ryken, I thought, did a good job keeping the honors and the paradoxes before the reader.
(The reader for the Christian Audio version of the book, David Cochran Heath, was great. Unobtrusive, as always.)
Because Packer is so ubiquitous in evangelical literature, he's one of those figures you think you know. But as I listened to his biography I put together the narrative which made much better sense of the pieces I’d gathered.
Paradoxes
But not perfect sense. While the picture of a humble, godly, gifted, diligent Christian is quite clear, and fills me with genuine gratitude, there are these "paradoxes" (Ryken’s word): a man who helped bring the Puritans back and yet became one of the major architects of Evangelicals and Catholics Together, a man who never separated from the Anglican church until it finally separated from him (he then joined another Anglican group). I was disappointed to hear Ryken at the beginning of the book disclaiming any necessity to explain these paradoxes, but I'll come back to this.
I've read Knowing God, and The Quest for Godliness. I've read Packer's introduction to Owen's The Death of Death in the Death of Christ—in it I find a model of excellent theological writing (even if I disagree with one point!). And I was moved by Ryken's biography to finally pick up Packer’s “Fundamentalism" and the Word of God. I was indeed struck immediately by the paradoxes that this first book of his (1958) introduces into the Packer life narrative. Packer wrote,
Types of Christianity which regard as authoritative either tradition (as Romanism does) or reason (as Liberalism does) are perversions of the faith, for they locate the seat of authority, not in the Word of God, but in the words of men (21).
I was also struck by how little seems to have changed since Packer wrote that book: his taxonomy of tradition, reason, and Scripture as major loci for religious authority is as brilliantly simple and helpfully descriptive now as it was then. Ryken gives a personal aside in which he tells how helpful this was for him, too, as a young man. I admit I cannot understand why Packer seems to have changed when the situation he so ably describes—I think—hasn't.
But Ryken later did do some of the work he said he didn't have to do. He provided some helpful, though partial, explanations for these paradoxes of Packer's life. The main one was pointing me to Packer's own defenses of his position, in the essay "A Kind of Noah's Ark" and "The Evangelical Anglican Identity Problem." I listened to the biography (all the way through); I did not read it, so my memory may not be serving me, but the only substantive self-defense I remember Packer giving within the pages of Ryken's biography was an allusion to Christ's command to the church of Sardis: "strengthen what remains" (Rev. 3:2). Packer felt called to bloom in the denomination where he was planted, pretty much no matter what. Rkyen points out that the Puritans, too, in fact, stayed within the Anglican church. And quite a number of the men who produced the Westminster Confession were Anglicans.
But how a Packer who saw his job, and that of all the “plumbers and sewage men” who are called to do theology for the church, as “ridding the church of theological effluent”—how such a man signed ECT, remained Anglican, and retained an editorship of a Christianity Today that Ryken himself perceived as "more liberal than" Packer, I still don't really understand. Understanding these paradoxes was not my main goal in listening to the biography, though it did help—but I've got more study to do.
The Book
The book is a little indulgently long—its length, not so much its content, was what made me think a few times “yes, we’re in hagiography land…” But Ryken is willing to make criticisms, and he most certainly seems to have done his homework. Ryken writes smoothly, and I very much enjoyed his little asides about a successful teaching career and about service to the church through scholarship. I also enjoyed the little anecdotes about the way Packer took stairs two at a time during the meetings of the ESV committee, and the characteristically Packerish way he argued for his points in their translation work.
If I got one major reward for my hours of listening to this book on the bus, on my bike, and while doing dishes, it was this model of a man who sought above all to serve the church, a man who entered the lists time and time again but didn't seem to develop a pugnacious spirit. Indeed, in that 1958 book he said that "Fundamentalism was...somewhat starved and stunted...—shrivelled, coarsened and in part deformed under the strain of battle" (33). Packer, on the other hand, seems clearly to have been motivated in controversy by love for Christ's body. I delight to give honor to whom honor is due, while urging the Christian church not to relegate the paradoxes of Packer's life to the footnotes of history. Ryken, I thought, did a good job keeping the honors and the paradoxes before the reader.
(The reader for the Christian Audio version of the book, David Cochran Heath, was great. Unobtrusive, as always.)
January 31, 2019
Really enjoyed this bio. Ryken takes a unique approach to examining the life and thought of Packer, first covering the highlights of his life from childhood to present day, then largely focusing on thematic analyses of Packer's theology, career trajectory, publishing history, controversialism, etc. This "topical" approach does lend itself to some redundancies in the book, but I didn't mind them so much given my interest in the subject. Packer is the last of the 20th-century's evangelical giants, and thus learning more about him becomes most thinking Protestants. Ryken's book is an excellent start.
June 30, 2023
A very enjoyable read. Ryken does an admirable job covering both the life and the legacy of Dr. Packer in its various facets. In its comprehensiveness, it can be a little repetitive, but I like that because my memory needs a few more knocks to get the information to stay there.
Dr. Packer is simply a fascinating man. He confounds simple categorization and he lived a singular life. While he may have been a disappointment to some, I think it's fair to say he was profoundly impactful to many more. He fought losing battles and seemed to lose far more than he won, but Christians do not operate on those pragmatic terms, and it was refreshing to read about a man who was content and constant in his vocation even after facing many disappointments.
As I get older, I'm beginning to understand his view of things much more clearly. Ryken carefully and sympathetically provides helpful historical context and personal insight into Packer's decisions and emphases, which has moved me further along in personally sympathizing with Packer's positions. I never understood his position on ECT, nor why he split with Lloyd-Jones in the late 60s, and more recently I did not know why he stayed in the Anglican Church when it disappointed him and other evangelicals so often. Though the scope of his life does not visibly bear the wisdom of his decisions and actions, only eternity will tell of the meaning of the life of this latter-day conformist puritan. But, I can better understand now the value of the heritage he encountered in Anglicanism, especially in its formularies, and I can better understand now the value of venerable institutions and fighting for them. Abandoning them is not a decision that should be made lightly, because developing strong institutions is profoundly difficult. Packer believed the truth was on his side, and he was convinced that evangelical arguments could win the day and that he and others could pick up the task of the puritans in purifying the church from within. Though he did not live to see it happen, I have to admire the confidence, courage, and effort it took to do that.
