Life of John Murray

Look Inside Price £7.25

Weight 0.34 kg
Dimensions 21.5 × 13.6 × 1.5 cm
ISBN 9780851519500
Binding

Paperback

format

Book

page-count

240

Original Pub Date

1982

Banner Pub Date

Jun 1, 1984

Book Description

Professor John Murray was recognized in his own lifetime as one of the leading Reformed theologians in the English-speaking world. Born in Scotland, he served in France during the First World War, before pursuing studies, first at the University of Glasgow, and then at Princeton Theological Seminary, USA. In 1929 he was invited to teach Systematic Theology at Princeton, and did so for one year, before joining the Faculty of the newly formed Westminster Theological Seminary in Philadelphia. There he shared with such scholars and Christian leaders as J. Gresham Machen and Cornelius Van Til in the great struggle to maintain the old Princeton tradition of theology, represented by the Hodges and B.B. Warfield.

John Murray remained at Westminster until his retirement in 1966. He returned to his native Scotland, married and enjoyed a brief period of fatherhood prior to his death in 1975.

A careful scholar, and eloquent lecturer, a moving preacher, and the author of many outstanding articles and books, Murray’s driving passions were to declare Christ’s Word, advance his cause, and bless his people.

The Life of John Murray, published originally to accompany the four volumes of his Collected Writings, is now available again separately in this popular reset edition.

Table of Contents Expand ↓

Preface vii
1 THE YOUNGEST SON OF BADBEA 1
2 PRINCETON THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY, 1924-27 18
3 BY PATHS NOT KNOWN 39
4 ALONGSIDE GRESHAM MACHEN 58
5 THE STRUGGLES OF THE LATER THIRTIES 85
6 EVENTS IN THE WAR YEARS 103
7 THE SEMINARY PROFESSOR 119
8 GLIMPSES OF PERSONAL LIFE 140
9 THE WIDER INFLUENCE 160
10 ‘THE NEW WORK’ 181
Illustrations: between pp 118 and 119
Appendix: ANSWERS TO QUERIES 209

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Testimonials

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  1. Adam

    This is a book that revealed the warmth, encouragement, and faithful love a minister of God can possess. Iain Murray not only runs through the theological contributions John Murray made to the Reformed world, but also his great example of godliness and love. He even managed to portray Murray’s humor! Alongside Murray’s biography, there is also an interesting history about the development of Westminster Seminary. For me, the main theme I took away from this book of Murray’s life was warm godliness that should be the product of theological precision.

  2. Andrew Young

    This is a well researched and easily readable biography by Iain Murray, of one of the twentieth century’s leading reformed theologians. Iain Murray traces his namesake’s life, from his early days in the Scottish Highlands, and into service during the First World War. We then get an insight into his student days at Glasgow, then Princeton Theological Seminary, U.S.A. Ultimately Murray was invited to join the faculty of the new Westminster Theological Seminary in Philadelphia, working under the leadership of Greshem Machen, before the latter’s sudden death.

    During John Murray’s time at Westminster he, along with others sought to ‘contend earnestly for the faith that was once entrusted to the saints’ and we can see how he attempted to emphasise spirituality over academic achievement. After his retirement in 1966, he entered into married life, returned to Scotland and enjoyed a period of fatherhood, before his death in 1974.

    I found this book to be very informative. It gives the reader an insight into the Reformed faith, and also show some of the struggles within the Christian church, as it battled with liberal ideas during the twentieth century. A pity that Murray and his writings seem to have been largely ignored in recent years.

  3. Robert Norman

    Having read John Murray’s strange views on Sanctification I was a little skeptical about reading about his life. Due to circumstances in my life, however, reading this biography was recommended to me and knowing Iain Murray to be a very credible biographer I thought it couldn’t be a bad idea.
    I thoroughly enjoyed reading about this true man of God and his life. Some strange views he may have had, but his life was a testimony to faithfulness from the Scottish Highlands, which is sadly fading away by the hour in our day.

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