A Peculiar Glory: How the Christian Scriptures Reveal Their Complete Truthfulness
Piper, John
God has provided a way for all people, not just scholars, to know that the Bible is the Word of God. John Piper has devoted his life to showing us that the glory of God is object of the soul's happiness. Now, his burden in this book is to demonstrate that this same glory is the ground of the mind's certainty.
God’s peculiar glory shines through his Word. The Spirit of God enlightens the eyes of our hearts. And in one self–authenticating sight, our minds are sure and our hearts are satisfied. Justified certainty and solid joy meet in the peculiar glory of God.
Books at a Glance
A Peculiar Glory: How the Christian Scriptures Reveal Their Complet...
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Cover TypeHardcover
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ISBN9781433552632
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Page Count304
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PublisherCrossway/Good News Publishers
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Publication DateMarch 2016
Endorsements (10)
“A Peculiar Glory should be quickly established as a modern classic on the Bible. Clearly and methodically laying out the case for why we can have absolute confidence in the Bible as God’s own word, it gives to faith both muscle and joy. The day John Owen persuaded me that the Christian Scriptures are self–authenticating was a glorious moment of liberation. I hope and expect that John Piper will bring that same liberation to many with this book.”
See AllMichael Reeves
President and Professor of Theology, Union School of Theology, Oxford, England; author, Delighting in the Trinity, The Unquenchable Flame, and Rejoicing in Christ
“John Piper has written a robust and pastoral defense of an orthodox doctrine of Scripture. Resisting any who would render well–grounded assurance of Scripture’s truthfulness the preserve of experts and academics, his emphasis upon the self–authenticating and life–transforming glory of God they bear is salutary and faith–affirming. We cannot properly regard Scripture without beholding its author. The greatest strength of Piper’s treatment lies precisely in the fact that his account of Scripture is so absorbed in the beauty of the one who inspired it.”
See AllAlastair Roberts
blogger; participant, Mere Fidelity podcast
“With passion, clarity, a believing respect for Scripture, and a burning desire for God’s glory, John Piper has written a robust defense of the complete trustworthiness of Scripture, with debts to Jonathan Edwards and the Westminster Larger Catechism. The language of the book is simple and accessible, but the ideas are deep and its coverage extensive. Scholarship is worn lightly, and the pastoral concern informing the work is pervasively evident. Whether the reader is educationally sophisticated or unsophisticated, the argument is that the peculiar glory of God is on view for all to see, if God gives the grace to do so. I hope this work finds a wide readership.”
See AllGraham A. Cole
Dean and Vice President of Education and Professor of Biblical and Systematic Theology, Trinity Evangelical Divinity School
“In this spirited and tightly argued book, pastor–theologian John Piper seeks to ground our confidence in the Bible’s status as the Word of God by directing our attention to the ‘peculiar glory’ that is manifest through its message and across its pages: the glory of the ‘Lion–like majesty’ and the ‘Lamb–like meekness’ that radiates in the face of Jesus Christ. Here is a book on the authority and trustworthiness of Scripture that promises to strengthen our faith in the word of God and to expand our capacity for wonder before the glory of God.”
See AllScott Swain
Associate Professor of Systematic Theology and Academic Dean, Reformed Theological Seminary, Orlando, Florida
“There are few questions more important than ‘How do I know the Bible is God’s Word?’ And there are few people who could address it as well as John Piper. Drawing from the deep theological well of Jonathan Edwards and with a practical eye for the average believer in the pew, Piper helps us recover the foundational importance of a self–authenticating Bible. This book will revolutionize the way you think about God’s Word.”
See AllMichael J. Kruger
President and Professor of New Testament, Reformed Theological Seminary, Charlotte; author, Canon Revisited
“It’s easy to take the Bible for granted. We know that it’s the Word of God, but do we really? We know which books belong to it and what distinguishes these texts from ordinary religious literature, right? Of course, we know why we trust Scripture and how to communicate that confidence to others, or do we? Rather than take for granted a high view of Scripture, A Peculiar Glory exposes another generation to the source, authority, reliability, and truthfulness of God’s written word. Dr. Piper has written another important, accessible, and wise account of the things that matter most.”
