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50 People Every Christian Should Know: Learning from Spiritual Giants of the Faith
Christians in the twenty-first century need encouragement and inspiration to lead lives that honor God. When faith is weak or the pressures of the world seem overwhelming, remembering the great men and women of the past can inspire us to renewed strength and purpose. Our spiritual struggles are not new, and the stories of those who have gone before us can help lead the way to our own victories.
50 People Every Christian Should Know gives a glimpse into the lives of such people as Charles H. Spurgeon, G. Campbell Morgan, A. W. Tozer, Fanny Crosby, Amy Carmichael, Jonathan Edwards, James Hudson Taylor, and many more. Combining the stories of fifty of these faithful men and women, beloved author Warren W. Wiersbe offers today's readers inspiration and encouragement in life's uncertain journey.
50 People Every Christian Should Know gives a glimpse into the lives of such people as Charles H. Spurgeon, G. Campbell Morgan, A. W. Tozer, Fanny Crosby, Amy Carmichael, Jonathan Edwards, James Hudson Taylor, and many more. Combining the stories of fifty of these faithful men and women, beloved author Warren W. Wiersbe offers today's readers inspiration and encouragement in life's uncertain journey.
398 pages, Paperback
First published April 1, 2009
About the author
Warren W. Wiersbe
620 books362 followersWarren W. Wiersbe, former pastor of the Moody Church and general director of Back to the Bible, has traveled widely as a Bible teacher and conference speaker. Because of his encouragement to those in ministry, Dr. Wiersbe is often referred to as 'the pastor's pastor.' He has ministered in churches and conferences throughout the United States as well as in Canada, Central and South America, and Europe. Dr. Wiersbe has written over 150 books, including the popular BE series of commentaries on every book of the Bible, which has sold more than four million copies. At the 2002 Christian Booksellers Convention, he was awarded the Gold Medallion Lifetime Achievement Award by the Evangelical Christian Publishers Association. Dr. Wiersbe and his wife, Betty, live in Lincoln, Nebraska.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 177 reviews
December 27, 2017
Excellent book. I rate it 4 stars because there is little room for depth here (of course there isn't meant to be) and the writer "occasionally" disagrees with the person he's writing about and it "occasionally" shows...but not badly.
I don't know if every Christian actually needs to know these people, but I'm pretty sure you'll be interested in them and possibly grow a bit. From theologians, apologists, and evangelists to hymn and verse writers (Like Spurgeon, Moody and Tozer) to little know people (like Katherine von Bora [well at least I was unaware of her]) you'll find interesting "mini-biographies" here. You'll get a thumbnail sketch of the people involved and then there are "the author's" recommendation for more extensive reading by and about the person in question.
Of course there will be some disagreement I suppose as to who would go on this list (I would definitely have included C.S.Lewis, but then maybe he thought everyone already knew C.S.Lewis). Still as I said, pretty good book and worth reading. I can recommend this one.
I don't know if every Christian actually needs to know these people, but I'm pretty sure you'll be interested in them and possibly grow a bit. From theologians, apologists, and evangelists to hymn and verse writers (Like Spurgeon, Moody and Tozer) to little know people (like Katherine von Bora [well at least I was unaware of her]) you'll find interesting "mini-biographies" here. You'll get a thumbnail sketch of the people involved and then there are "the author's" recommendation for more extensive reading by and about the person in question.
Of course there will be some disagreement I suppose as to who would go on this list (I would definitely have included C.S.Lewis, but then maybe he thought everyone already knew C.S.Lewis). Still as I said, pretty good book and worth reading. I can recommend this one.
December 28, 2022
This took me more than half the year to finish because I went through times where I struggled to read it and left it for a while, but I finally finished it.
This book is addressed specifically towards preachers (which I didn't realize it would be when I started it), but it was still very interesting and I enjoyed the overviews of each individual's life. It is so inspiring (and convicting!) reading about such faithful believers and how devoted they were to living their lives for God. And I came out of it with a very long list of further books to read about many of these people.
This book is addressed specifically towards preachers (which I didn't realize it would be when I started it), but it was still very interesting and I enjoyed the overviews of each individual's life. It is so inspiring (and convicting!) reading about such faithful believers and how devoted they were to living their lives for God. And I came out of it with a very long list of further books to read about many of these people.
