The Knowledge of the Holy: The Attributes of God: Their Meaning in the Christian Life

by A.W. Tozer

book data

478 ratings, 4.37 average rating, 79 reviews (more data...)

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5		54%
4		30%
3		11%
2		2%
1		0%

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published

November 15th 1978 by HarperSanFrancisco (first published 1975)

details

Paperback, 128 pages

isbn

0060684127 (isbn13: 9780060684129)

description

A.W. Tozer Returns the towering Christian concept of God to the center of the religious mind, fostering a renewed appreciation of the magnitude of God…more

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Aug 13, 2008

Matt rated it:

bookshelves: christianity, philosophy

Read in September, 2008

recommends it for: People with the right hearts but wrong heads, sadly the exact opposite of who will probably read it.

Having never before read A.W. Tozer, I didn't know what to expect when I started reading this book, and if I expected anything I'm not sure that this was it.

The Knowledge of the Holy: The Attributes of God: Their Meaning in the Christian Life is a study in the unstudiable. It is a scrutiny of that which is inherently inscrutable. It is therefore I think doomed from the start, for the knowledge that it would convey is inexpressible and the wisdom it would impart is far beyond man's ...more

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Feb 25, 2009

Jonathan rated it:

bookshelves: theology

recommended to Jonathan by: Mom & Dad
recommends it for: All those who claim to believe in God.

There are innumerable errors of thought plaguing the Church today: relativism, materialism, pluralism, semi-Pelagianism; all are doing irreparable harm to sound doctrinal teaching. But all these errors stem from a single root cause: modern Christianity has lost the concept of the holiness of God. Many who claim to be Christians regard God the Father as a benevolent old grandfather who has little regard for sectarian squabbles and will let anyone into heaven so long as they "try to be a go...more There are innumerable errors of thought plaguing the Church today: relativism, materialism, pluralism, semi-Pelagianism; all are doing irreparable harm to sound doctrinal teaching. But all these errors stem from a single root cause: modern Christianity has lost the concept of the holiness of God. Many who claim to be Christians regard God the Father as a benevolent old grandfather who has little regard for sectarian squabbles and will let anyone into heaven so long as they "try to be a good person". Not only is such a view completely unscriptural, it reveals an utter lack of respect for the God who has revealed Himself that we might worship Him as He truly exists.

At the outset of this discussion on the attributes of God, theologian A.W. Tozer emphasizes the importance of thinking rightly about God. "Among the sins to which the human heart is prone," he writes, "hardly any other is more hateful to God that idolatry, for idolatry is at bottom a libel on His character. The idolatrous heart assumes that God is other than He is – in itself a monstrous sin – and substitutes for the true God one made after its own likeness." Whether out of a desire to justify some manner of sinful living, or out of simple laziness, failure to entertain truthful notions about God will surely carry eternal, as well as temporal, consequences.

After giving this warning, Tozer moves on to address the issue by elaborating many of the attributes of God as they are revealed in His Word. From the eternal self-existence of God to His omnipotent character, from His mercy to His absolute sovereignty, Tozer goes straight to the heart of classical theology. In brief but cogent summaries he outlines many of the things that make God who He is. This small book is easy to read, but will provide a reference point and solid foundation for more exhaustive studies.

To steer one's soul from the apostasy of this age, Tower offers this advice: Acquaint thyself with God. And the resource he has provided is an excellent place to start.(less)

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Dec 10, 2009

Reid rated it:

bookshelves: christian-living, christian-ministry---general, spiritual-disciplines

Read in December, 2009

recommended to Reid by: teachers in Bible school, Chip Ingram in a recent DVD
recommends it for: those who are confused about God; those who want a fresh look at God

"What comes to mind when we think about God is the most important thing about us."

Tozer believed that the reason for the decline and weakness of the church laid square in the lack of solid understanding of God and His attributes.

"The decline of the knowledge of the holy has brought on our troubles. A rediscovery of the majesty of God will go a long way toward curing them. It is impossible to keep our moral practices sound and our inward attributes right whi...more

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Oct 29, 2009

Michael rated it:

bookshelves: christianity, theology

Read in November, 2009

recommended to Michael by: Rodney Cripps

In this work, Tozer tackles arguably the most important question in life—Who is God? He correctly ascertains that so as we think about God, so as life goes. And in his attempt to tell what God is like, he succeeds in at least outlining the major characteristics of God as held by classical, orthodox Christianity.
I’d venture to guess that concepts of God’s unity, simplicity, and being aren’t being discussed, much less understood, outside of a few seminaries, and most of them Catho...more

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Jan 10, 2009

Brandon rated it:

Read in December, 2008

This was a surprisingly good little book. Gets into talking about the attributes of God, but in a very cutting sort of way. Both mysterious and reasonable. The author states:

"I think it might be demonstrated that almost every heresy that has afflicted the church through the years has arisen from believing about God things that are not true, or from overemphasizing certain things so as to obscure other things equally true."

