Knowing God Packer

Paker, J.I. Knowing God. Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 1993. Knowing God is a book written by J. I. Packer. In this book Packer talks much about the attributes of God, and how God relates to us and others throughout the Bible. In the opening chapters of Knowing God, Packer presents the idea that although many self-proclaimed Christians feel as though they know God most are misled regarding what this truly entails. He says that often times people in the church are not living in true relationship with God, because we do not really know Him. Packer gives four ways to discern if someone truly has a relationship with God, these are: “Those who know God have great energy for God, those who know God have great thoughts for God, those who know God show great boldness for God, and those who

In reference to our prayer lives, Packer says, “If, however, there is in us little energy for such prayer, and little consequent practice of it, this is a sure sign that as yet we scarcely know our God.” (29) In the chapters following, Packer goes on to tell us more about Gods attributes such as His love, grace, and wisdom; all things that once reading and understanding them can cause us to want to know God more. In the last section, Packer challenges us to see more closely God’s unconditional love for His people. We see His heart for us displayed in the actions He took to redeem us, and through this we are to desire to know Him more. In reading Knowing God, one can definitely see Packer’s heart for God, and as a result of that, his heart for the reader. He desires to see people come to a place where they truly know and seek God, beyond only being able give information about Him, but where they know Him on a much deeper, more personal