May 23, 2021
4 stars // read May 2021
A more accurate title for this book might have been "50 People Every Preacher Should Know", since it was definitely geared towards that audience. While the author includes some household names ( A.W. Tozer, Jonathan Edwards, C. H. Spurgeon) the majority of the book featured people who have been largely lost to history.
The writing style was very readable considering the format and content- the author writes as if he's old friends with each person. The "For Further Reading" lists in the back are very helpful; it would've been nice to have a brief, one-sentence description of each person, since most of them run together in my head as "a preacher from Scotland/Wales/England."
I would recommend this book if you are a). a preacher or b). a layperson who is very interested in obscure figures from church history.
A more accurate title for this book might have been "50 People Every Preacher Should Know", since it was definitely geared towards that audience. While the author includes some household names ( A.W. Tozer, Jonathan Edwards, C. H. Spurgeon) the majority of the book featured people who have been largely lost to history.
The writing style was very readable considering the format and content- the author writes as if he's old friends with each person. The "For Further Reading" lists in the back are very helpful; it would've been nice to have a brief, one-sentence description of each person, since most of them run together in my head as "a preacher from Scotland/Wales/England."
I would recommend this book if you are a). a preacher or b). a layperson who is very interested in obscure figures from church history.
November 22, 2022
Most of this book was a fantastic resource for Christians wanting to learn more about Christian history. Loads of further resources for deeper studying were mentioned and recommended throughout. The anecdotes on each person were quite interesting.
Catholicism and mysticism were highlighted in a few spots. Those people ought not to have been included in this collection.
Content: gambling, prostitution, tobacco, pubs, expletive
Catholicism and mysticism were highlighted in a few spots. Those people ought not to have been included in this collection.
Content: gambling, prostitution, tobacco, pubs, expletive
October 19, 2016
Really enjoyed this again. I read this about 5 yrs ago and I think Im going to try to do it every year. Wonderfully told stories about people who loved and served the Lord. I was encouraged with every bio and listened to it with my husband. We've had wonderful talks about the lives of the people who have shared their journey with us. Thank you Lord for all of them.
July 4, 2013
This has made my top 10 list of all-time. I'm constantly grabbing it off the shelf and digging in.
I'm still trying to get familiar with these 50 great Christians. This book has caused me to start reading even longer biographies of these theologians, Pastors, Evangelists and Missionaries. The great common thread is the seriousness of how these people use the Bible.
I must admit I find it also very fascinating who got left off this list (John Wesley, Popes, celebrities). I fully approve of Warren's incredible list of inspiration.
I'm still trying to get familiar with these 50 great Christians. This book has caused me to start reading even longer biographies of these theologians, Pastors, Evangelists and Missionaries. The great common thread is the seriousness of how these people use the Bible.
I must admit I find it also very fascinating who got left off this list (John Wesley, Popes, celebrities). I fully approve of Warren's incredible list of inspiration.
May 24, 2012
I thoroughly enjoyed this book because I like to read biographies of interesting people. This book was perfect for reading a small portion before I fall asleep. I kept it at bedside. Now that I've read "snapshots" of different biographies I can choose from many possibilities for my next reading.
May 28, 2012
This book is a compilation of 3-5 page biographical chapters on significant people who have impacted the world through ministry, missions, music, teaching, preaching, and writing. Weirsbe also includes recommended suggestions for further reading, not only other biographies but also books written by the various subjects. Amy Carmichael, Fanny Crosby, Katharina von Bora (Luther’s wife), A.W. Tozer, Charles Spurgeon, F.W. Boreham, among many others (both well-known and less known). Very readable. The impact of the book is that though these spiritual giants are no longer alive, their lives still speak to us. I am challenged and inspired by their lives.
April 30, 2021
2-3 ⭐
As I was reading this for a group challenge/read I ended up switching between the audiobook and a printed book, and actually found this collection interesting more for the “Spiritual Giants” left out, than for those included in this snippets read.
I rather liked the first quarter of the book, then ended up thinking that a more fitting title for this book would have been 50 People Warren Wiersbe Thinks Every Trainee Minister Should Know.
The author does inject his thoughts on what he thinks is theologically right or amiss about various Christians he is writing about.
As I was reading this for a group challenge/read I ended up switching between the audiobook and a printed book, and actually found this collection interesting more for the “Spiritual Giants” left out, than for those included in this snippets read.
I rather liked the first quarter of the book, then ended up thinking that a more fitting title for this book would have been 50 People Warren Wiersbe Thinks Every Trainee Minister Should Know.
