Concise Theology

J. I. Packer (1926–2020) served as the Board of Governors’ Professor of Theology at Regent College. He authored numerous books, including the classic bestseller Knowing God. Packer also served as general editor for the English Standard Version Bible and as theological editor for the ESV Study Bible.

• Publisher's ForewordPrefacePart 1: God Revealed as CreatorChapter 1: Revelation: Scripture Is the Word of God Chapter 2: Interpretation: Christians Can Understand the Word of God Chapter 3: General Revelation: God’s Reality Is Known to All Chapter 4: Guilt: The Effect of General Revelation Chapter 5: Inward Witness: Scripture Is Authenticated by the Holy Spirit Chapter 6: Authority: God Governs His People through Scripture Chapter 7: Knowledge: True Knowledge of God Comes through Faith Chapter 8: Creation: God Is the Creator Chapter 9: Self-Disclosure: This Is My Name Chapter 10: Self-Existence: God Has Always Been Chapter 11: Transcendence: God’s Nature Is Spiritual Chapter 12: Omniscience: God Sees and Knows Chapter 13: Sovereignty: God Reigns Chapter 14: Almightiness: God Is Omnipresent and Omnipotent Chapter 15: Predestination: God Has a Purpose Chapter 16: Trinity: God Is One and Three Chapter 17: Holiness: God Is Light Chapter 18: Goodness: God Is Love Chapter 19: Wisdom: God’s Twofold Will Is One Chapter 20: Mystery: God Is Surpassingly Great Chapter 21: Providence: God Governs This World Chapter 22: Miracles: God Shows His Presence and PowerChapter 23: Glory: God’s Glory-Showing Requires Glory-GivingChapter 24: Idolatry: God Demands Total AllegianceChapter 25: Angels: God Employs Supernatural AgentsChapter 26: Demons: God Has Supernatural OpponentsChapter 27: Satan: Fallen Angels Have a Leader Chapter 28: Humanness: God Made Human Beings in His ImageChapter 29: Humankind: Humans Are Body and Soul, in Two GendersPart 2: God Revealed as RedeemerChapter 30: The Fall: The First Human Couple SinnedChapter 31: Original Sin: Depravity Infects EveryoneChapter 32: Inability: Fallen Human Beings Are Both Free and EnslavedChapter 33: Covenant: God Takes Sinful Humans into a Covenant of GraceChapter 34: Law: God Legislates, and Demands ObedienceChapter 35: Law in Action: God’s Moral Law Has Three PurposesChapter 36: Conscience: God Teaches and Cleanses the Heart Chapter 37: Worship: God Gives a Liturgical PatternChapter 38: Prophets: God Sent Messengers to Declare His WillChapter 39: Incarnation: God Sent His Son to Save UsChapter 40: Two Natures: Jesus Christ Is Fully HumanChapter 41: Virgin Birth: Jesus Christ Was Born by MiracleChapter 42: Teacher: Jesus Christ Proclaimed God’s Kingdom and FamilyChapter 43: Sinlessness: Jesus Christ Was Entirely Free from SinChapter 44: Obedience: Jesus Christ Fulfilled His Father’s Redemptive WillChapter 45: Vocation: Jesus Christ’s Mission Was Revealed at His BaptismChapter 46: Transfiguration: How Jesus Christ’s Glory Was RevealedChapter 47: Resurrection: Jesus Christ Was Raised from the DeadChapter 48: Ascension: Jesus Christ Was Taken Up into HeavenChapter 49: Session: Jesus Reigns in HeavenChapter 50: Mediation: Jesus Christ Is the Mediator between God and ManChapter 51: Sacrifice: Jesus Christ Made Atonement for SinChapter 52: Definite Redemption: Jesus Christ Died for God’s ElectPart 3: God Revealed as Lord of Grace Chapter 53: Paraclete: The Holy Spirit Ministers to BelieversChapter 54: Salvation: Jesus Rescues His People from SinChapter 55: Election: God Chooses His Own Chapter 56: Effectual Calling: God Draws His People to HimselfChapter 57: Illumination: The Holy Spirit Gives Spiritual UnderstandingChapter 58: Regeneration: The Christian Is Born AgainChapter 59: Works: Good Works Are an Expression of FaithChapter 60: Repentance: A Christian Changes RadicallyChapter 61: Justification: Salvation Is by Grace through FaithChapter 62: Adoption: God Makes His People His ChildrenChapter 63: Sanctification: The Christian Grows in GraceChapter 64: Liberty: Salvation Brings Freedom Chapter 65: Legalism: Working for God’s Favor Forfeits It Chapter 66: Antinomianism: We Are Not Set Free to SinChapter 67: Love: Loving Is Basic to Christian BehaviorChapter 68: Hope: Hoping Is Basic to the Christian Outlook Chapter 69: Enterprise: A Christian Lives to Please GodChapter 70: Prayer: Christians Practice Fellowship with GodChapter 71: Oaths and Vows: Christians Must Be TruthfulChapter 72: The Kingdom of God: Christians Must Manifest Kingdom LifeChapter 73: Apostles: Jesus’s Representatives Exercised His AuthorityChapter 74: Church: God Plants His People in a New CommunityChapter 75: Word and Sacrament: How a Genuine Church Is IdentifiedChapter 76: Elders: Pastors Must Care for the ChurchChapter 77: Sacraments: Christ Instituted Two Seals of God’s CovenantChapter 78: Baptism: This Rite Exhibits Union with ChristChapter 79: The Lord’s Supper: This Rite Exhibits Communion with ChristChapter 80: Discipline: The Church Must Uphold Christian StandardsChapter 81: Mission: Christ Sends the Church into the WorldChapter 82: Spiritual Gifts: The Holy Spirit Equips the ChurchChapter 83: Marriage: Matrimony Is Meant to Be a Permanent Covenant RelationshipChapter 84: The Family: The Christian Household Is a Spiritual UnitChapter 85: The World: Christians Are in Society to Serve and Transform ItChapter 86: The State: Christians Must Respect Civil GovernmentPart 4: God Revealed as Lord of DestinyChapter 87: Perseverance: God Keeps His People SafeChapter 88: Unpardonable Sin: Only Impenitence Cannot Be ForgivenChapter 89: Mortality: Christians Need Not Fear DeathChapter 90: Second Coming: Jesus Christ Will Return to the Earth in GloryChapter 91: General Resurrection: The Dead in Christ Will Rise in GloryChapter 92: Judgment Seat: God Will Judge All MankindChapter 93: Hell: The Wicked Will Be Banished into Endless MiseryChapter 94: Heaven: God Will Welcome His People into Everlasting JoyGeneral IndexScripture Index