Filling Up the Afflictions of Christ: The Cost of Bringing the Gospel to the Nations in the Lives of William Tyndale, Adoniram Judson, and John Paton (Swans Are Not Silent) [Hardcover]

John Piper (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: July 7, 2009 | Series: Swans Are Not Silent (Book 5)

The fifth volume in Piper's acclaimed The Swans Are NotSilent series illustrates powerful and enduring lessons through themissional sufferings of Tyndale, Judson, and Paton.

Jesus' words in John 12 are sobering: unless a grain of wheatfalls into the earth and dies, it will bear little fruit. Thehistory of Christianity's expansion proves that God's strategy forreaching unreached peoples with the gospel includes the sufferingsof his frontline heralds-the missionaries who willingly die athousand daily deaths to advance God's kingdom.

Pastor John Piper's latest addition to The Swans Are Not Silentseries focuses on this flesh-and-blood reality in the lives ofWilliam Tyndale, Adoniram Judson, and John Paton. The price theypaid to translate the Word of God, to pave the way for missionarymobilization around the world, and to lead the hostile to Christwas great. Yet their stories show in triplicate how the gospeladvances not only through the faithful proclamation of the truthbut through representing the afflictions of Christ in oursufferings.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

JOHN PIPER is pastor for preaching and vision at Bethlehem Baptist Church in Minneapolis, Minnesota. His many books include the others in The Swans Are Not Silent series: The Legacy of Sovereign Joy (Augustine, Luther, Calvin), The Hidden Smile of God (Bunyan, Cowper, Brainerd), The Roots of Endurance (Newton, Simeon, Wilberforce), and Contending for Our All (Athanasius, Owen, Machen).

Product Details

• Hardcover: 128 pages
• Publisher: Crossway Books (July 7, 2009)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1433510464
• ISBN-13: 978-1433510465
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 6.3 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #214,525 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

John Piper is the Pastor for Preaching at Bethlehem Baptist Church in Minneapolis, Minnesota. He grew up in Greenville, South Carolina, and studied at Wheaton College, where he first sensed God's call to enter the ministry. He went on to earn degrees from Fuller Theological Seminary (B.D.) and the University of Munich (D.theol.). For six years he taught Biblical Studies at Bethel College in St. Paul, Minnesota, and in 1980 accepted the call to serve as pastor at Bethlehem. John is the author of more than 30 books, including Sex and the Supremacy of Christ, Recovering Biblical Manhood and Womanhood, What Jesus Demands from the World, and Don't Waste Your Life.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

8 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Life-Changing, July 31, 2010

By 

The Professor (Arlington WA) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Filling Up the Afflictions of Christ: The Cost of Bringing the Gospel to the Nations in the Lives of William Tyndale, Adoniram Judson, and John Paton (Swans Are Not Silent) (Hardcover)

All the books in this series have challenged and taught me so much. Each one is unique and an awesome introduction to biography and the benefit of learning from the 'giants of the faith' who have gone before, and the cloud of witnesses whose testimonies the Holy Spirit can use to encourage, refine, and sanctify us.

That said, this book challenged and humbled me more than any other in the series. I have studied Tyndale, and there was nothing new in this book (most of the information is a condensed form of Daniell's biography. His is the ultimate biography of Tyndale, but for something more accessible and equally good, I recommend Moynahan's book, God's Bestseller). Every Christian (and student of English) should know Tyndale's story and the amazing work of God in his life to produce an English Bible and, ultimately, the modern English language.

I knew nothing of Paton or Judson, and what convicting stories! They suffered and endured beyond what most can even imagine, and God used them in world-changing ways. Their lives call us to consider our comfortable, often lazy lives - what are we sacrificing for the Lord? How loosely do we hold the treasures of this world - our families, spouse, home, friends - would we be willing to let it all go for Him?

Finally, Piper's opening chapter on the role of suffering and trials in the Christian life alone is worth the price of the book. Fantastic theology, though faith-stretching as you begin to grasp that suffering is a part of God's plan, and no one suffered more than Christ. Yet, with a sovereign and good God, we have confidence that such trials are working for us a far greater weight of glory.

5.0 out of 5 stars Captivating and Inspiring, February 12, 2012

By 

Victory - See all my reviews

This review is from: Filling Up the Afflictions of Christ: The Cost of Bringing the Gospel to the Nations in the Lives of William Tyndale, Adoniram Judson, and John Paton (Swans Are Not Silent) (Hardcover)

I started this book thinking it would be kind of boring. Boy was I wrong! It has turned out to be one of the books that has most inspired my Christian walk. It is just over a 100 pages and can be read in a few hours.

A few captivating quotes:

"the invincible purpose of God in history is that 'the gospel of the glory of Christ' 2 Corinthians 4:4 spread to all the peoples of the world and take root in God-centered, Christ-exalting churches." pg. 16

"what drove Tyndale to sing 'one note' all his life was the rock solid conviction that all humans were in bondage to sin, blind, dead, damned, and helpless, and that God had acted in Christ to provide salvation by grace through faith." pg. 41

I highly recommend this book to any follower of Jesus.