The author does inject his thoughts on what he thinks is theologically right or amiss about various Christians he is writing about.
March 11, 2011
I am savoring this book. I love the details about these great saints. Warren Wiersbe has taken what seems to be a lifetime of reading about these remarkable people and compiled it into one book. Wiersbe hasn't left out any of the fun details either. One of my favorite quotes that he has author is:"A good book is like a seed: it produces fruit that has in it seed for more fruit. It is not a picture on the wall; it is a window that invies us to wider horizons."
September 8, 2021
Read one bio a day on and off over the last few months and met some interesting new faces and visited old friends. 💕 History can be tricky and so you find yourself doubting the author and bios from time to time, but this is a good launching off point to dig deeper into the lives of some of the preachers or missionaries that strike a chord with you.
October 19, 2022
This is an excellent book with 50 short chapters that are essentially mini biographies of Christian theologians, apologists, hymn writers and authors. My favorite part is that each chapter mentions and references authored books as well as further recommended readings for each of the 50 people featured. Read it and you will also be encouraged by the lives of these spiritual giants!
July 23, 2018
A summary of great heros of the faith, a few of which I had never heard of. A good read, although a few of the chapters could have highlighted the people themselves more than what they wrote, or who they enjoyed reading.
January 10, 2024
The content, commentary, and recommended reading in this book are primarily focused on pastors and teachers. Despite this, I found the book to be valuable and gained a lot from it. I discovered new books to add to my reading list and learned more about people I already knew, as well as those I had never heard of before.
I plan to keep this book on my reference shelf so I can revisit it when I want to learn more about the individuals discussed and remind myself of the recommended readings.
In my opinion, Wiersbe does a good job of allowing readers to learn from individuals with differing theological positions. He reminds us that we can learn from others, even if we disagree with them - not to align to their views (as some I/we disagree with significantly) - but in order to understand their strengths, passions, and convictions (much of which is lacking today in Christian leaders).
I am still undecided about whether it would be better to simply read the book (like I did) or create a 50-day reading plan to reflect longer on the personalities discussed. However, regardless of the approach, there is a lot of valuable content to consume.
Overall, while I don't consider this a must-read, I believe it will enrich and encourage anyone on their journey.
On a side note, it's always encouraging (perhaps especially as I have a daughter with chronic illness) to see in so many of these stories how God redeems and sovereignly ordains those with chronic struggles or disabilities to be used for His glory and our joy.
I plan to keep this book on my reference shelf so I can revisit it when I want to learn more about the individuals discussed and remind myself of the recommended readings.
In my opinion, Wiersbe does a good job of allowing readers to learn from individuals with differing theological positions. He reminds us that we can learn from others, even if we disagree with them - not to align to their views (as some I/we disagree with significantly) - but in order to understand their strengths, passions, and convictions (much of which is lacking today in Christian leaders).
I am still undecided about whether it would be better to simply read the book (like I did) or create a 50-day reading plan to reflect longer on the personalities discussed. However, regardless of the approach, there is a lot of valuable content to consume.
Overall, while I don't consider this a must-read, I believe it will enrich and encourage anyone on their journey.
On a side note, it's always encouraging (perhaps especially as I have a daughter with chronic illness) to see in so many of these stories how God redeems and sovereignly ordains those with chronic struggles or disabilities to be used for His glory and our joy.
December 19, 2022
Since this collection comes from the pen of a brother not in my theological camp, I expected I'd find some old friends and some new ones, which was the case. Some of the new ones didn't particularly resonate with me, and there were a couple I thought might be better off left in obscurity, but overall I was reminded that biographies of the saints aren't so much about drawing attention to the saints as about drawing attention to the Savior. I've already forgotten the name of one of Wiersbe's subjects who, after he'd been confronted with the gospel, went off in the woods to wrestle it out. Jesus won. He always does!
Narrator was well suited to the book.
Narrator was well suited to the book.
June 11, 2017
I really wanted to like this book but just didn't. What had the potential to be a powerful biography of great heroes of the faith ended up falling far short. while there are moments where these lives are impactful and there are a few great quotes, far too much of the book is simply a bibliography of the author's favorite books by the subjects. Overall, this was a dry and slow read.