Gratefully, Dr. Packer was a servant to the whole church, and this biography brings that out so clearly. He is one of those chiefly responsible for the ESV, and he gave us "Knowing God" and "Evangelism and the Sovereignty of God" along with many other books for all evangelicals. His contributions to Christianity Today opened up the world of the Puritans and Reformed theology to new audiences. His revitalization of the study of the Puritans is, along with the ESV, his greatest contribution. He invested in countless lives and gave himself for the church. In my estimation, it was a life very well lived and one well told in this book.
My one complaint with this book is that it is very light on his home life. How was he regarded as a husband and father? What about as a friend? There are only hints given here, and hopefully it is something that will be picked up in future biographies. I will say that the account of how he met and married his wife was very sweet and added some nice color to the story that was otherwise dominated by professional and theological issues.
It was a delight to read. I leave the book with greater understanding of the man and a much deeper admiration. I'm inspired to follow him in his pursuit of holiness, following the well-trod paths of our forebears in their "quest for godliness". I'm grateful that though dead, he still speaks through his writing. I know I have much to learn from him. Tolle lege.
Dr. Packer is simply a fascinating man. He confounds simple categorization and he lived a singular life. While he may have been a disappointment to some, I think it's fair to say he was profoundly impactful to many more. He fought losing battles and seemed to lose far more than he won, but Christians do not operate on those pragmatic terms, and it was refreshing to read about a man who was content and constant in his vocation even after facing many disappointments.
As I get older, I'm beginning to understand his view of things much more clearly. Ryken carefully and sympathetically provides helpful historical context and personal insight into Packer's decisions and emphases, which has moved me further along in personally sympathizing with Packer's positions. I never understood his position on ECT, nor why he split with Lloyd-Jones in the late 60s, and more recently I did not know why he stayed in the Anglican Church when it disappointed him and other evangelicals so often. Though the scope of his life does not visibly bear the wisdom of his decisions and actions, only eternity will tell of the meaning of the life of this latter-day conformist puritan. But, I can better understand now the value of the heritage he encountered in Anglicanism, especially in its formularies, and I can better understand now the value of venerable institutions and fighting for them. Abandoning them is not a decision that should be made lightly, because developing strong institutions is profoundly difficult. Packer believed the truth was on his side, and he was convinced that evangelical arguments could win the day and that he and others could pick up the task of the puritans in purifying the church from within. Though he did not live to see it happen, I have to admire the confidence, courage, and effort it took to do that.
Gratefully, Dr. Packer was a servant to the whole church, and this biography brings that out so clearly. He is one of those chiefly responsible for the ESV, and he gave us "Knowing God" and "Evangelism and the Sovereignty of God" along with many other books for all evangelicals. His contributions to Christianity Today opened up the world of the Puritans and Reformed theology to new audiences. His revitalization of the study of the Puritans is, along with the ESV, his greatest contribution. He invested in countless lives and gave himself for the church. In my estimation, it was a life very well lived and one well told in this book.
My one complaint with this book is that it is very light on his home life. How was he regarded as a husband and father? What about as a friend? There are only hints given here, and hopefully it is something that will be picked up in future biographies. I will say that the account of how he met and married his wife was very sweet and added some nice color to the story that was otherwise dominated by professional and theological issues.
It was a delight to read. I leave the book with greater understanding of the man and a much deeper admiration. I'm inspired to follow him in his pursuit of holiness, following the well-trod paths of our forebears in their "quest for godliness". I'm grateful that though dead, he still speaks through his writing. I know I have much to learn from him. Tolle lege.
January 4, 2022
A really interesting approach at biography. Ryken essentially squishes together a few different kinds of biographies, so the timeline gets bunched up. It could get repetitive for some, but I really appreciated the different angles Ryken takes. He considers Packer's life from the vantage point of simply telling the story of the events throughout, but he also considers Packer's life from the vantage point of literary influences, theological influences, ecclesial influences, and controversies. It was written before Packer died, which means a revision is probably appropriate now.
I recommend. But not to any baptists who are thinking about crossing the Tiber over into Anglicanism. If there's a more compelling voice to sing that siren song than J.I. Packer, I don't know who it is!
I recommend. But not to any baptists who are thinking about crossing the Tiber over into Anglicanism. If there's a more compelling voice to sing that siren song than J.I. Packer, I don't know who it is!
September 2, 2022
Reading this book will make you interested in the history of evangelicalism in the last 100 years. Ryken tells this history through the life of J.I Packer, highlighting significant moments which occurred in conferences, doctrinal statements and Packer’s publications.
I found part two ‘the man’ particularly interesting, as we learned about Packer’s personal life, from what music he enjoyed to novels he read in his spare time.
Packer wrote many academic articles and arguments in his work as a professional theologian. But he also wrote to the common person, on the topics of defending the Christian faith and applying Biblical principles to the Christian’s daily life. The books ‘knowing God’ and ‘fundamentalism and the word of God’ are Packer books I would like to read now.
You could read just the first two sections (the narrative biography) without reading the third (themes of his life).
I thank God for Packer’s life and books. They have helped me to learn more about God and in turn, now I can love and praise God all the more.
I found part two ‘the man’ particularly interesting, as we learned about Packer’s personal life, from what music he enjoyed to novels he read in his spare time.
Packer wrote many academic articles and arguments in his work as a professional theologian. But he also wrote to the common person, on the topics of defending the Christian faith and applying Biblical principles to the Christian’s daily life. The books ‘knowing God’ and ‘fundamentalism and the word of God’ are Packer books I would like to read now.
You could read just the first two sections (the narrative biography) without reading the third (themes of his life).
I thank God for Packer’s life and books. They have helped me to learn more about God and in turn, now I can love and praise God all the more.
May 28, 2024
The more I learn about Packer the more I think he’d be one of my heroes if I knew him. It seems like he was a man true to his conscience no matter the consequences, someone who surely lived out one of Piper’s charges, “You march to a biblical drum and let the chips fall where they will”.
