Sin & Temptation: The Challenge to Personal Godliness [Paperback]

John Owen (Author), James M. Houston (Editor), J. I. Packer (Introduction)

Book Description

Publication Date: January 1, 1983

Sin and Temptation helps us recover the concepts of sin and individual responsibility our world has all but destroyed. John Owen, an English theologian of vast learning, has dealt with the nature of sinful humanity as no writer has done as keenly or thoroughly, arguing that sin is always a self-deceiving, blinding folly. Owen embodied the best of Puritan devotion: the awe of God, humility, wisdom, and an awareness of God's grace. J.I. Packer's introductory essay describes how Owen's writings shaped his own spiritual formation. Dr. James Houston, editor of the Classics of Faith and Devotion series, is a highly acclaimed scholar and pioneer int he field of evangelical spirituality. He came to North America from England in 1968 to lead Regent College in Vancouver, Canada, a worldwide center of spiritual formation.

Product Details

• Paperback: 240 pages
• Publisher: Regent College Publishing (January 1, 1983)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1573832383
• ISBN-13: 978-1573832380
• Product Dimensions: 8.6 x 5.5 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 11.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,169,202 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Known as the "theologian's theologian," JOHN OWEN (1616-1683) was vice chancellor of Oxford University and served as advisor and chaplain to Oliver Cromwell. Among the most learned and active of the Puritans in seventeenth-century Europe, he was an erudite and accomplished theologian both in doctrine and practical theology.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Like a Roaring Lion Looking for Someone to Devour, June 29, 2004

By 

Jonathan A Blevins (Duluth, MN) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Sin & Temptation: The Challenge to Personal Godliness (Paperback)

Owen has a piercing understanding of the human heart and its sinfulness. The overwhelming majority of this work deals with understanding sin, the power of sin, our adversary the Devil, the nature of temptation and the allure of evil. Expect to be cut (and cut deep) when you read this book. For anyone who has ever cried with Paul, "Wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death?" (Romans 7:24), this book will expose the bone and marrow of your inner depravity and leave you with only one recourse--the grace of God in Jesus Christ.

Owen deals only briefly with the actual practice of mortification (ie. destruction of sin), but his advice is to-the-point and very profound. He offers only two suggestions: look to Christ & seek the Holy Spirit.

Owen's book is virtually an exposition of Romans 7 and Galatians 5. I would recommend Martin Luther's commentary on Galatians as a follow-up to this book. While Owen will expose the sinfulness of your heart, Luther will lift up the righteousness of the Savior Jesus Christ. (And do not be decieved, the first is as necessary as the second).

This book is most highly recommended--both to those who have a deep sense of their own sinfulness and those who have no sense of sin at all.

5 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Practical Book, October 17, 2004

By 

Yousef Mouasher "Joey" (Jordan) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Sin & Temptation: The Challenge to Personal Godliness (Paperback)

this book is not just for anyone interested in theological concepts and christianity. Neither is it just some inspirational guide. It a deep journey of the mind and heart for christians who really want to understand and weaken the effects of sin in their lives. The writer is a realist and does not compromise his duty towards his reader by sugar coating the reality of the human condition. We need more books and writers like that. I love it. You cannot read this book without coming to appreciate the need to pass through the Lord's doors of mercy rather than those of his justice at the end of our lives.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Wanted:Those Who Desire A More Indepth Understanding Of The Nature Of Sin, October 16, 2008

By 

J. Adrian (Orange,New Jersey) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Sin and Temptation: The Challenge to Personal Godliness (Classics of Faith and Devotion) (Hardcover)

Do you want to be more holy,more godly?One thing that is indispensible to achieve that end is an understanding of the nature of sin and temptation.If I could only have one book(besides the Bible)to help me understand and deal with sin and temptation,Owen's 'Sin and Temptation'would be the book I would take.
Though I think the unabridged Banner Of Truth Ed.is excellent,I prefer this abridged version even above that.
J.I.Packers introduction is filled with instruction and insights from his experience that increase the value of this work.
A careful reading of 'Sin And Temptation' will help to correct many false views on christian living.Mr.Packer writes on p.24 "If our concern is with practical christian living today,a Puritan model of godliness will most quickly expose the reason why our current spirituality is shallow,namely the shallowness of our views of sin."
The annotations(in the 1983 multnomah ed.)increase exponentially the acsessibility and worth of the book.A sample of some annotations will help to show how useful they can be:How sin entices the emotions,Biblical view of the heart,Mortification is chiefly in the affections,Enticed affections entice the will to sin,quickly discover the approach of temptations,Sin can turn the soul against God,God restrains sin by showing what is good(these are just a few examples of many that could be given).
One of the reasons that Puritan books are so desperately needed in our generation is because one of the dominant forces in Christendom seems to be a 'feelings' driven view of the Christian life.John Owen was a giant among giants in his understanding of how sin could be Biblically dealt with in the lives of God's people.The Putitans and Owen understood the paramount importance of the mind (something which has been lost to many in this generation)in the believers understanding of sanctification.
One pregnant quote should help to show what a treasure this work is,Owen writes on p.36-37" the basis for the efficacy of deceit is its effect upon the mind. ...the mind is the leading faculty of the soul.When the mind fixes upon an object or course of action,the will and the affections follow suit. ...Thus,while the entanglement of the affections in sin is often very troublesome,it is the deceit of the mind that is always the most dangerous situation because of its role in all other operations of the soul.The minds office is to guide,to direct,to choose and to lead."
How to effectively deal with sin and temptation is essential if we desire a closer walk with the Lord and greater usefulness in His kingdom.It is through God's enabling power that Christians achieve any growth in grace but to grow in grace we must grow in our understanding of our enemies. Owens work can help the reader to better understand the nature and workings of indwelling sin,temptation and the need for and practice of mortification of sin, perhaps as well as any Christian book that has ever been published.
I believe this abridged and annotated version is far superior to subsequent abidgements,not only for content but especially due to the value of the annotations
This isn't the type of book to be quickly perused and thrown on a shelf to gather dust.It is a book that can be continually read and meditated upon again and again(especially in time of need)with great profit.