GOD HAS SPOKEN, by J. I. Packer

A Brief Book Summary from Books At a Glance

by Kirsten Birkett

 

Contents

1. Introduction
2. The Lost Word
3. God’s Word Spoken (I)
4. God’s Word Spoken (II)
5. God’s Word Written
6. God’s Word Heard

Appendix I: The Chicago Statement on Biblical Inerrancy

Appendix II: The Chicago Statement on Biblical Hermeneutics

 

General Summary

An overview of a biblical understanding of the Word of God, contrasted with modern approaches that undermine biblical teaching. The doctrines of inspiration, infallibility, and inerrancy are surveyed. This is a new (2021) edition of Packer’s 1965 original.

 

Foreword (1993)

“Theologies that cannot be sung (or prayed for that matter) are certainly wrong at a deep level” – Therefore, this book should be “received first and foremost as a matter for praise.”

Three developments since original publication:

• Evangelical theology in the English-speaking world is far stronger
• The academic agenda in biblical studies is more focused on interpretation/hermeneutics; evangelical interpretation “stands in direct opposition to the selective, subjective hermeneutic of the various liberation theologies, most notably the feminist”
• Anti-supernaturalism in theology is not so dominant

Nonetheless, classical Christian theology is still a minority position, and the assertion of biblical authority in this book is still needed.

 

Chapter One: Introduction

Every joy in creation is heightened for the Christian, and every encounter with God’s word brings joy “and the keener the Christian the greater the joy.” Our eternal destiny depends on attending to the Bible. This life is not the only life, and life hereafter matters more – and is the only thing that makes sense of this life. Our destiny is determined by the message of the Bible, however we access it, but Bible-reading itself is hugely advantageous. The Scriptures bring us Jesus and call for our response. For serious study (in English) comparing four translations (KJV, a paraphrase, a word-for-word translation, and a standard one) is recommended; for reading and memorizing, choose one version. . . .

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