D. MARTYN LLOYD-JONES: THE FIRST FORTY YEARS 1899–1939, by Iain H. Murray. Published by the Banner of Truth Trust, Edinburgh, Scotland, and Carlisle, PA, USA, 1983. Hardcover, 394pp. $15.95.
The former editor of the Banner of Truth publications provides us with a fascinating and illuminating account of the first half of the 80-year life of one of the most influential evangelical Christian ministers of our century.
A Welshman by birth, in a family in which the traditions of Whitefield’s Calvinistic Methodism had long become rather formal, he studied medicine and began a promising career as a doctor, the chosen assistant of Lord Horder, one of England’s most prominent physicians. During this time he was also brought to a sense of sin and deliverance and of being called to the gospel ministry. He first considered following this as a doctor, but, at the age of twenty-six, gave up his medical practice to become a minister. At about the same time another doctor , Bethan Phillips, a year a half older than he, was persuaded to become his wife, giving up her medical career. By-passing regular seminary training, Dr. Lloyd-Jones began his pastorate in an un-promising slum area, home-mission project at Aberavon adjoining Port Talbot.
The new minister differed from many of his contemporaries in (1) depending absolutely on the authority of the Bible as God’s Word as the “sole source of infallible truth and the final judge of all religious experience” (p. 147), and he preached its gospel of sin and deliverance only by the sovereign grace of God. Accordingly, he avoided traditional mannerisms, special musical and other attractions to services, the use of humor and special testimonies, etc., stressing clear, straightforward exposition and application of the Scriptures. In all this he was going exactly contrary to many of his contemporaries, also in his own denomination. They had been taught to criticize the Bible in their seminary training, to assume that people in their languishing congregations were already Christians, and to try to generate some interest by being entertaining and up-to-date, with the explanation that older methods such as preaching were out-of-date and useless in our times.
The Lord prospered the new minister’s labors in his own congregation with a revival of life in it and also many conversions of unchurched; and his frequent and extensive preaching in other of the churches in Wales was followed by similar results, so that his services were in great demand.
The biography traces his own development and growth with experience and further study, noting especially the influence on him of the writings of the famous Presbyterian B.B. Warfield, as well as his own growing influence as an evangelical leader in and far beyond his own denomination. After eleven years in the Wales pastorate a movement began to involve him in seminary training of ministers, but this was foiled by opposition of some of the Welsh Presbyterian ministers who objected to his lack of the usual seminary training (p. 351). Instead he became pastor of the famous Westminster Chapel in London as a chosen successor to G. Campbell Morgan. This brought a further extension of his influence. Figuring in the call to Westminster Chapel was Lloyd-Jones’ strong stand on the authority of the Bible (p. 359 ff.). That stand also prompted him to support the Intervarsity Fellowship, whose doctrinal weaknesses he recognized, but whose commitment to the inerrancy of Scripture he shared (p. 367).
The reader who, like myself, has profited by Lloyd-Jones’ other works (which are his printed sermons), will find this fascinating biography helpful in giving a better understanding of the famous preacher’s views, emphasis and influence. Because we in our society and churches are meeting many of the same loose, superficial and increasingly liberal views as he did, we may get much help and encouragement from the life as well as the works of this 20th Century preacher and reformer who the Lord raised up to call us back to His Word and Gospel. The account of his life, as well as his sermons, in a variety of ways demonstrated that the gospel, which he, following the Apostle, preached is indeed “the power of God unto· salvation to everyone that believeth” (Romans 1:16).
Note: The August, 1980, OUTLOOK contained an extensive review and evaluation of the works and influence of Dr. Lloyd-Jones. We have also received and call attention to the last to be printed of Dr. Lloyd-Jones’ eight volumes of sermons on the Letter to the Ephesians. It is characterized by the same careful analysis, clear English style and practical application that distinguish his other Bible expositions. These works will continue to be extremely helpful to ministers as well as laymen who seek to live by and apply God’s Word in our times. DARKNESS AND LIGHT, An Exposition of Ephesians 4:17–5:17, by D.M. Lloyd-Jones, Baker Book House, Grand Rapids, M1, 1982, 459 pp., hardcover.