While at the New Life Bible Conference (which I hope to write more about soon), I picked up a copy of Iain Murray’s new biography,John MacArthur: Servant of the Word and Flock. I enjoy Murray’s biographies and like many others I was eager to get to know John a bit better. So, I figured a biography about MacArthur written by Murray would be win-win.
And I was right! Once again I enjoyed Murray’s uncluttered style, which seemed particularly appropriate for a man whose life has been marked by plainness of speech and love for the truth. The volume reads really smoothly and quickly. I regard myself a slow reader, but I was able to finish all but a few pages on the 4.5 hour plane ride from Chicago back to Cayman. A nice read for a cozy trip home.
Murray is careful to state that this biography is not exhaustive and that another writer (perhaps Phil Johnson) ought to take up a more complete study. So, the book really gives us the “high points” in MacArthur’s life, those moments and eras that were in many ways defining of the man and his ministry. We learn of his parents’ influence, his college years and days at seminary, of his early ministry at Grace Community Church, the development of Master’s and Grace to You, and of a few personal and theological crises that attracted MacArthur’s attention. Murray also gives us a “tour” of MacArthur’s writing along the way, giving particular attention to The Gospel According to Jesus, which sent seismic tremors through much of evangelicalism a couple decades back. Keep Reading...
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