On one hand, Packer was a distinguished academic/writer, defended biblical inerrancy (arguably more than anyone in his generation), promoted a love for the Puritans, and fought against increasing liberalism in the church at the frequent disapproval of many in his own denomination. On the other hand, he was a lifelong member of the Anglican Church, was open to theistic evolution, and was known for having an ecumenical bent in his life and ministry. He didn’t fit nicely into any box, and ended up being loved and shunned by many of the same people throughout different points in his life.
I’m still learning about his life and I’m sure there’s things I would do differently, but I strongly admire and want to emulate his undying commitment to obey his conscience as it was submitted to God’s Word, come what may.
On one hand, Packer was a distinguished academic/writer, defended biblical inerrancy (arguably more than anyone in his generation), promoted a love for the Puritans, and fought against increasing liberalism in the church at the frequent disapproval of many in his own denomination. On the other hand, he was a lifelong member of the Anglican Church, was open to theistic evolution, and was known for having an ecumenical bent in his life and ministry. He didn’t fit nicely into any box, and ended up being loved and shunned by many of the same people throughout different points in his life.
I’m still learning about his life and I’m sure there’s things I would do differently, but I strongly admire and want to emulate his undying commitment to obey his conscience as it was submitted to God’s Word, come what may.
June 2, 2024
I love JI Packer, he was a complicated man who served Christ imperfectly but faithfully- so this is not a criticism of him. This is just criticism of this book. I’d recommend one probably read Mcgraths book since Ryken quotes from it so much. Makes you wonder why he even wrote this one?
Also, Ryken’s handling of Packers controversies do a disservice to readers when he does not include why people disagreed with Packers decisions or even what Packer said that elicited strong reactions, but only includes people’s criticisms of him. That made this book a frustrating read and made me not want to read any Leland Ryken books.
This is the same way I feel after I read Sproul’s biography. I wish non evangelical authors wrote evangelical biographies so you could get non hagiographic books lol
Also, Ryken’s handling of Packers controversies do a disservice to readers when he does not include why people disagreed with Packers decisions or even what Packer said that elicited strong reactions, but only includes people’s criticisms of him. That made this book a frustrating read and made me not want to read any Leland Ryken books.
This is the same way I feel after I read Sproul’s biography. I wish non evangelical authors wrote evangelical biographies so you could get non hagiographic books lol
September 20, 2016
This could have had more stars - it's about 3.5 as it stands - but I felt the writing format and style betrayed the content somewhat.
Packer is a fascinating man - I particularly enjoyed the first part of this biography which is a standard chronological account of Packer's life. It reads like a brief history of all the key moments in UK Evangelicalism from the 1940s onwards. Fascinating.
I was less convinced by the other two parts of the biography, although part 2 - a more in-depth look at the man - did have some lovely insights. Part 3 - a look at themes from his life - contained a lot of repetition and bullet-pointed lists, but the chapter on controversy was worthwhile.
While the theory of writing a biography from 3 angles sounded fine, I found it a little bit cumbersome, with too much repetition. I also found the author's voice unnecessarily intrusive--I don't recall that being the case in Ryken's 'Worldly Saints'.
A book well worth reading, but I found I had to push myself to finish the third section.
Packer is a fascinating man - I particularly enjoyed the first part of this biography which is a standard chronological account of Packer's life. It reads like a brief history of all the key moments in UK Evangelicalism from the 1940s onwards. Fascinating.
I was less convinced by the other two parts of the biography, although part 2 - a more in-depth look at the man - did have some lovely insights. Part 3 - a look at themes from his life - contained a lot of repetition and bullet-pointed lists, but the chapter on controversy was worthwhile.
While the theory of writing a biography from 3 angles sounded fine, I found it a little bit cumbersome, with too much repetition. I also found the author's voice unnecessarily intrusive--I don't recall that being the case in Ryken's 'Worldly Saints'.
A book well worth reading, but I found I had to push myself to finish the third section.
April 23, 2022
Really well done biography of J.I. Packer. Ryken structures it by unpacking the story of his life, who he was as a person, and consistent themes that occur and reoccur in his life and thought. As someone who's already a Packer fan boy, the book helped me appreciate him afresh (I ended up buying like ten Packer books I hadn't read lol), and gave context to what prompted Packer to write his classics. Particularly helpful was Ryken's explanations of Packer's work with Anglo-Catholics, what he was and was not trying to accomplish in this, and where some of the criticisms possibly missed what he was up to. Sitting with a giant like Packer in terms of gentle Christian character, insightful thinking, and a ridiculously high output has left me coming away from this book challenged and inspired. A wonderful tribute to this 20th century Christian theologian and gentleman.
February 18, 2021
Ryken’s approach to this biography is less a desire to convey facts and dates but rather to give shape and accuracy to the person of JI Packer (one of my faves). I thoroughly enjoyed this and learned so much.
November 21, 2018
It was great to meet this man of God this semester. The biography is well-written and introduces us to Packer the man. Now, I feel like he's Packer the friend.
May 12, 2021
Certainly an informative biography, but I felt the biographer kept getting in the way of his subject matter. Ryken's writing style and organization left something to be desired.
December 19, 2023
Riveting. Loved every word of it.
April 4, 2019
What Russ said. Reader was fine.
February 24, 2024
5/5 for the man, an evangelical giant. 2/5 for he author, this work was unnecessarily repetitive.
April 9, 2016
I greatly appreciate and respect the life and ministry of J.I. Packer. Unfortunately, this biography by Ryken only presents a decent (but not great) picture into the life of such a great man. Time and again Ryken unnecessarily inserts his authorial voice into the book. I walked away knowing more about the author than was helpful. Further, the book suffers from what I consider a poor layout and needless repetition. The book isn't terrible, but given the great life of Packer, I was hoping for so much more.
November 3, 2015
Like countless others, Packer's writings have had a tremendous impact on me over the years -- "Knowing God," "Faithfulness and Holiness," "Keep in Step with the Spirit," "A Quest for Godliness," "'Fundamentalism' and the Word of God," "Evangelism and the Sovereignty of God," "Guard Us, Guide Us." In short, everything he writes I eat up. Here's a sympathetic, often thematic, biography of Packer with fascinating tidbits throughout.