August 9, 2019
About preachers, for preachers
Interesting read, but mostly highlights strong preachers and what current preachers should be reading. Not much variety in occupation or geographical origin. Highly critical of the current generation of ministers. I learned a lot, but his constant criticism of the present cheapened his review of the past.
Interesting read, but mostly highlights strong preachers and what current preachers should be reading. Not much variety in occupation or geographical origin. Highly critical of the current generation of ministers. I learned a lot, but his constant criticism of the present cheapened his review of the past.
July 14, 2021
This book of mini biographies of different Christians is interesting and enlightening. It helped me add many more books to my Goodreads list. Plan to read this slowly; reading one chapter a day would likely provide the greatest enjoyment. Although the book title implies this is for all Christians, Warren Wiersbe seemed to write with an intended audience of pastors.
January 30, 2020
I know I am in the minority about this book, I but didn’t enjoy it. Maybe that’s because I’m confused about the overall point of the book. Also, I’m a little disappointed.
First, let’s talk about the title, 50 People Every Christian Should Know. I went into this book expecting, from the title, some truly world-changing Christian leaders such as Augustine, Luther, Calvin, Knox, and Tyndale. But that’s not the status of the men and women discussed in this book. Nor does it draw more than three or four bios from the last 250 years of English speaking Church. So while the majority of the biographies in this book are inspiring and encouraging, and the Lord used many of these people to reach multitudes of souls for His glory, they are hardly the world changers I expected.
Now, these articles doubtless read much better as the originally intended individual articles, but as a book, they are a little confusing. Is it a group of biographies? Is it a group of book reviews? Is it aimed at the average Christian? Is it aimed at preachers? Maybe a better title would have been, 50 Authors Every Preacher Should Know because a large part of each short section was spent recommending that everyone, but especially preachers, read their sermons, articles, or books. After a while, it got a little bogged down as he explained who published each book. He especially recommends many of the works for their value to pastors in forming their own ministries.
Then there were a couple of inclusions that I found a little troubling. I could understand if the point of including people with dangerous doctrine was to warn about them, but Wiersbe included them with favorable reviews and recommendations for their books. The ones I found most troubling were John Henry Newman who eventually left his church and became a Catholic, Henry Drummond who spent much of his time trying to convince the Church to accept evolution and higher criticism, and one more (I can’t remember his name) who was an annihilationist. Even Moody wouldn’t allow the latter to work in his ministry. Again I understand warning about the errors of these men, but why recommend their books as valuable resources. Wiersbe recommends them in one breath for examples of say how to write a sermon but in the next breath says beware of their doctrine. I just don’t understand why they were included. Maybe if the author had taken more time to explain what he found valuable I would not be so confused.
So this book just didn’t work for me. I would recommend finding another resource if you are interested in Church history or Christian biographies.
First, let’s talk about the title, 50 People Every Christian Should Know. I went into this book expecting, from the title, some truly world-changing Christian leaders such as Augustine, Luther, Calvin, Knox, and Tyndale. But that’s not the status of the men and women discussed in this book. Nor does it draw more than three or four bios from the last 250 years of English speaking Church. So while the majority of the biographies in this book are inspiring and encouraging, and the Lord used many of these people to reach multitudes of souls for His glory, they are hardly the world changers I expected.
Now, these articles doubtless read much better as the originally intended individual articles, but as a book, they are a little confusing. Is it a group of biographies? Is it a group of book reviews? Is it aimed at the average Christian? Is it aimed at preachers? Maybe a better title would have been, 50 Authors Every Preacher Should Know because a large part of each short section was spent recommending that everyone, but especially preachers, read their sermons, articles, or books. After a while, it got a little bogged down as he explained who published each book. He especially recommends many of the works for their value to pastors in forming their own ministries.
Then there were a couple of inclusions that I found a little troubling. I could understand if the point of including people with dangerous doctrine was to warn about them, but Wiersbe included them with favorable reviews and recommendations for their books. The ones I found most troubling were John Henry Newman who eventually left his church and became a Catholic, Henry Drummond who spent much of his time trying to convince the Church to accept evolution and higher criticism, and one more (I can’t remember his name) who was an annihilationist. Even Moody wouldn’t allow the latter to work in his ministry. Again I understand warning about the errors of these men, but why recommend their books as valuable resources. Wiersbe recommends them in one breath for examples of say how to write a sermon but in the next breath says beware of their doctrine. I just don’t understand why they were included. Maybe if the author had taken more time to explain what he found valuable I would not be so confused.
