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Truth & Power: The Place of Scripture in the Christian Life
The Christian faith is based on the Bible, but what role should it play in our lives? How can we revere it without making it an object of worship? With clarity and skill, Packer looks at the Bible's authority, authenticity, and unity. He examines the claims that can and cannot be made for the bible and helps readers understand how to use the Bible and not abuse it.
191 pages, Paperback
First published September 1, 1996
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About the author
J.I. Packer
448 books932 followersWhat do J. I. Packer, Billy Graham and Richard John Neuhaus have in common? Each was recently named by TIME magazine as among the 25 most influential evangelicals in America.
Dr. Packer, the Board of Governors’ Professor of Theology at Regent College, was hailed by TIME as “a doctrinal Solomon” among Protestants. “Mediating debates on everything from a particular Bible translation to the acceptability of free-flowing Pentecostal spirituality, Packer helps unify a community [evangelicalism] that could easily fall victim to its internal tensions.”
Knowing God, Dr. Packer’s seminal 1973 work, was lauded as a book which articulated shared beliefs for members of diverse denominations; the TIME profile quotes Michael Cromartie of the Ethics and Public Policy Center in Washington as saying, “conservative Methodists and Presbyterians and Baptists could all look to [Knowing God] and say, ‘This sums it all up for us.’”
In a similar tribute to Dr. Packer almost ten years ago, American theologian Mark Noll wrote in Christianity Today that, “Packer’s ability to address immensely important subjects in crisp, succinct sentences is one of the reasons why, both as an author and speaker, he has played such an important role among American evangelicals for four decades.”
For over 25 years Regent College students have been privileged to study under Dr. Packer’s clear and lucid teaching, and our faculty, staff and students celebrate the international recognition he rightly receives as a leading Christian thinker and teacher.
(https://www.regent-college.edu/facult...)
Dr. Packer, the Board of Governors’ Professor of Theology at Regent College, was hailed by TIME as “a doctrinal Solomon” among Protestants. “Mediating debates on everything from a particular Bible translation to the acceptability of free-flowing Pentecostal spirituality, Packer helps unify a community [evangelicalism] that could easily fall victim to its internal tensions.”
Knowing God, Dr. Packer’s seminal 1973 work, was lauded as a book which articulated shared beliefs for members of diverse denominations; the TIME profile quotes Michael Cromartie of the Ethics and Public Policy Center in Washington as saying, “conservative Methodists and Presbyterians and Baptists could all look to [Knowing God] and say, ‘This sums it all up for us.’”
In a similar tribute to Dr. Packer almost ten years ago, American theologian Mark Noll wrote in Christianity Today that, “Packer’s ability to address immensely important subjects in crisp, succinct sentences is one of the reasons why, both as an author and speaker, he has played such an important role among American evangelicals for four decades.”
For over 25 years Regent College students have been privileged to study under Dr. Packer’s clear and lucid teaching, and our faculty, staff and students celebrate the international recognition he rightly receives as a leading Christian thinker and teacher.
(https://www.regent-college.edu/facult...)
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
June 2, 2025
Some good moments - the book went in a lof of different directions with some of his own anecdotal history thrown in.
I feel like the ideas covered are probably found elsewhere in a more organized and cohesive way.
I feel like the ideas covered are probably found elsewhere in a more organized and cohesive way.
July 19, 2017
I normally love J.I. Packer, but I did not think this book was that great. It was almost like two books with the initial one being a discussion of the battle for the Bible, fundamentalism, etc. and the second one focusing on how to study the Bible. It was not bad, but I would turn to other books before this one.
May 6, 2020
It has some 5-star moments, but overall it settles into 3-stars. The chapter on preaching is great.
April 25, 2007
This is classic Packer. Packer delves through the Puritans and looks at the power of the Scriptures in the pulpit. His high view of Scirpture is encouraging and his knowledge of the field is immense. It is worth reading as pastors are encouraged to "sell Jesus" Packer encourages us to let the Spirit fall upon Scripture preached and convince people as they wrestle with him.
August 18, 2015
Another book crying out for an extra half-star. Can't give it 5, but better than most 4-star books. First and last chapters will be required reading for a Bibliology elective I'm currently creating.
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews