Tom Nettles has spent more than 15 years working on this magisterial biography of Charles Haddon Spurgeon, the famous 19th century preacher and writer. More than merely a biography it covers his life, ministry and also provides an indepth survey of his theology.
Endorsements
What Nettles makes plain is that for Spurgeon, all theology is pastoral theology. I cannot recommend this book highly enough. It should be widely distributed by all who love the gospel of God's grace that Spurgeon preached. Every pastor, ministerial student and those who work to train men for the ministry should carefully learn from the life and labors of Charles Haddon Spurgeon as Tom Nettles elucidates them. Nearly everyone who knows of Spurgeon admires him for his great accomplishments. Nettles helps us understand the theological underpinnings of those accomplishments. In doing so, the author, like his subject, has served the church well.
Tom Ascol Pastor, Grace Baptist Church, Cape Coral, Florida
Of the making of books about Spurgeon there is obviously no end, but this one enters the list as one of the best. This is a book to read and digest, to meditate and come back to- a monumental and well documented tome on one of the finest preachers.
Evangelicals Now
As the title suggests, this massively researched biography of Charles Haddon Spurgeon is more than a biography. It is also an examination of how Spurgeon's foundational adherence to the doctrine of the plenary inspiration of the Scriptures, along with the attendant doctrines of inerrancy and sufficiency, guided every aspect of his life and ministry. Spurgeon was born in 1834 and died in 1892. His all-too-brief lifespan is lovingly chronicled by Nettles.
Alan Pontier, New Horizons
... takes us into the heart of Charles Spurgeon's conviction and his pastoral theology. This is a book that will encourage, educate, and bless its readers.
R. Albert Mohler President, The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, Louisville, Kentucky
... Nettles has given us an immense and monumental portrait of almost every aspect of the life of "the prince of preachers,"... educational, edifying, and enjoyable to read, this massive work is a masterful contribution to Baptist history and Christian biography.
David S. Dockery President, International Alliance for Christian Education and Distinguished Professor of Theology, Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, Fort Worth, Texas
... an "all-round" study of Spurgeon that provides us with a fully reliable, substantial examination of an extremely important figure in the life of Victorian Evangelicalism and the world of that era.
Michael A. G. Haykin Professor of Church History and Biblical Spirituality, The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, Louisville, Kentucky
While numerous biographies of Spurgeon have been published over the decades, Spurgeon's thought normally receives short shrift from his biographers. This is why this new biography is so important. By focusing on Spurgeon's memoirs and published articles, Tom Nettles has filled an important gap in scholarship related to Spurgeon with this exhaustive intellectual biography of the Prince of Preachers. Many pastors and other casual readers will be encouraged by Spurgeon's commitment to a high view of Scripture and historic Baptist orthodoxy from a Reformed perspective. Scholars will be forced to reckon with Spurgeon the theologian as they pursue their own studies of the famed Victorian pastor.
Nathan A. Finn Dean of the School of Theology and Missions and Professor of Christian Thought and Tradition, Union University, Jackson, Tennessee
... a monumental work. It combines the best features of a Christian biography and a pastor's manual in an eminently readable style, with meticulous attention to detail.
Peace and Truth
Despite his ongoing popularity, Charles Spurgeon has only recently begun to attract the serious attention he deserves. Tom Nettles' work now makes a major contribution to this growing appreciation of the man and his ministry. Mining neglected but important sources, he has given sharper definition to our picture of Spurgeon, and produced a highly stimulating and readable account.
Michael Reeves President and Professor of Theology, Union School of Theology, Bridgend, Wales
Charles Haddon Spurgeon was the greatest preacher of the nineteenth century in England and probably the whole world. The pungent and passionate sermons of the Baptist pastor brought home the gospel message to the hearts of his numerous hearers and more numerous readers. Tom Nettles has retold Spurgeon's life as a warm admirer, but he is careful to rest his judgements on detailed evidence. In particular The Sword and the Trowel, the magazine Spurgeon edited as pastor of the Metropolitan Tabernacle in London, is used as a quarry for an abundance of fresh material. Consequently this biography casts new light on Spurgeon's life, ministry and theology.
David Bebbington Professor of History, University of Stirling, Stirling
Fresh and unique, this book will be enjoyable to laymen, profitable to pastors, and indispensable for scholars. Nettles' volume now takes an honored place among the most valuable of all resources pertaining to the Prince of Preachers.
Donald S Whitney Professor of Biblical Spirituality, The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, Louisville, Kentucky
... one of those rare gems of Christian biography: it places in your hands the life of a great man, written by an outstanding historical theologian. The combination brings Charles Spurgeon's life and thought to life. Tom Nettles's portrait of Spurgeon is eminently personal, historically vivid and theologically rich. I recommend it to anyone interested in seeing how theology and ministry, gospel and life, can unite in a single narrative of a life lived for the glory of God.
