A Quest for Godliness: The Puritan Vision of the Christian Life (Packer)

A Quest for Godliness explores the depth and breadth of Puritan spiritual life. Drawing on a lifetime of study, Packer surveys the lives and teachings of great Puritan leaders such as John Owen, Richard Baxter, and Jonathan Edwards. He examines the Puritan view of the Bible, spiritual gifts, the Sabbath, worship, social action, and the family. The Puritans’ faith, Packer argues, stands in marked contrast with the superficiality of modern western Christianity.

In a time of failing vision and decaying values, this powerful portrait of the Puritans is a beacon of hope that calls us to radical commitment and action, both desperately needed today. Beautifully written, A Quest for Godliness is a moving and challenging exploration of Puritan life and thought. Here is J. I. Packer at his very best.

Table of Contents:

1. Introduction

The Puritans in Profile  

2. Why We Need the Puritans

3. Puritanism as a Movement of Revival

4. The Practical Writings of the English Puritans

The Puritans and the Bible

5. John Owen on Communication from God

6. The Puritans as Interpreters of Scripture

7. The Puritan Conscience

The Puritans and the Gospel

8. Saved by His Precious Blood: An Introduction to John Owen’s The Death of Death in the Death of Christ

9. The Doctrine of Justification in Development and Decline Among the Puritans

10. The Puritan Views of Preaching the Gospel

The Puritans and the Holy Spirit

11. The Witness of the Spirit in Puritan Thought

12. The Spirituality of John Owen

13. John Owen on Spiritual Gifts

The Puritan Christian Life

14. The Puritans and the Lord’s Day

15. The Puritan Approach to Worship

16. Marriage and Family in Puritan Thought

The Puritans in Ministry

17. Puritan Preaching

18. Puritan Evangelism

19. Jonathan Edwards and Revival

20. Afterword 

Author 

J. I. Packer (DPhil, Oxford University) serves as the Board of Governors’ Professor of Theology at Regent College. He is the author of numerous books, including the classic best-seller Knowing God. Packer served as general editor for the English Standard Version Bible and as theological editor for the ESV Study Bible.