...and then he spent a good deal of tim...more This was a surprisingly good little book. Gets into talking about the attributes of God, but in a very cutting sort of way. Both mysterious and reasonable. The author states:

"I think it might be demonstrated that almost every heresy that has afflicted the church through the years has arisen from believing about God things that are not true, or from overemphasizing certain things so as to obscure other things equally true."

...and then he spent a good deal of time correcting my thinking and connecting it with my heart. Bravo. (less)

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Aug 27, 2009

Jan rated it:

Read in October, 2009

This very thought-provoking and worship-full little book by Tozer (always good for a profound read) was composed of short little chapters, each focusing on a different characteristic of God. Chock-full of scripture references and grounded theology I found each chapter bringing me to a deeper understanding of who God is. Some of the characteristics covered were omniscience, omnipotence, sovereignty, grace, mercy, love. But my favorite was on God's immutability - His inability to change. Therefore...more

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Dec 26, 2008

Amy rated it:

Read in December, 2008

Tozer is one of the top theologians in my book. Everything I read by him I want to go back and read all over again because there's so much to absorb. This particular book contains a chapter for each of God's attributes, at least those we can name. It could not help but increase my awe of who God is and my gratefulness that he cares for us. A couple of quotes that were meaningful to me: "God's compassion flows out of His goodness, and goodness without justice is not goodness. God spares us ...more

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Jan 27, 2008

Emily rated it:

bookshelves: spiritual

This is one I always come back to. It reminds us to be grateful for Who God is, not just what He does.

"Whether in the Garden of Eden or the Garden of Gethsemane, God is merciful as well as just. He has always dealt in mercy with mankind and will always deal in justice when His mercy is despised. Thus He did in antediluvian times; thus when Christ walked among men; thus He is doing today and will continue always to do for no other reason than that He is God."

"...more

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Jul 06, 2009

Timothy Olson rated it:

Read in April, 1992

This is the best devotional theology book I've ever read. It has short chapters on different attributes of God. They both challenge and inspire a person. I've used it as discipleship material many times and love it. The preface is amazing.

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Dec 27, 2009

John Semchenko rated it:

bookshelves: 2009-book-list

Read in December, 2009

Unbelievable read that challenges you on who GOD really is and why it matters. What you think about GOD is the most importat thing about you. A must read for anyone who wants to get to know GOD.

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Apr 26, 2009

Nina rated it:

Read in January, 2009

This is a book to read slowly, over time. I'm actually still working on it. It's not as difficult as some of Tozer's writings and I found it very enlightening so far.

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Jul 07, 2008

Tim rated it:

(review of isbn 1596444312)

Read in July, 2008

Tozer's Knowledge of the Holy makes theology approachable, he brings the science of God up close to the church's spiritual life. Not an arid recitation of proof-texting Scripture, but smart discussions of the meaning and importance of attributes of God's existence aiming at changing the reader's life and habits. Along with a traditional theological understanding of God's attributes and character it also contains enough ecclesiology to make it different from most evangelical books which can car...more

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Nov 20, 2008

Rachel rated it:

bookshelves: currently-reading

If there is any book that has challenged my perceptions, and my misconceptions, about God, it is Tozer's The Knowledge of the Holy.

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Dec 28, 2007

Adam T Calvert rated it:

Read in May, 2008

Although very devotional at times, this book was a really neat catalyst to re-focus the reader's attention on God's Holiness (His Other-ness). Tozer takes the reader through some of the unique attributes of God that are often neglected meditatively, and he does an excellent job of bringing out that God is all these things...ALL THE TIME.

Although, as stated, it does not ground the reader in Scripture but speaks more from a devotional base, it is clear that Tozer's words come from his...more

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Sep 10, 2009

Tracy rated it:

Deeply theological stuff here. Written in a bit of a philosophical style. Good information but it takes a bit to digest.

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May 29, 2009

Laura rated it:

(review of isbn 0060698659)

The Knowledge of the Holy: The Attributes of God: Their Meaning in the Christian Life by A. W. Tozer (1992)

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Apr 12, 2009

Erin rated it:

One of my all-time favorite books! A deceptively simple look at many of the attributes of God.

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Feb 13, 2010

Sharon Neufeld is currently reading it

bookshelves: christianity, currently-reading

Owns a copy

Tozer's deep faith is apparent in every sentence. His profound concern that our culture does not revere the Lord correctly drove him to write this book.

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