Robert Caldwell Assistant Professor of Church History, Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, Forth Worth, Texas
Tom Nettles has produced a fine and very valuable study of Spurgeon the pastor and teacher. This is a volume that will be of great interest not only to historians but to pastors and all those concerned for the spread of biblical truth and gospel life.
Robert Strivens- Journal of the Evangelical Theological Society
When I first received this book (Living By Revealed Truth) one of my initial thoughts was how easy of a review this would be to write. It didn't take long for that thought to change to 'How on earth do I write this review?' That question in no way reflects negatively on this book. Actually, the book is fantastic. It is a work fifteen years in the making and the amount of research and information that it contains is truly staggering. At just under 700 pages of double column text, Nettles has provided the church with a wonderful resource to peer into the life and theology of probably the best known preacher in Church history.
For anyone who may be unfamiliar with Charles Spurgeon (really?!?), Nettles provides one quote that provides a wonderful description of the type of preacher he was. Commenting on Spurgeon (who at the time had only been pastor at New Park Street for two weeks) to a college class on elocution, Sheridan Knowles said, "Go and hear him at once if you want to know how to preach. His name is Charles Spurgeon. He is only a boy, but he is the most wonderful preacher in the world. He is absolutely prefect in his oratory; and, besides that, a master in the art of acting. He has nothing to learn from me, or anyone else. He is simply perfect." Those of us who have read some of Spurgeon's sermons would simply reply, "YEP!" His passion and presence come through in his written words, one can only imagine what type of speaker he was.
This book is MASSIVE and there is no way to touch on everything that is contains, so I want to focus on just a few thoughts. The book contains 18 chapters that walk through Spurgeon's life. One of the first things to notice is how fast his ministry grew. Spurgeon felt that, "The pulpit is too much a repetition of creeds and theologies that are becoming extinct; and in the second place there is a deadweight in the pews which masters the pulpit and deadens its intellectual life." Spurgeon was clear that some of the Calvinistic pastors where very dry in their approach to sermons. They may have had sound doctrine, but it was presented in such a way that did not edify the church. Spurgeon's response, however, was not to water down the doctrine, but rather he engaged his audience with passion and clarity. If the doctrine we believe is true then once we come to understand it, it should change the way we live. Right doctrine should leads to right practice. Spurgeon knew God was sovereign over all things and this confidence in God shows through in his theology and his life.
Nettles is fair in providing the reader with both praise and criticism that was directed at Spurgeon. He takes the reader through the successes of Spurgeon's ministry as well as the hardships and difficulties. This is a very well rounded and informative book. Nettles research and efforts are visibly chapter after chapter.
Tom Nettles is one of the better Baptist historians and the knowledge, effort and care he has given to this work is evident on every page. This would be a wonderful book for every church or serious reader to add to their library. It is not a simple, quick read, but it is loaded with insight into the life of one of the greatest preachers that God has every blessed His Church with. If you have never read about Charles Spurgeon's life, ministry and theology then this is the book you need! I HIGHLY recommend this book.
I received a free copy of this book from Christian Focus Publications in exchange for an honest review.
Joey Parker
Nettles gives the reader insights into Spurgeon's views on theology, the ministry, and church life that will pay rich dividends to any who will take the time to read this compelling story. If a minister reads only one biography of the great preacher, let it be this one!
Jeff Straub Professor of Historical Theology, Central Baptist Theological Seminary, Plymouth, Minnesota
... worth its weight in gold. Do read, mark and learn to the profit of your soul and to the praise of the Lord Jesus Christ whom Spurgeon served so well.
English Churchman
... for those growing to appreciate the man and wanting to get a real handle on him, and who are eager for and able to digest a thorough review of his life, this is the place to go.
Evangelical Times
Readers are inspired to holiness of life, faithfulness in Christ's service, and perseverance in godliness by the moving account of this great Victorian evangelist who held and maintained through his preaching and pastoral ministry endeavors the great truths generally known as "the doctrines of grace."
C. Berry Driver Jr. Associate Vice President of Academic Resources, Librarian and Professor of Church History, The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, Louisville, Kentucky
Pastors and elders, especially those mentoring young men for gospel ministry, will find Tom Nettles' Living By Revealed Truth to be a treasure of pastoral theology. Written winsomely and comprehensively, the book presents a remarkable picture of how C. H. Spurgeon embraced the whole of pastoral ministry, and how he continues to influence yet another generation of gospel workers through his legacy. Much more than a biography or a pastor's manual, Living By Revealed Truth sets forth the details of a gospel-centered ministry in ways that give contemporary ministers motivation and direction for every stage of pastoral work.
Phillip Newton Director of Pastoral Care and Mentoring, The Pillar Network Wake Forest, North Carolina; author, ‘40 Questions about Pastoral Ministry’
This is certainly deserving of the best book of 2013.
Sam Storms President, Enjoying God Ministries
In my opinion, when one combines the scope of this biography with its intention to instruct its readers in a vision of ministry that glorifies God, it will not only break fresh ground on the life of Spurgeon, it will also set a new standard for how to write biographies.
Dave Jenkins Executive Director, Servants of Grace Ministries
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