Seven Worthwhile Christian Biographies
I am convinced that few books are more powerful and life-changing than biographies. You can’t start reading them too young – I still remember biographies that were read to me at the age of six or seven. Biographies have a unique power to shape our view of the world and our idea of how to live life.
It does take work and effort to read biographies. Just like our own lives, the lives of those who are featured in biographies were not non-stop excitement. A good biography is long enough that you have to settle in to get to know the individual. This is not a side-effect of a good biography. It is essential to the reading process because it reveals the importance of training, of little decisions, and of the gradual process of time that life requires. But when the book concludes, you truly feel that you have lost a friend.
These seven biographies will yield valuable benefits for your spiritual life. I hope you are motivated to pick one of them up this year.
To the Golden Shore: The Life of Adoniram Judson (Courtney Anderson)
The life of Adoniram Judson needs no introduction – as one of the first American missionaries, and perhaps the most famous, he is beloved by all who wish to see the gospel at the ends of the earth. His was a life of deep suffering and severe grief, but also thrilling adventure and visionary leadership. To the Golden Shore is a masterful retelling of this timeless story, providing rich details of the life and times of the man, as well as a narrative so well written that it reads more like a novel. I’ve read it multiple times myself and look forward to reading it again.
For The Love of India: The Story of Henry Martyn (Jim Cromarty)
In 1805, Henry Martyn headed to India as a chaplain of the British East India Company. Seven years later he was dead, an unmarried missionary without any apparent converts. Martyn’s story is the ultimate story of sweet sadness, broken dreams, and unrequited love, but it is also the story of a faithful servant of Christ who longed for his life to be used by God. This book will move you, challenge you, rebuke you, and maybe even make you cry. But that’s okay. In the process, you might gain a heart for the nations.
George Whitefield: The Life and Times of the Great Evangelist of the Eighteenth-Century Revival (Arnold Dallimore) Vol. I & II
The ‘Great Awakening’ was one of the most profound movements of God in the history of the world. Within one generation, the gospel gained the hearts of tens of thousands of converts on both sides of the Atlantic. Revival swept the English-speaking world so powerfully that not even unbelievers could ignore it. At the heart of this revival, George Whitefield and others labored to preach the Gospel to any who would listen. This biography is the definitive account of Whitefield’s life. It is lengthy, but worthwhile.
Here I Stand: A Life of Martin Luther (Roland Bainton)
Luther’s courageous stand sparked the Protestant Reformation, changed the shape of western society, and reminded the world that was are justified by faith alone. Bainton provides a captivating look at the man and his times, presenting Luther’s life – flaws and all – in a fresh, highly-readable narrative. This is the best book I’ve ever read on Luther, and you won’t be disappointed.
A Short Life of Jonathan Edwards (George Marsden)
Edwards has been hailed as the greatest theologian of America. A friend of Whitefield and an enthusiastic pastor of the Great Awakening, this biography reveals the human side of a man who toiled ceaselessly to understand God better and to make him known to others.
God Sent Revival: The Story of Asahel Nettleton and the Second Great Awakening (John Thornbury)
Asahel Nettleton was an evangelist of the Second Great Awakening. Rarely remembered today, pastors of the time attributed twenty-five thousand conversions to his ministry, which was universally regarded as God-glorifying. This biography reveals the life of one who was fully committed to God and the proclamation of His gospel.
John G. Paton: Missionary to the New Hebrides (John Paton)
When John Paton determined to bring the Gospel to the New Hebrides (modern-day Vanuatu), a remote south Pacific island chain, he was practically signing his death warrant. The isles were inhabited by bloodthirsty cannibals who killed and devoured previous missionaries. Astonishingly, Paton survived and ministered to these rejected peoples. This autobiography contains his story, including his multiple near brushes with death. It’s a powerful testament to God’s ability to protect His people. The first half of the book is enthralling and worthwhile, but readers may struggle to finish the second half.