So this book just didn’t work for me. I would recommend finding another resource if you are interested in Church history or Christian biographies.
April 16, 2019
This book was an enjoyable read—fifty short chapters composed of biographies of post-reformation Christians, starting with Luther’s wife, Katherine von Bora. A parade of well-known and unknown (to me, anyway) preachers and missionaries fill the pages with excellent biographical sketches and reading recommendations if you want to know the individuals better.
On the positive side the book was very encouraging in that it detailed how God used very different people, with an assortment of strengths, weaknesses, and eccentricities. It provides hope that God can use me with my own quirks. It was also humbling to observe the almost super-human discipline these men and women of God displayed in their studies and their ministries. Unsurprisingly, there wasn’t a lazy one among them. It motivates me to do better.
On the negative side I was surprised to see some of the characters that Wiersbe wrote about, whose theological commitments to the substitutionary atonement of Christ were suspect at best or completely absent at worst. Apparently their greatness as homileticians, combined with the crowds they drew, covered a multitude of sins. Some of these could be identified as unvarnished theological liberals.
That said, I walked away from this book almost more impressed by Wiersbe himself than by the individuals he wrote about, although I don’t believe that was his intention. The breadth and volume of Wiersbe’s reading is nothing short of astounding. To read all the books of sermons and biographies and “Yale Lectures on Preaching” that he recommends would take me multiple lifetimes. Wiersbe must be a speed reader and a man of prodigious memory.
Three-and-a-half stars. Recommended.
On the positive side the book was very encouraging in that it detailed how God used very different people, with an assortment of strengths, weaknesses, and eccentricities. It provides hope that God can use me with my own quirks. It was also humbling to observe the almost super-human discipline these men and women of God displayed in their studies and their ministries. Unsurprisingly, there wasn’t a lazy one among them. It motivates me to do better.
On the negative side I was surprised to see some of the characters that Wiersbe wrote about, whose theological commitments to the substitutionary atonement of Christ were suspect at best or completely absent at worst. Apparently their greatness as homileticians, combined with the crowds they drew, covered a multitude of sins. Some of these could be identified as unvarnished theological liberals.
That said, I walked away from this book almost more impressed by Wiersbe himself than by the individuals he wrote about, although I don’t believe that was his intention. The breadth and volume of Wiersbe’s reading is nothing short of astounding. To read all the books of sermons and biographies and “Yale Lectures on Preaching” that he recommends would take me multiple lifetimes. Wiersbe must be a speed reader and a man of prodigious memory.
Three-and-a-half stars. Recommended.
January 12, 2024
this is my first real venture into the world of autobiography. I really enjoyed it. I found it super interesting how many unconverted preachers there were in ages past. and I feel encouraged to pray more, read more, and evangelize more. what more could one want from a book?
November 28, 2023
This was a great collection of biographies about heroes of the faith from yesteryear.
March 9, 2024
This book belongs in a reference library. It deserves to be referred back to again and again and leads the reader to many other great books for consideration.
December 19, 2017
Overall I really appreciate this book. It is a great overview of Christian leaders. I enjoyed getting to know some new names and it is helpful for those who don't know where to start with Christian "founding fathers". That being said, sometimes Wiersbe seems to think that there are no solid Christian leaders today. When he would make comments about the lack of "such a man of God in today's generation" it was mostly distracting to me. I also wish there had been a bit more of a diverse mix of people, instead of mostly white men who mostly went to Moody.
December 7, 2018
Such a GREAT resource for learning the lives of 50 great Christians - spurs me on to live well!
November 9, 2014
This is another e-book I read on the phone. I bought it because I'm always on the lookout for biographies of Christians, so this one caught my eye. The biographical essays originally appeared in the Moody Monthly magazine and The Good New Broadcaster and are re-printed for a second time here. The original context remains palpable, especially because there are times in the last half to two-thirds of the book that the biographies start to be resemble 'Seven Degrees of Separation from D.L. Moody'. In itself, that was mildly distracting (I confess I started to look for where D.L. Moody was going to turn up in his various guises), it was interesting to read about a tradition about which I knew comparatively little.