See AllMichael Horton
J. Gresham Machen Professor of Systematic Theology and Apologetics, Westminster Seminary California; author, Core Christianity: Finding Yourself in God’s Story “There are few questions more important than ‘How do I know the Bible is God’s Word?’ And there are few people who could address it as well as John Piper. Drawing from the deep theological well of Jonathan Edwards and with a practical eye for the average believer in the pew, Piper helps us recover the foundational importance of a self–authenticating Bible. This book will revolutionize the way you think about God’s Word.”– Michael J. Kruger, President and Professor of New Testament, Reformed Theological Seminary, Charlotte; author, Canon Revisited “In this spirited and tightly argued book, pastor–theologian John Piper seeks to ground our confidence in the Bible’s status as the Word of God by directing our attention to the ‘peculiar glory’ that is manifest through its message and across its pages: the glory of the ‘Lion–like majesty’ and the ‘Lamb–like meekness’ that radiates in the face of Jesus Christ. Here is a book on the authority and trustworthiness of Scripture that promises to strengthen our faith in the word of God and to expand our capacity for wonder before the glory of God.”– Scott Swain, Associate Professor of Systematic Theology and Academic Dean, Reformed Theological Seminary, Orlando, Florida “With passion, clarity, a believing respect for Scripture, and a burning desire for God’s glory, John Piper has written a robust defense of the complete trustworthiness of Scripture, with debts to Jonathan Edwards and the Westminster Larger Catechism. The language of the book is simple and accessible, but the ideas are deep and its coverage extensive. Scholarship is worn lightly, and the pastoral concern informing the work is pervasively evident. Whether the reader is educationally sophisticated or unsophisticated, the argument is that the peculiar glory of God is on view for all to see, if God gives the grace to do so. I hope this work finds a wide readership.”– Graham A. Cole, Dean and Vice President of Education and Professor of Biblical and Systematic Theology, Trinity Evangelical Divinity School “John Piper has written a robust and pastoral defense of an orthodox doctrine of Scripture. Resisting any who would render well–grounded assurance of Scripture’s truthfulness the preserve of experts and academics, his emphasis upon the self–authenticating and life–transforming glory of God they bear is salutary and faith–affirming. We cannot properly regard Scripture without beholding its author. The greatest strength of Piper’s treatment lies precisely in the fact that his account of Scripture is so absorbed in the beauty of the one who inspired it.”– Alastair Roberts, blogger; participant, Mere Fidelity podcast “A Peculiar Glory should be quickly established as a modern classic on the Bible. Clearly and methodically laying out the case for why we can have absolute confidence in the Bible as God’s own word, it gives to faith both muscle and joy. The day John Owen persuaded me that the Christian Scriptures are self–authenticating was a glorious moment of liberation. I hope and expect that John Piper will bring that same liberation to many with this book.”– Michael Reeves, President and Professor of Theology, Union School of Theology, Oxford, England; author, Delighting in the Trinity, The Unquenchable Flame, and Rejoicing in Christ
“The classic doctrine of Scripture’s self–attestation suffers when it is used as a short–cut method of scoring evidential points or winning an argument without doing any work. But it unfolds its wings and soars to the heavens when handled by somebody who shows that when we read the Bible, we are dealing with God himself in his own holy words. In this book, John Piper throws everything he’s got at the message of how God illuminates the mind and gives firm conviction to the heart through the Bible.”
See AllFred Sanders
Professor of Theology, Torrey Honors Institute, Biola University
“Piper points us to Scripture—its authority, its historical accuracy, its total truthfulness, and especially its beauty and power. The Scriptures are beautiful and powerful because they disclose to us, as the Spirit opens our hearts, the loveliness and glory of Jesus Christ. Here we find compelling arguments for the truthfulness of the Scriptures and profound meditations on the stunning glory of God. The book captures and expresses the truth of Peter’s words in John 6:68, ‘Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life.’”
See AllThomas R. Schreiner
James Buchanan Harrison Professor of New Testament Interpretation and Associate Dean of the School of Theology, The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary
“A Peculiar Glory is a solid theological and exegetical treatment of biblical authority, but much more. Besides the standard arguments, Piper has developed (with the help of Jonathan Edwards) a profoundly original yet biblical approach to the question. It raises the traditional arguments to an exponential level of cogency. Piper says that our most definitive persuasion comes from actually seeing the glory of God in his Word. Theologians have traditionally called this the internal testimony of the Holy Spirit, but that theological label does little justice to the experience, the awareness of the glory of God as we meet Jesus in Scripture. That really happens. It is astonishing and powerful. And it explains the difference between an observers merely theoretical faith and a true disciples delighted embrace of Christ. This doctrine of Scripture is worthy of the overall emphasis of Pipers writings, the desire for God, Christian hedonism, and the dangerous duty of delight. Perhaps only Piper could have written this book, and Im delighted that he has done so.”
See AllJohn M. Frame
J. D. Trimble Chair of Systematic Theology and Philosophy, Reformed Theological Seminary, Orlando
“A Peculiar Glory is not just another book defending the reliability of the Scriptures, although it does do that. It is a reminder that without the internal witness of the Spirit, no amount of evidences will ever lead to faith. And that witness works most directly as we read and understand Scripture itselfas it attests itself to usparticularly as we focus on Jesus and the gospel message. Part apologetics, part church history, part almost lyrical poetry, Pipers book should inspire every reader back to the Bible, to its core and to the Jesus whom it reveals, who loves us beyond measure despite all that we are and domore than enough reason for being his disciples.”
See AllCraig L. Blomberg
Distinguished Professor of New Testament, Denver Seminary
About the Author
John Piper (DTheol, University of Munich) is the founder and teacher of desiringGod.org and the chancellor of Bethlehem College & Seminary. He served for 33 years as the senior pastor of Bethlehem Baptist Church in Minneapolis, Minnesota, and is the author of more than 50 books, including Desiring God, Don’t Waste Your Life, This Momentary Marriage, Bloodlines, and Does God Desire All to Be Saved?