| Knowing God | 
 enlarge | Author: J I Packer
Publisher: Hodder & Stoughton
Category: Book
List Price: £8.99
Buy New: £3.50
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New (21) Used (7) from £3.50
Avg. Customer Rating:  4 reviews
Sales Rank: 121921
Media: Paperback
Edition: 3
Pages: 352
Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.5
Dimensions (in): 7.7 x 5 x 1
ISBN: 0340863544
Dewey Decimal Number: 211
EAN: 9780340863541
ASIN: 0340863544
Publication Date: January 17, 2005
Availability: Usually dispatched within 1-2 business days
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| Customer Reviews:
 Best book on the subject March 21, 2008
This is a superbly written book by a great theologian. It is truly worth its weight in gold. Each chapter is a three course spiritual meal which can be feasted upon again and again and digested at leisure. Having not read it for fifteen years, on rereading it I realized how poor and superficial many of the books I had read during the intervening time. Of the 3-4 thousand books I own, I would include this one in my top three. May it be read widely.
 Dare I whisper it? Yes... overrated June 24, 2004
9 out of 26 found this review helpful
This book has been incredibly influential over the last 30 years. The author, a highly respected evangelical theologian sets out, by his own admission, not to write a systematic theology of God, but to present a "string of pearls" regarding God's attributes from a conservative evangelical viewpoint. As such he does so very thoroughly, but rather stodgily. The book is worthy, well argued and to be honest rather dull. After the almost universal acclamation this book has received, I feel it needs updating into a more readable style.
Prospective readers also note that the author presents a very Calvinistic view of God, issues such as free will of man, problem of evil, predestination, etc are approached from this viewpoint. Arminianism is dismissed out of hand.
Overall, though, this book is worth reading due to its influence. I was left wondering though, will it still be a classic in 30 years time?
A long but worthy read...! December 3, 2002
13 out of 13 found this review helpful
This book will take you a long time to get through, but it is worth it. The title says it all; offering a theology and practical explanation of what it means to know God, and to get to know him better, Packer dissects the ideas behind evangelical theology and some of its competitors.The main focus is that to know God's Word- the Bible- is the way to know God; but he talks about all the central issues of theology on the way- the Trinity, our relationship with God as Christians, and so on. My only complaint is that it's impossible to remember everything in the book! Touted sometimes as theology for the layman, I'd agree- but don't expect a pageturner, it's solid stuff. Perhaps it is worthy of an annual read- it certainly couldn't do any harm. While taxing my brain (and my memory!), it warmed my heart as it reminded me of how I could know God personally.
A great help to getting to know God! May 8, 2001
15 out of 16 found this review helpful
This book is sensational. It deals with all areas of Christian theology in a way that makes them accessible to the contemporary reader. Unlike many books it seeks not just to build up the reader's knowledge, but their relationship with a personal God who is seeking to know personally the people he has created. Packer takes us through the great news of the cross, where as God's son, fully human and fully divine, Jesus died to take the punishment that was due for us. He also deals with many issues that face the church today: the role of the Holy Spirit, the status of the Bible as God's word and means of speaking to us, to name but two. If only I could remember and act upon all I read in this book! It thoroughly increases the reader's biblical understanding. A must read for all those seeking to know God better!
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