The choice of the subjects tends to favour preachers, especially at non-denominational churches in the United States, the UK and, even occasionally Australia/New Zealand. Anglicans and Methodists appear as well, but they are almost always evangelicals (John Henry Newman being a notable exception- with suitable warnings about the dangers of Roman Catholicism) Wiersbe brings out the interconnectedness of these particular evangelical preachers, but there are times where this interconnectedness can result in a little bit of a catalogue of preachers and churches. The almost complete lack of women is also similarly distracting and questionable given the notable contributions of evangelical women expositors and social activists.
Further, the tone of the writing is very frequently hagiagraphical. That is an occupation hazard in Christian biography, but that tone is so relentlessly muscular and victorious that it is sometimes difficult to relate to these figures- obviating the whole point of the exercise as stated by Wiersbe to bring the lives of these remarkable Christians alive.
Still, this book is worth reading, if only for the glimpse into this particular theological tradition. Wiersbe writes well, if effusively, and it is difficult not to feel his enthusiasm. And a connection to D.L. Moody doesn't hurt....
The choice of the subjects tends to favour preachers, especially at non-denominational churches in the United States, the UK and, even occasionally Australia/New Zealand. Anglicans and Methodists appear as well, but they are almost always evangelicals (John Henry Newman being a notable exception- with suitable warnings about the dangers of Roman Catholicism) Wiersbe brings out the interconnectedness of these particular evangelical preachers, but there are times where this interconnectedness can result in a little bit of a catalogue of preachers and churches. The almost complete lack of women is also similarly distracting and questionable given the notable contributions of evangelical women expositors and social activists.
Further, the tone of the writing is very frequently hagiagraphical. That is an occupation hazard in Christian biography, but that tone is so relentlessly muscular and victorious that it is sometimes difficult to relate to these figures- obviating the whole point of the exercise as stated by Wiersbe to bring the lives of these remarkable Christians alive.
Still, this book is worth reading, if only for the glimpse into this particular theological tradition. Wiersbe writes well, if effusively, and it is difficult not to feel his enthusiasm. And a connection to D.L. Moody doesn't hurt....
Currently reading
February 18, 2013My friend, Lenore, recommended this book. I've read the first chapter about Martin Luther's wife. This isn't a book about the pillars of Christianity, Luther, Knox, Calvin, the Apostles, or early Christians. The biographies begin in 1499 with Katherine von Bora, Luther's "Kitty my rib" and ends with William Culbertson who died in 1971. By looking at the list of people who are being written about, I'm guessing this is for the most part about Protestant pillars. While I'm not keen on all things Catholic, I think this is a pity because there were some good strong Christians among our Catholic brothers and sisters. However, this is not going to keep me from reading the book nor will it keep me from making my own list.
I can see I am going to enjoy this book. Katherine Luther's biography was fun (with a few tears) to read. She must have been a handful for Luther but she also add a earthy dimension as well as a heavenly one to his works and his life. What would Luther have been like without Katherine? Katherine brought family into the priesthood, making the pastor more "like us." Katherine rounded out his life and gave Luther a chance to enjoy family and to be able to relate better to his congregation. I attended Lutheran churches in my past and Luther has always been up there with the Apostles for me. This biography puts him in a more earthy level. He was a man blessed with a good wife.
I can see I am going to enjoy this book. Katherine Luther's biography was fun (with a few tears) to read. She must have been a handful for Luther but she also add a earthy dimension as well as a heavenly one to his works and his life. What would Luther have been like without Katherine? Katherine brought family into the priesthood, making the pastor more "like us." Katherine rounded out his life and gave Luther a chance to enjoy family and to be able to relate better to his congregation. I attended Lutheran churches in my past and Luther has always been up there with the Apostles for me. This biography puts him in a more earthy level. He was a man blessed with a good wife.
July 19, 2017
An encouraging read. I wish the sections were longer, but this is a summary, so I should not complain. A great starting point for further reading!