February 11, 2017
This is the laziest biography I've ever read. Ryken has a love affair with ctrl+c, copying long passages from Packer's own works and MCGrath's short biography. I give it FIVE stars for its subject, whom deserves a much better biography; and one star for the writing itself.
This should have been titled, "JI Packer: An Evangelical Bibliography."
This should have been titled, "JI Packer: An Evangelical Bibliography."
July 22, 2020
This is a well-written and researched portrait of the great evangelical theologian J.I. Packer, written by Leland Ryken, who teaches at Wheaton College. Throughout the book, which is divided into three major sections, Ryken calls out his personal connections to the then 89 year-old Packer (teaching, writing, the Puritans), calling them kindred spirits. He writes about Packer, warts and all, with a great deal of affection, calling him a “modern day Puritan”.
Ryken approaches the significant task of writing about Packer’s life and accomplishments by dividing the book into sections looking at his life, Packer the person and life-long themes. Some, especially those who have read Alistair McGrath’s 1998 J.I. Packer: A Biography (which Ryken writes that he is indebted to and often references of which I have also read) will be familiar with the biographical details of Packer’s life. I was most interested in the controversies in Packer’s life (which Ryken details in the final section on lifelong themes), especially those which led to a breaking of fellowship with Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones and R.C. Sproul, two of my theological heroes. Both of those controversies were related to Packer’s ecumenism. Packer looks to the great preacher George Whitefield as his role model for ecumenism. Packer’s split with Lloyd-Jones came after his participation in the book Growing into Union. I didn’t know previously that the two had planned to meet in 1981, but Lloyd-Jones died before that meeting could take place. Packer’s split with Sproul, which is ongoing, was over his participation in the Evangelical and Catholics Together (ECT) effort in 1994.
Packer sees his role as the General Editor of the English Standard Version Bible Translation Team as his most significant accomplishment. He has long been a member of the Anglican Church, having faced controversy in that church in England and Canada.
Ryken writes about the providential circumstances of Packer meeting his future wife, a nurse. Surprisingly, Packer’s wife is mentioned relatively little in this 432 page book.
Although Packer has had many roles, he sees his primary calling as theological education. He is best known for his 1973 book Knowing God. He moved to Canada and Regent College in 1979. He began a role with the magazine Christianity Today in 1958. He was evicted as a minister in the Canadian Anglican Church for his stance against homosexuality.
In part two on Packer the person, Ryken talks about Packer’s generosity, being a champion for the ordinary person, a traditionalist and a latter day Puritan. I enjoyed the insights about the lesser known Packer, including his love for jazz music and murder mysteries.
In part three on lifelong themes, Ryken looks at themes such as the Bible, the Puritans, writing, Anglicanism, theology, preaching and controversies.
The book ends with an Afterword from Packer himself.
This significant book is a detailed and respectful look at the life, work and person of one of the most significant evangelical figures of our lifetime, who died on July 17, 2020. Ryken offers helpful summaries at the end of each major section.
Ryken approaches the significant task of writing about Packer’s life and accomplishments by dividing the book into sections looking at his life, Packer the person and life-long themes. Some, especially those who have read Alistair McGrath’s 1998 J.I. Packer: A Biography (which Ryken writes that he is indebted to and often references of which I have also read) will be familiar with the biographical details of Packer’s life. I was most interested in the controversies in Packer’s life (which Ryken details in the final section on lifelong themes), especially those which led to a breaking of fellowship with Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones and R.C. Sproul, two of my theological heroes. Both of those controversies were related to Packer’s ecumenism. Packer looks to the great preacher George Whitefield as his role model for ecumenism. Packer’s split with Lloyd-Jones came after his participation in the book Growing into Union. I didn’t know previously that the two had planned to meet in 1981, but Lloyd-Jones died before that meeting could take place. Packer’s split with Sproul, which is ongoing, was over his participation in the Evangelical and Catholics Together (ECT) effort in 1994.
Packer sees his role as the General Editor of the English Standard Version Bible Translation Team as his most significant accomplishment. He has long been a member of the Anglican Church, having faced controversy in that church in England and Canada.
Ryken writes about the providential circumstances of Packer meeting his future wife, a nurse. Surprisingly, Packer’s wife is mentioned relatively little in this 432 page book.
Although Packer has had many roles, he sees his primary calling as theological education. He is best known for his 1973 book Knowing God. He moved to Canada and Regent College in 1979. He began a role with the magazine Christianity Today in 1958. He was evicted as a minister in the Canadian Anglican Church for his stance against homosexuality.
In part two on Packer the person, Ryken talks about Packer’s generosity, being a champion for the ordinary person, a traditionalist and a latter day Puritan. I enjoyed the insights about the lesser known Packer, including his love for jazz music and murder mysteries.
In part three on lifelong themes, Ryken looks at themes such as the Bible, the Puritans, writing, Anglicanism, theology, preaching and controversies.
The book ends with an Afterword from Packer himself.
This significant book is a detailed and respectful look at the life, work and person of one of the most significant evangelical figures of our lifetime, who died on July 17, 2020. Ryken offers helpful summaries at the end of each major section.
December 7, 2016
Personally, I enjoyed the first part more, which is a chronological look into this scholar of a man! The last part of this biography highlight what the author called “Lifelong Themes.” He took themes like the Bible, the Puritans Packer’s Writing, his Anglicanism, his Theology, what Packer believes about the Minister’s Calling and Preaching, and a bit of Controversy that Packer was a part of (he had his share of it!), and wrote about what Packer borough to these themes. At the beginning of this part, it was a bit of a drag (probably because I wanted to read the chronological biography method instead), but after I compiled my notes after reading the book, I got a good grasp about where Packer landed.
Here are a few (it may be a lot!) quotes that are insightful to me:
First sentences:
When we consider great and famous people, it is natural to think of them as having always been great and famous. After all, that is how we know them. The J.I Packer that we know certainly ranks as a great and famous man. -19
The classical author whom Packer “most admired” was the Greek dramatist Aeschylus, whom Packer regarded as a matter of language, similar to William Shakespeare in English literature. In Packer;s words, “Aeschylus handled language in a forcible way and I always admire writers who handle language in a forcible way.” -35
Packer beat the deadline for submitting three copies of his final dissertation by a mere three days. This happened in the week of Packer’s marriage to Kit Mullett. My son Philip Ryken, who wrote an Oxford dissertation on the Puritan Thomas Boston, has told me it has become virtually a hallowed ritual among evangelical scholars studying in Oxford to ask that Packer’s dissertation be “fetched from the stacks” for them to hold in their hands. Philip also informs me that the list of people who have thus checked out the dissertation reads like a who’s who of well-known scholars. -65
After six months, Leather offered Packer a critique of his preaching. He told Packer that some people found his sermons hard to follow. Leather also said, “Look, you are too serious when you preach for anyone to take you seriously. God gave you humor. Use it.” Packer accepted the challenge, claiming many years later that “I’ve been planting jokes in my sermons ever since, and I rather think it’s a good idea.” -73
The faculty members did not eat lunch with the students, but Packer circumvented that segregation by eating breakfast with them. The students evolved a protocol whereby he was allowed to finish his first cup of coffee uninterrupted. Then a student would pose what McGrath calls the “profound theological question of the day.” Packer is a person of distinctive traits, and one of them emerged from the scenario I have just described; he would put his coffee cup down, put his hands to his head, wait for ten seconds, and then give an impromptu dissertation having three to five points! -89
Packer conceived of theology as an activity, and to drive the point home, he spoke of “theologizing” -a verb more than a noun. -136
The word inerrant means “without error.” For Packer and others, it makes no sense to speak of the Bible as infallible while at the same time objecting t the word inerrant. -144
Packer said, “Now that I look back on what we did in producing [the ESV], I find myself suspecting very strongly that this was the most important thing that I have ever done for the Kingdom.” -167
Packer had explained how jazz music awakened this sense within him, he added, “There are some great classical musicians whose work also led me into this joy. I was slower to get into that but Beethoven reached out and grabbed me when I was in my late teens, and I have gone from there to Mozart, Bach, Schubert, Brahms, Wagner, and Bruckner, all of whom have given me wonderful moments and memories.” -192
How can theological truth be found? According to Packer, by looking backward and applying what we find there to our present situation. -198
Packer has never embraced the Roman Catholic and Anglo-Catholic viewpoint that elevates church tradition to the same level of authority as the Bible. When Packer lays out the three answers that Christians have historically given to the questions of authority, he disallows reason and church tradition as authorities equal to Scripture. -198
Packer is a plainspoken man who “tells it like it is.” In an autobiographical passage in one of his books, Packer confesses that once, when attending a theological conference in New York City, he “played hooky for two evenings” and went to a jazz club one night and and the MetropolitanOpera the next. Whey did he play hooky? Because the conference “was boring [him] stiff.” -214
“Scripture can only rule so far as it is understood, and it is only understood so far as it is properly interpreted. A misinterpreted Bible is a misunderstood Bible, which will lead us out of God’s way rather than in it.” -257
“The rule should surely be: where there is doubt or dispute about the significance of the data, render literally so that readers have access to the wording o the original and so can engage with the problem directly.” -261
The Puritans did not “transformed” his life; they “formed” it. Packer without the Puritans does not exist. -272
In later life, Packer whimsically accepted the claim of a friend that he was “Owenian,” and he claimed that Owen’s Death of Death turned him “from a four-point into a five-point Calvinist.” -273
Loll concluded that as of early 1995, Packer’s published books numbered one hundred sixty five. -282
The Thirty-Nine Articles, not the Westminster Confession of Faith, is Packer’s favorite Protestant creed. -310
In the preface to Concise Theology, Packer writes, “Theology is for doxology and devotion - that is, the praise of God and the practice of godliness.” -337
"The minister," said Packer, is today viewed, “as a visitor from outer space.” “You can’t change that,” he added; “you have to live with it.” -361
For Packer, there are three primary areas of knowledge that comprise the education of a minister - “solid Bible teaching, solid theological teaching, and good, through teaching of church history.” -361
“The pastor should see himself as a man set apart to preach Bible truth to teach Christ and to counsel the spiritually perplexed in light of the written Word; to convert, nurture, watch over and care for sinners; to pray for them, bring wisdom to them, model godliness before them, and lead them into and in doxology, fidelity, purity, humility, maturity, and joy in Christ; and to fight in whatever way particular situations might require for the fullness and forthrightness to the faith.” -362
"Four axioms underlay all Puritan thought about preaching.” They are as follows: 1. The primacy of the intellect. 2. The supreme importance of preaching. For the Puritans, "the sermon was the liturgical climax of public worship.” 3. Belief in the life-giving power of Holy Scripture. 4. Belief in the sovereignty of the Holy Spirit. -365
“Practical biblical exposition was the actual substance and liveliness was a regular mark of the stye. Puritan preaching prolonged the down-to-earth raciness of presentation, with verbal pictures, narrative illustrations, and allusions to Bible stories scattered throughout in abundance.” -365
The principles of interpretation that he advocates are a beginning list and somewhat global, but they are foundational: 1. Hold to the literal meaning. 2. Hold to the principle in harmony. 3. Follow the interpretive spiral. -367
Puritan sermons were expository in method, doctrinal in content, orderly in arrangement, and popular in style. -371
Last sentence:
“...I should like to be remembered as one who pointed to the pasturelands.” -412
Here are a few (it may be a lot!) quotes that are insightful to me:
First sentences:
When we consider great and famous people, it is natural to think of them as having always been great and famous. After all, that is how we know them. The J.I Packer that we know certainly ranks as a great and famous man. -19
The classical author whom Packer “most admired” was the Greek dramatist Aeschylus, whom Packer regarded as a matter of language, similar to William Shakespeare in English literature. In Packer;s words, “Aeschylus handled language in a forcible way and I always admire writers who handle language in a forcible way.” -35
