James Innell Packer is a British-born Canadian, born in Gloucester in July 1926. He won a scholarship and was educated at Corpus Christi College, Oxford, obtaining a Bachelor of Arts (1948), Master of Arts (1952), and Doctor of Philosophy (1955). It was there that he met C. S. Lewis, whose teachings would become a major influence in his life. It was in a meeting of the Inter-Collegiate Christian Union that he came to faith and dedicated his life to Christian service.
After teaching Greek at Oak Hill College in London for a short time, he entered Wycliffe Hall to study theology and was shortly after ordained into the Anglican Church. Over time he became recognised as a prominent leader in the Evangelical movement within the Church of England.
In 1979, Packer moved to Vancouver after accepting a position with Regents College. In Protestant circles, he is widely regarded as one of the most important and influential theologians of the 20th Century. He is best known for his book, Knowing God.
[Introductory Essay to John Owen’s The Death of Death in the Death of Christ]