The J. I. Packer Collection

by Alister E. McGrath (Editor), J.I. Packer

For many evangelicals today J. I. Packer is a household name. His best-selling Knowing God is a classic of evangelical spirituality. Through his popular writings, Packer--perhaps more than any other evangelical writer of his generation--has drawn ordinary people into a deepened understanding of their faith and its spiritual riches. But many who are acquainted with Packer are unaware of the true scope of his writings and his engagement with theological issues of the past fifty years. The J. I. Packer Collection is the single best introduction to Packer's thought, as well as a remarkably comprehensive introduction to evangelical theology in the Reformed vein. Readers will be struck by Packer's uncanny ability to penetrate to the heart of an issue, the crystalline clarity of his writing, the breadth of his learning and the warmth of his devotion. He is truly one of the great evangelical theologians of our time. Each of the sixteen hand-picked essays in this collection are introduced by Alister McGrath, a leading evangelical theologian in his own right and author of Packer's biography. Spanning the years 1954-1998, these essays cover a full breadth of topics, many of them recognized landmarks in the past five decades of evangelical theology in the English-speaking world. For those who wish to grow in their understanding and appreciation of the evangelical faith, The J. I. Packer Collection is essential reading.

288 pages, Paperback

First published November 1, 1999

About the author

Alister Edgar McGrath is a Northern Irish theologian, priest, intellectual historian, scientist, and Christian apologist. He currently holds the Andreas Idreos Professorship in Science and Religion in the Faculty of Theology and Religion at the University of Oxford, and is Professor of Divinity at Gresham College. He was previously Professor of Theology, Ministry, and Education at King's College London and Head of the Centre for Theology, Religion and Culture, Professor of Historical Theology at the University of Oxford, and was principal of Wycliffe Hall, Oxford, until 2005. He is an Anglican priest and is ordained within the Church of England.

Aside from being a faculty member at Oxford, McGrath has also taught at Cambridge University and is a Teaching Fellow at Regent College. McGrath holds three doctorates from the University of Oxford, a DPhil in Molecular Biophysics, a Doctor of Divinity in Theology and a Doctor of Letters in Intellectual History.

McGrath is noted for his work in historical theology, systematic theology, and the relationship between science and religion, as well as his writings on apologetics. He is also known for his opposition to New Atheism and antireligionism and his advocacy of theological critical realism. Among his best-known books are The Twilight of Atheism, The Dawkins Delusion?: Atheist Fundamentalism and the Denial of the Divine, Dawkins' God: Genes, Memes, and the Meaning of Life, and A Scientific Theology. He is also the author of a number of popular textbooks on theology.

Reviews

[Hannah Belyea · Rating 4 out of 5]

Gathering sixteen essays, speeches and lectures from across J.I. Packer's years of Christian writings, Alistair McGrath presents a historical, personal and theological examination of both his upbringing, educational background, and exemplary works of faith. McGrath and Packer offer an approachable and compelling exploration of spiritual debate and contemplation, though in need of grammatical editing.