That week, the Anglican theologian J. I. Emballeur (1926-2020). The first book I read from the author was The Knowledge of God,[1] which had a very modest origin. [2]
I read it the following year, when pastoral and teaching life was still beginning, and I soon discovered that I had already read with pleasure several articles from the classic New Bible Dictionary, [3] with the initials JIP (Articles: Choice, Incarnation, Predestination, etc. ). I soon began recommending to my students and sheep the reading of this classic book which, starting in the 1970s, had a great influence in the United States.
- During these nearly forty years that I have taught systematic theology.
- I have always placed his work as one of the first of the course.
- Together with A.
- W.
- Pink (1886-1952).
- Students’ admiration for their writings has been a constant over the years.
Packer, in fact, is highly respected all over the world. In general, [5] for their firm positions, placed over the years in a gentle and non-aggressive manner. In fact, I’ve always been impressed.
Was Packer influenced by Lloyd-Jones (1899–1981)? Preacher who listened frequently and admiringly [6] ?, and John RWStott (1921-2011), although in the mid-1960s, in a crisis of evangelical churches in England, took Stott’s more moderate position, at odds with Lloyd-Jones. [7]
However, they were all very respected. LLoyd-Jones correctly saw in Packer a promising talent that he sought to treat pastorally, appreciating his production. [8] Later, Packer would say Lloyd-Jones was “the greatest man I’ve ever met. “[9] Stott, for his part, after Lloyd-Jones’s death, wrote, “The most powerful and persuasive voice in Britain in thirty years is now silent. “
Just over 10 years ago, when he was talking to Ian Murray in Manaus, I asked him about Lloyd Jones, since Murray, in addition to biographer, was his assistant, in the conversation I asked him about Packer. that Lloyd-Jones was happy when Packer was invited to work in Canada, because he feared for Packer because the Liberals were getting too close to him.
Packer, retired, bright and pious, spent his childhood and youth with some physical restrictions, due to a childhood accident, aggravating at maturity. [11] God, however, has preserved him to glorify him through his life and the vast production that so many blessings have brought to the evangelical world in general.
In a 2013 pamphlet, he wrote
“Someday we will all have to do it [leave this world], and it is wonderful to know that at some point, during the process of transitioning our bodies into the next world, Christ Himself will receive us, so that we can hope that his face will be the first thing we are aware of in this new order of life to which we will then be transported. Are you waiting for the hope that sustains us? [12]
Packer doesn’t wait anymore. The pain has passed. Now he’s with the Lord of Glory. He concluded, by grace, the good struggle of faith. Praise God for your life.
[1] J. I. Packer, The Knowledge of God, Sao Paulo: Christian World, 1980.
[2] See: J. I. Packer, The Knowledge of God, Sao Paulo: Christian Culture, 2014, p. 5.
[3] J. D. Douglas, éd. org. , The New Bible Dictionary, Sao Paulo: Crist Editorial Board, 1966, 3v.
[4] See: Iain H. Murray, John MacArthur: Servant of the Word and the Herd, Sao Paulo: Selected Evangelical Publications, 2012, p. 236.
[5] See: Iain H. Murray, John MacArthur: Servant of the Word and of the Flock, p. 190-191.
[6] See: Iain H. Murray, The Martyn Lloyd-Jones Life 1899-1981?A biography, Sao Paulo: Selection of Evangelical Publications, 2014, p. 298-299,329,432.
[7] See: Iain H. Murray, The Life Martyn Lloyd-Jones 1899-1981, p. 361-422.
[8] See: D. M. Lloyd-Jones, Letters 1919-1981, Sao Paulo: Selection of Evangelical Publications, 1996, p. 168-169, 204, 210.
[9] Iain H. Murray, The Life of Martyn Lloyd-Jones 1899-1981? A biography, fourth cover.
[10] Iain H. Murray, The Life of Martyn Lloyd-Jones 1899-1981? A biography, fourth cover.
[11] See: J. I. Packer, Strength in Weakness: Living in the Power of Christ, Sao Paulo: Vida Nova, 2015, p. 21-22.
[12] J. I. Packer, Strength in Weakness: Living in the Power of Christ, p. 105.