I recently picked up a copy of John Owen's Biblical Theology from Reformation Heritage Books (at half price no less).

I have been a long time fan of John Owen since being introduced to him through Reformed University Fellowship. All said I have only made it through the On the Mortification of Sin, about two thirds of The Glory of Christ and the note to the Reader from The Death of Death in the Death of Christ. I tend to make it particularly hard on myself by insisting on wading through the unabridged original versions of his work. Nevertheless, I find that Owen has more to say about his topic in one paragraph than a shelf full of books at the local "Christian" book store. My own experience, which may be decidedly slanted by the portions of his works I have read, is that Owen is at his finest when pastorally pointing to Christ as the sole source of our peace, joy, understanding and salvation from every ailment. I like John Owen so much, I have named my first born son after this preeminent Puritan Theologian.

As I picked up Biblical Theology this morning on my walk to work, I found two statements in the Forwards that I feel wonderfully describe all that Owen is. I thought I might share them with you.

First from J.I. Packer (a hero in his own right):

"The lumbering style of Owen's English, with its weird words, Latinized word-order, labored and tortuous exactness, and often wearisome repetitiveness, is well known. But his Latin is taut, brisk, clear and tidy, and in translation read more easily than do his twisted paragraphs in his mother tongue."

From William H. Goold, D.D., editor of the 1850 Latin edition:

"The compression requisite to overtake the vast field before him obliges him occasionally to condense within narrow limits an amazing extent of truth; so that no diffuseness appears in his narrative, and the attention of the readers seldom flags under the prolix heaviness which often mars the effect of his other productions."

Thank you for writing this in Latin, Dr. Owen, and thank you for translating it into English, Stephen P. Westcott, Ph.D. All this to say, I am looking forward to rich and hopefully easier time with this 900 page history of revelation.