James I. Packer, the son of a Gloucester railway clerk, rose to become one of the most influential evangelical, theological and spiritual writers of the twentieth century. He is widely admired as a theologian with a rare gift of being able to communicate his ideas with clarity and passion to a wide variety of audiences. Many Christians have identified him as one of the greatest influences of their lives.

Packer has authored more than 300 works over fifty years of his writing ministry. From this massive body of literature, Alister McGrath has selected sixteen core writings, faithfully representing both Packer's personal interests (such as the authority of Scripture, the relationship of theology and spirituality, and the importance of 'great tradition' Christianity), and the various phases of his career. Each of these writings is carefully introduced and set in its theological, historical and biographical context, and is followed by questions for further study to help readers interact with the texts. The work also includes an informative introduction to the life and career of J.I. Packer. ALISTER McGRATH is Professor of Theology, Ministry and Education, and Head of the Centre for Theology, Religion and Culture at King's College, London. He is the author of numerous books, including J.I. Packer: A Biography.