Packer beat the deadline for submitting three copies of his final dissertation by a mere three days. This happened in the week of Packer’s marriage to Kit Mullett. My son Philip Ryken, who wrote an Oxford dissertation on the Puritan Thomas Boston, has told me it has become virtually a hallowed ritual among evangelical scholars studying in Oxford to ask that Packer’s dissertation be “fetched from the stacks” for them to hold in their hands. Philip also informs me that the list of people who have thus checked out the dissertation reads like a who’s who of well-known scholars. -65
After six months, Leather offered Packer a critique of his preaching. He told Packer that some people found his sermons hard to follow. Leather also said, “Look, you are too serious when you preach for anyone to take you seriously. God gave you humor. Use it.” Packer accepted the challenge, claiming many years later that “I’ve been planting jokes in my sermons ever since, and I rather think it’s a good idea.” -73
The faculty members did not eat lunch with the students, but Packer circumvented that segregation by eating breakfast with them. The students evolved a protocol whereby he was allowed to finish his first cup of coffee uninterrupted. Then a student would pose what McGrath calls the “profound theological question of the day.” Packer is a person of distinctive traits, and one of them emerged from the scenario I have just described; he would put his coffee cup down, put his hands to his head, wait for ten seconds, and then give an impromptu dissertation having three to five points! -89
Packer conceived of theology as an activity, and to drive the point home, he spoke of “theologizing” -a verb more than a noun. -136
The word inerrant means “without error.” For Packer and others, it makes no sense to speak of the Bible as infallible while at the same time objecting t the word inerrant. -144
Packer said, “Now that I look back on what we did in producing [the ESV], I find myself suspecting very strongly that this was the most important thing that I have ever done for the Kingdom.” -167
Packer had explained how jazz music awakened this sense within him, he added, “There are some great classical musicians whose work also led me into this joy. I was slower to get into that but Beethoven reached out and grabbed me when I was in my late teens, and I have gone from there to Mozart, Bach, Schubert, Brahms, Wagner, and Bruckner, all of whom have given me wonderful moments and memories.” -192
How can theological truth be found? According to Packer, by looking backward and applying what we find there to our present situation. -198
Packer has never embraced the Roman Catholic and Anglo-Catholic viewpoint that elevates church tradition to the same level of authority as the Bible. When Packer lays out the three answers that Christians have historically given to the questions of authority, he disallows reason and church tradition as authorities equal to Scripture. -198
Packer is a plainspoken man who “tells it like it is.” In an autobiographical passage in one of his books, Packer confesses that once, when attending a theological conference in New York City, he “played hooky for two evenings” and went to a jazz club one night and and the MetropolitanOpera the next. Whey did he play hooky? Because the conference “was boring [him] stiff.” -214
“Scripture can only rule so far as it is understood, and it is only understood so far as it is properly interpreted. A misinterpreted Bible is a misunderstood Bible, which will lead us out of God’s way rather than in it.” -257
“The rule should surely be: where there is doubt or dispute about the significance of the data, render literally so that readers have access to the wording o the original and so can engage with the problem directly.” -261
The Puritans did not “transformed” his life; they “formed” it. Packer without the Puritans does not exist. -272
In later life, Packer whimsically accepted the claim of a friend that he was “Owenian,” and he claimed that Owen’s Death of Death turned him “from a four-point into a five-point Calvinist.” -273
Loll concluded that as of early 1995, Packer’s published books numbered one hundred sixty five. -282
The Thirty-Nine Articles, not the Westminster Confession of Faith, is Packer’s favorite Protestant creed. -310
In the preface to Concise Theology, Packer writes, “Theology is for doxology and devotion - that is, the praise of God and the practice of godliness.” -337
"The minister," said Packer, is today viewed, “as a visitor from outer space.” “You can’t change that,” he added; “you have to live with it.” -361
For Packer, there are three primary areas of knowledge that comprise the education of a minister - “solid Bible teaching, solid theological teaching, and good, through teaching of church history.” -361
“The pastor should see himself as a man set apart to preach Bible truth to teach Christ and to counsel the spiritually perplexed in light of the written Word; to convert, nurture, watch over and care for sinners; to pray for them, bring wisdom to them, model godliness before them, and lead them into and in doxology, fidelity, purity, humility, maturity, and joy in Christ; and to fight in whatever way particular situations might require for the fullness and forthrightness to the faith.” -362
"Four axioms underlay all Puritan thought about preaching.” They are as follows: 1. The primacy of the intellect. 2. The supreme importance of preaching. For the Puritans, "the sermon was the liturgical climax of public worship.” 3. Belief in the life-giving power of Holy Scripture. 4. Belief in the sovereignty of the Holy Spirit. -365
“Practical biblical exposition was the actual substance and liveliness was a regular mark of the stye. Puritan preaching prolonged the down-to-earth raciness of presentation, with verbal pictures, narrative illustrations, and allusions to Bible stories scattered throughout in abundance.” -365
The principles of interpretation that he advocates are a beginning list and somewhat global, but they are foundational: 1. Hold to the literal meaning. 2. Hold to the principle in harmony. 3. Follow the interpretive spiral. -367
Puritan sermons were expository in method, doctrinal in content, orderly in arrangement, and popular in style. -371
Last sentence:
“...I should like to be remembered as one who pointed to the pasturelands.” -412
October 8, 2018
I have a bit of a cursory interest in Packer. I'm not a huge fan of his writing style, but after reading about his role in the revival of Reformed Theology in Iain Murray's biography of Martyn Lloyd-Jones I wanted to find out more. If you approach this bio looking for facts and a narrative of his life you will be pleased with the one and disappointed with the other.
Leland Ryken is a literary scholar and one of the dangers of literary criticism is losing the forest for the trees. That's exactly what you have here.
The biography can hardly be called that, it's a highly self conscious exercise which makes reading less pleasure and more work. This is no Murray on Lloyd-Jones. There is a short account of his life, many trivia/celebrity factoids and a literary analysis of his works. There's not much discussion or analysis on the controversial points in Packer's life (staying in Anglican Church as it drifted heterodox, his outspoken support and charter membership of Evangelicals and Catholics Together). Not much on his wife, lots on his love for jazz.
The strength of the work is that Packer's Christian character really shines. I'd say that, besides his intellectual contribution to the church, is a beautiful side of the man which isn't so obvious to someone just reading his books.
