The Knowledge of the Holy: The Attributes of God. Their Meaning in the Christian Life

This is a brief, but classic, work that I read in preparation for a Bible study in which I was involved this fall. There are 23 chapters, each only several pages long, that expound on some of the many attributes and aspects of God's nature. A statement in the preface encapsulates nicely why it is so critical to study God: "It is impossible to keep our moral practices sound and our inward attitudes right while our idea of God is erroneous or inadequate." In the first chapter, Tozer adds, "A right conception of God is basic not only to systematic theology but to practical Christian living as well."

I found each chapter to be insightful, uplifting, and thought-provoking. The far-reaching implications of learning more about God - through the combined study of this book and Scripture - compel me to think that one would do well to engage solely in the study of God for the remainder of this life. It is, of course, an inexhaustible study. And I have personally experienced the rich transformation that has been effected in my life as a result of what I have learned thus far. Another word from Tozer toward this end, "For the Scriptures not only teach truth, they show also its uses for mankind. The inspired writers were men of like passion with us, dwelling in the midst of life. What they learned about God became to them a sword, a shield, a hammer; it became their life motivation, their good hope, and their confident expectation. From the objective facts of theology their hearts made how many thousand joyous deductions and personal applications!" (Natalie Weber)

About the Author

Aiden Wilson Tozer (April 21, 1897 - May 12, 1963) was an American Christian pastor, author, magazine editor, and spiritual mentor. For his accomplishments, he received honorary doctorates from Wheaton and Houghton colleges.

Tozer began writing in 1931 for the denominational magazine of the Christian and Missionary Alliance, Alliance Weekly (now Alliance Life), which became the platform from which his writing career emerged. He later wrote the monthly column "There's Truth in It" (1936-37) and "A Word in Season" (1944-46). In May 1950, he became the editor of the Alliance Weekly, a position he filled until his death in 1963.

At the urging of David W. Fant, publications secretary of the C&MA, Tozer wrote biographies of A. B. Simpson (1943) and Robert A. Jaffray (1947). It was the publication of Tozer's third book, The Pursuit of God (1948), that made him a household name among evangelicals. In addition to the 12 books he published in his lifetime, more than 40 other books have been compiled from his magazine features, editorials, and transcribed sermons.

During his lifetime, Tozer's works were published by Christian Publications, Inc., the denominational press operated by the C&MA. The publishing house declared bankruptcy in 2006 and was purchased by WingSpread Publishers of Camp Hill, Pennsylvania. In November 2013, Moody Publishers acquired Wingspread from parent company Zur Ltd., a transaction that included more than 60 Tozer books and pamphlets. Some of Tozer's works are now in the public domain and have been issued by multiple publishers.

In 2000, The Pursuit of God was named to Christianity Today's list of 100 "Books of the Century." In 2006, Knowledge of the Holy was named in "The Top 50 Books That Have Shaped Evangelicals". Contemporary Christian music artist Lauren Barlow of BarlowGirl later published a compilation of stories told by 59 artists, writers, and leaders about A.W. Tozer's personal inspiration. (wikipedia.org)