Biographies

[Quatchu]

Can anyone recommend some good biographies on reformer or individuals within the history of the church?

 

[Wayne]

Out of print, but a great one on John Knox by Wm. Stanford Reid:

http://www.amazon.com/Trumpeter-God-Biography-John-Knox/dp/0801077087

Used copies are around and not expensive.

 

[InSlaveryToChrist]

One of the best biographies on any reformer is Dallimore's two-volume set, "George Whitefield: The Life and Times of the Great Evangelist of the Eighteenth-Century Revival."

I ordered mine from Amazon, so they had to be bought separately:

Volume 1: Amazon.com: George Whitefield: The Life and Times of the Great Evangelist of the Eighteenth-Century Revival - Volume I (9780851510262): Arnold A. Dallimore: Books

Volume 2: Amazon.com: George Whitefield: The Life and Times of the Great Evangelist of the Eighteenth Century - Volume II (9780851513003): Arnold A. Dallimore- volume 2: Books

 

[Jeff Burns]

I'm reading In Light of Eternity which is the bigoraphy of Leonard Ravenill. So far it's an easy read and very stirring. He's not reformed, but he understood biblical Christianity better than many folks who claim the title.

I can also heartily recommend Hudson Taylor's Spiritual Secret, the 2 Vol. Banner of Truth autobiography of Charles Spurgeon, the autobiography of George Muller, and the autobiograhy of John G Paton, now sold under the title Missionary Patriarch.

Piper's short biographies in the series The Swans Are Not Silent are also very good and easy reads.

 

[JP Wallace]

I really like the autobiography of John G. Paton 19th century missionary to Vanuatu - a great read as an adventure in itself.

Amazon.com: John G. Paton: Missionary to the New Hebrides (9780851516677): John G. Paton: Books

Selderhuis's biography of Calvin is also a great read.

Amazon.com: John Calvin: A Pilgrim's Life (9780830829217): Herman J. Selderhuis: Books

 

[PuritanCovenanter]

The Whitefield books that were recommended are excellent for gaining insight and stirring up ones affection for ministry. It isn't just a biography on Whitefield. It also contains a host of other personalities that surrounded Whitefield such as the Wesley's, those involved with the Walsh revivals and the American revivals. It was a most edifying read. A Life by George Marsden on Edwards is a good read. McCrie's John Knox is excellent. Luther has some excellent biographies done on his life. John Owen has one done by Peter Toon that is good. J. I. Packer did one on J. C. Ryle that is very good called Faithfulness and Holiness. The John G. Paton book is a great read. Those are ones off the top of my head that I have read.

 

[PaulCLawton]

There are two that come to mind right away as favourties: John Calvin: Pilgrim and Pastor by W. Robert Godfrey and Cornelius Van Til: Reformed Apologist and Churchman by John Muether.