With that said, this book is only for affectionados with a keen interest in Packer. I'd probably go with Alister McGrath's out of print bio next (find it on Abebooks).
Leland Ryken is a literary scholar and one of the dangers of literary criticism is losing the forest for the trees. That's exactly what you have here.
The biography can hardly be called that, it's a highly self conscious exercise which makes reading less pleasure and more work. This is no Murray on Lloyd-Jones. There is a short account of his life, many trivia/celebrity factoids and a literary analysis of his works. There's not much discussion or analysis on the controversial points in Packer's life (staying in Anglican Church as it drifted heterodox, his outspoken support and charter membership of Evangelicals and Catholics Together). Not much on his wife, lots on his love for jazz.
The strength of the work is that Packer's Christian character really shines. I'd say that, besides his intellectual contribution to the church, is a beautiful side of the man which isn't so obvious to someone just reading his books.
With that said, this book is only for affectionados with a keen interest in Packer. I'd probably go with Alister McGrath's out of print bio next (find it on Abebooks).
September 21, 2019
The two-star rating is in no way meant to be a reflection on the subject of this book; I revere J.I. Packer as a great man of God.
This rating is more about the book's authorship in terms of his style, attitude, and methods.
I know practically nothing about Leland Ryken, but he comes across as arrogant and condescending. Those who know him better may say he is neither of those things, but his style of writing certainly makes him appear that way.
Considering that this is a biography, it is irritating that the author inserts himself into the book at every opportunity by comparing himself to his subject, and making sure we are aware of his own education, abilities, and writings.
Because Ryken has compartmentalized the subject's life into several themes, much of the same material gets repeated, often more than once, ad nauseum. He also seems to have a penchant for lists, which were quite boring and out-of-place in a biography.
This book could have been half as long and, therefore, more interesting and less redundant and annoying if the author had disciplined himself to leave out that which may have been useful in his research, but is of very little use to his readers.
The only reason I stuck it out to the end was because of a) my admiration of J.I. Packer, b) the interesting and helpful chapters and paragraphs scattered throughout the book, and c) my stubborn determination to finish what I have started
This rating is more about the book's authorship in terms of his style, attitude, and methods.
I know practically nothing about Leland Ryken, but he comes across as arrogant and condescending. Those who know him better may say he is neither of those things, but his style of writing certainly makes him appear that way.
Considering that this is a biography, it is irritating that the author inserts himself into the book at every opportunity by comparing himself to his subject, and making sure we are aware of his own education, abilities, and writings.
Because Ryken has compartmentalized the subject's life into several themes, much of the same material gets repeated, often more than once, ad nauseum. He also seems to have a penchant for lists, which were quite boring and out-of-place in a biography.
This book could have been half as long and, therefore, more interesting and less redundant and annoying if the author had disciplined himself to leave out that which may have been useful in his research, but is of very little use to his readers.
The only reason I stuck it out to the end was because of a) my admiration of J.I. Packer, b) the interesting and helpful chapters and paragraphs scattered throughout the book, and c) my stubborn determination to finish what I have started
September 11, 2021
I picked up this book to help write a paper on J.I. Packer's influence on Canadian Anglicanism. This book is divided into three sections, the first section is a typical biography chronicling his life through the years. I found the most help in this section, and learned much about Packer that I did not before (such as him being Senior Editor at Christianity Today and also being a principal for a brief time). The second section is the shortest which focuses on Packer the man, and then the third topically covers the great themes in his life Bible (Puritans, Writing, Anglicanism, Theology, Preaching, Controversy).
At the end of the book, I came away with a deeper knowledge and respect for Packer. I feel like I know him better both as a person, but also his life and impact.
As a sidenote, Ryken keeps quoting from McGrath's biography of Packer throughout which gave me the feeling that maybe I picked up the wrong biography to read. I got the impression if I could only have read one, it should have been McGrath's. But I still enjoyed this one!
At the end of the book, I came away with a deeper knowledge and respect for Packer. I feel like I know him better both as a person, but also his life and impact.
As a sidenote, Ryken keeps quoting from McGrath's biography of Packer throughout which gave me the feeling that maybe I picked up the wrong biography to read. I got the impression if I could only have read one, it should have been McGrath's. But I still enjoyed this one!
October 11, 2020
One of the first Christian books I read was J. I. Packer’s Knowing God. He has always been a highly recommend author in the Christian circles I’ve in and has made a big impact on Evangelical Christianity, especially in the 20th Century.
Leland Ryken structures this biography in three parts:
Part 1: The Life
Part 2: The Man
Part 3: Lifelong themes
Part 1 is a chronology of Packer’s life. Thankfully, Ryken filters out plenty of material so that readers are not overwhelmed with details. The portrait that Ryken paints is nuanced. Although he writes with deep respect towards Packer, he doesn’t descend into hero-worship and doesn’t gloss over aspects of Packer’s ministry which divided the evangelical world.
Part 2 is the shortest section and explores lesser-known aspects of Packer’s personality and interests.
Part 3 considers how Packer’s ministry developed, identifying seven of what Ryken calls “lifelong themes” in the British-Canadian theologian’s life: the Bible, the Puritans, writing, Anglicanism, theology, preaching and the minister’s calling, and various controversies.
Ryken’s prose is readable and I found the pace just right. He doesn’t delve into too much detail (that’s not the purpose of this biography), but gives readers enough to understand this giant of the Christian faith. His tone is sympathetic, especially because of their shared interest in the Puritan’s and shared love for the art of writing.
This is the first longer-form biography I’ve read and it was illuminating. It was an easy read and gave context to the man I didn’t know personally, but encountered through his writing. Reading this biography gave me a deeper appreciation for his work. This is a highly recommended biography – maybe not the most extensive (Ryken references’ Alister McGrath’s biography on many occasions). It distills the major events and themes that have shaped or been shaped by J. I. Packer.
