J.I. Packer

J.I. Packer, a beloved Regent College professor and influential theologian, shaped generations through his teaching, preaching, and writings, including Knowing God and Concise Theology. He also served as General Editor of the ESV Bible. 

About the Contributor

Dr. Packer passed away on July 17, 2020. He leaves behind his wife, Kit, three children, and two grandsons. Read our tribute to Dr. Packer.

J.I. Packer became Professor of Systematic and Historical Theology at Regent College in 1979. In 1989, he was installed as the first Sangwoo Youtong Chee Professor of Theology. In 1996, he became Board of Governors’ Professor of Theology. 

J.I. Packer preached and lectured widely in Great Britain and North America and frequently contributed to theological periodicals. His writings include: Fundamentalism and the Word of God, Evangelism and the Sovereignty of God, Knowing God, Growing in Christ, God has Spoken, Knowing Man, Beyond the Battle for the Bible, God’s Words, Keep in Step with the Spirit, Christianity the True Humanism, Your Father Loves You, Hot Tub Religion, A Quest for Godliness, Rediscovering Holiness, Concise Theology, A Passion For Faithfulness, and Knowing Christianity. He was a member of the Editorial Council of Christianity Today, and General Editor of the English Standard Version of the Bible, published in Fall 2001. 

Dr. Packer’s more recent publications include Life in the Spirit, A Grief Sanctified, Truth and Power, Knowing and Doing the Will of God, Great Power, Great Grace, Great Joy, The Redemption and Restoration of Man in the Thought of Richard Baxter, Knowing God through the Year, Knowing God’s Purpose for your Life, Never Beyond Hope, God’s Plans for You, Faithfulness and Holiness, One Faith (with Thomas Oden), Praying and God’s Will (with Carolyn Nystrom), and Grounded in the Gospel (with Gary Parrett). His Collected Shorter Writings are available in four volumes, and a selection of his articles has been published as The J.I. Packer Collection. Dr. Packer’s interests included music (Western classical and early jazz), railroads, and English cricket.

 

Media & Publications

  • The Anglican Heritage  Video
  • Free audio - Approaching Roman Catholicism: An Evaluation of the Protestant-Catholic Divide  Audio
  • The Future Shape of Anglican Ministry (with Donald Lewis)  Book
  • The J.I. Packer Collection  Book
  • Collected Shorter Writings  Book
  • Praying  Book
  • One Faith  Book
  • Faithfulness and Holiness  Book
  • God’s Plans for You  Book
  • Never Beyond Hope  Book
  • Knowing God’s Purpose for your Life  Book
  • Knowing God through the Year  Book
  • The Redemption and Restoration of Man in the Thought of Richard Baxter  Book
  • Great Joy  Book
  • Great Grace  Book
  • Great Power  Book
  • Knowing and Doing the Will of God  Book
  • Truth and Power  Book
  • A Grief Sanctified  Book
  • Life in the Spirit  Book

J.I. Packer's Work

Sep 16, 2025

Audio: Knowing God

J.I. Packer

In this talk, J.I. Packer reflects on his classic Knowing God (1973), originally developed from a series of articles. He emphasizes its central message: knowing God is not mere knowledge but a personal relationship of trust, response, and vulnerability.