For those interested in looking some up before they make the commitment to get the book, the 50 individuals covered are:
1 - 10: Katherine von Bora, Samuel Rutherford, Matthew Henry, Jonathan Edwards, George Whitefield,Charles Simeon, Christmas Evans, John Henry Newman, Richard Trench, Andrew Bonar
11 - 20: Robert Murray McCheyne, F.W. Robertson, John Charles Ryle, Fanny Crosby, Alexander Maclaren, J.B. Lightfoot, R.W. Dale, Joseph Parker, J.Hudson Tayler, Charles H. Spurgeon
21 - 30: Phillips Brooks, Frances Ridley Havergal, Alexander Whyte, Dwight L. Moody, George Matheson, C.I. Scofield, F.B. Meyer, W.Roberson Nicoll, Henry Drummond, R.A. Torrey
31 - 40: Thomas Spurgeon, Samuel Chadwick, Charles E. Jefferson, W.H. Griffith Thomas, A.C. Gabelein/B.H. Carroll, G. Campbell Morgan, John Henry Jowett, J.D. Jones, George H. Morrison, Amy Carmichael
41 - 50: Frank W. Boreham, Joseph W. Kemp, Oswald Chambers, H.A. Ironside, Clarence Edward Macartney, William Whiting Borden, Alva Jay McClain, A.W. Tozer, W.E. Sangster, William Culbertson
For those interested in looking some up before they make the commitment to get the book, the 50 individuals covered are:
1 - 10: Katherine von Bora, Samuel Rutherford, Matthew Henry, Jonathan Edwards, George Whitefield,Charles Simeon, Christmas Evans, John Henry Newman, Richard Trench, Andrew Bonar
11 - 20: Robert Murray McCheyne, F.W. Robertson, John Charles Ryle, Fanny Crosby, Alexander Maclaren, J.B. Lightfoot, R.W. Dale, Joseph Parker, J.Hudson Tayler, Charles H. Spurgeon
21 - 30: Phillips Brooks, Frances Ridley Havergal, Alexander Whyte, Dwight L. Moody, George Matheson, C.I. Scofield, F.B. Meyer, W.Roberson Nicoll, Henry Drummond, R.A. Torrey
31 - 40: Thomas Spurgeon, Samuel Chadwick, Charles E. Jefferson, W.H. Griffith Thomas, A.C. Gabelein/B.H. Carroll, G. Campbell Morgan, John Henry Jowett, J.D. Jones, George H. Morrison, Amy Carmichael
41 - 50: Frank W. Boreham, Joseph W. Kemp, Oswald Chambers, H.A. Ironside, Clarence Edward Macartney, William Whiting Borden, Alva Jay McClain, A.W. Tozer, W.E. Sangster, William Culbertson
July 1, 2017
I had high expectations going into this book having read two books by Eric Metaxes in the past year. I was quite disappointed. A more accurate title for this book would be 50 Christians every Seminary Student should know. More than 40 of the individuals in this book were Pastor's, and there were only about 4 women mentioned. Really? You cover the lives of 50 Christians and can only come up with 4 women that every Christian should know?
The majority if the synopsises of all these Pastor's sounded very much the same, and lacked enough detail to intrigue me to read about them further. This book contained far too much opinion for my liking and the end of every section mentioned about 5 more books the reader should read to know more about each individual mentioned. It would have made more sense to have a few more paragraphs of content on the person and a reference section in the back for further reading material.
Overall, I got very little out of this book and would have benefited more from reading specific biographies on the individuals I was already interested in. There are maybe one or two I'll add to my list.
The majority if the synopsises of all these Pastor's sounded very much the same, and lacked enough detail to intrigue me to read about them further. This book contained far too much opinion for my liking and the end of every section mentioned about 5 more books the reader should read to know more about each individual mentioned. It would have made more sense to have a few more paragraphs of content on the person and a reference section in the back for further reading material.
Overall, I got very little out of this book and would have benefited more from reading specific biographies on the individuals I was already interested in. There are maybe one or two I'll add to my list.
October 17, 2014
...am interested to note that the greatest preacher in UK history is not mentioned: John Wesley (who arguably helped shape British history averting republicanism at the time of the French Revolution, through the Great Awakening of which he was the brightest light). Indeed from the look of most of those included in the list, there sadly and disappointingly seems to be a distinctly calvinistic flavour.
For those of us who know our history this is intelligently devisive - and lacking in any genuine historical or spiritual integrity.
I write this as someone, one of whose ancestors was converted at the pithead at Kingswood Colliery by a word delivered by John Wesley from horse back. It is also interesting to note that George Mueller is absent from the list, not to mention Charles Wesley...
Alan Bryant.
(formerly of Bristol)
For those of us who know our history this is intelligently devisive - and lacking in any genuine historical or spiritual integrity.
I write this as someone, one of whose ancestors was converted at the pithead at Kingswood Colliery by a word delivered by John Wesley from horse back. It is also interesting to note that George Mueller is absent from the list, not to mention Charles Wesley...
Alan Bryant.
(formerly of Bristol)
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