Leland Ryken structures this biography in three parts:
Part 1: The Life
Part 2: The Man
Part 3: Lifelong themes
Part 1 is a chronology of Packer’s life. Thankfully, Ryken filters out plenty of material so that readers are not overwhelmed with details. The portrait that Ryken paints is nuanced. Although he writes with deep respect towards Packer, he doesn’t descend into hero-worship and doesn’t gloss over aspects of Packer’s ministry which divided the evangelical world.
Part 2 is the shortest section and explores lesser-known aspects of Packer’s personality and interests.
Part 3 considers how Packer’s ministry developed, identifying seven of what Ryken calls “lifelong themes” in the British-Canadian theologian’s life: the Bible, the Puritans, writing, Anglicanism, theology, preaching and the minister’s calling, and various controversies.
Ryken’s prose is readable and I found the pace just right. He doesn’t delve into too much detail (that’s not the purpose of this biography), but gives readers enough to understand this giant of the Christian faith. His tone is sympathetic, especially because of their shared interest in the Puritan’s and shared love for the art of writing.
This is the first longer-form biography I’ve read and it was illuminating. It was an easy read and gave context to the man I didn’t know personally, but encountered through his writing. Reading this biography gave me a deeper appreciation for his work. This is a highly recommended biography – maybe not the most extensive (Ryken references’ Alister McGrath’s biography on many occasions). It distills the major events and themes that have shaped or been shaped by J. I. Packer.
June 8, 2023
An okay biography of J. I. Packer. I'm not all that familiar with him, so it has been helpful in that way. Largely focused on his public life, not much on personal. I better know Packer as the public figure, but have only a small glimpse of him as the private individual.
Biographies written while the figure is still living seem weak in general since they do not have full perspective on someone's life, and this is no different. Ryken seems to engage in near hagiography of Packer, and so I feel I am walking away with a rather idealized picture.
Ryken inserts himself and his own thoughts and writings into the text more often than I would expect from a biographer. It also seemed as if it could have used a little more editorial work, as it was repetitive at points, with very similar phrases repeated multiple times.
Biographies written while the figure is still living seem weak in general since they do not have full perspective on someone's life, and this is no different. Ryken seems to engage in near hagiography of Packer, and so I feel I am walking away with a rather idealized picture.
Ryken inserts himself and his own thoughts and writings into the text more often than I would expect from a biographer. It also seemed as if it could have used a little more editorial work, as it was repetitive at points, with very similar phrases repeated multiple times.
October 28, 2018
I have always admired J. I. Packer and was tremendously influenced by his book Knowing God while in college, so I looked forward to reading this biography. This is the first book I’ve read by Leland Ryken, a prolific Christian author. Plenty of the biographical material was interesting, but Ryken’s writing style is so dry and academic that it made the reading quite a chore. At the conclusion of the book Packer wrote a brief afterword, and I was immediately struck by how much more vibrant and engaging his writing was, even when he was simply thanking Ryken (and Alister McGrath, who had also written a Packer biography 20 years ago) for his book! So content for me would be 5 stars and writing style still at a 3.
May 25, 2020
I really liked this autobiography, and am thankful for the portrayal of an inspiring life (in the sense of giving me a desire to lead a more godly life.) Leland Ryken writes as a friend and peer of Packer, with enough love to disagree without dishonouring. There were some stylistic glitches, I thought, in his writing. At times his chapters seem to end very abruptly. And a number of events, quotes and interpretations are repeated very often. (I wonder if Ryken wrote each chapter independently of the others, and then did not have the energy to edit it into one book rather than an anthology of chapters.) But these glitches matter little - and in fact may add the memorability of the book. Thanks to the author, the publisher, and to God for this telling of a godly life.
February 4, 2021
J. I. Packer was one of the most important thinkers, writers, and leaders of the past 100 years. His writings and thoughts have impacted millions, teaching them to think deeply about God and following Him as the church.
As Ryken regularly draws out, Packer was a genius who dedicated his life to making the deep things of God accessible to laymen. Ryken's biography thoroughly covers Packer's life, from his upbringing to his final years. If you want to understand Packer's contributions to evangelicalism, Ryken is the biography to read.
That being said, I feel as if the biography could have been 100 pages shorter. Mainly because of how often Ryken repeats the same stories and ideas from Packer's life.
As Ryken regularly draws out, Packer was a genius who dedicated his life to making the deep things of God accessible to laymen. Ryken's biography thoroughly covers Packer's life, from his upbringing to his final years. If you want to understand Packer's contributions to evangelicalism, Ryken is the biography to read.
That being said, I feel as if the biography could have been 100 pages shorter. Mainly because of how often Ryken repeats the same stories and ideas from Packer's life.
June 11, 2024
J. I. Packer was and is an inspiration to orthodox evangelicalism. He was so dedicated to seeing semper reformanda in the Anglican church that, even when they had him forced out, he did not give up on them. His goal seemed to always be unity in the Church. This led to some controversies, but also much growth. Though I disagree with some of the firm stances Packer took over his long career, it cannot be understated that he was instrumental in the growth of the Protestant reformed Church in the 20th and 21st centuries. Ryken does a wonderful job laying out Packers life in a helpful and systematic way. I went into this book with an already glowing respect for Packer, and it has only increased in reading it. I pray that God will continue to send us men like J. I. Packer.
November 2, 2020
The subject was stellar. The writing was stodgy.
This book has me considering adding J.I. Packer to my list of authors whose complete oeuvre I want to read. He is winsome with a titan intelligence, able to reduce complex concepts down to simple words. To begin with I can collect all his books currently on my shelves and begin reading.
The writing (and editing)? Ouch. The author consistently breaks a basic rule: Don't write about your writing. He includes clunky lists. The most off-putting to me was his massive use of quotes from Alister McGrath's biography of Packer. I like Ryken (just ordered two more of his books) but this was not his best work.
This book has me considering adding J.I. Packer to my list of authors whose complete oeuvre I want to read. He is winsome with a titan intelligence, able to reduce complex concepts down to simple words. To begin with I can collect all his books currently on my shelves and begin reading.
The writing (and editing)? Ouch. The author consistently breaks a basic rule: Don't write about your writing. He includes clunky lists. The most off-putting to me was his massive use of quotes from Alister McGrath's biography of Packer. I like Ryken (just ordered two more of his books) but this was not his best work.
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