Paperback: "The message of this book does not grow out of these times but it is appropriate to them. It is called forth by a condition which has existed in the Church for some years and is steadily growing worse. I refer to the loss of the concept of majesty from the popular religious mind. The Church has surrendered her once lofty concept of God and has substituted for it one so low, so ignoble, as to be utterly unworthy of thinking, worshipping men. This she has done not deliberately, but little by little and without her knowledge: and her very unawareness only makes her situation all the more tragic.
Were Christians today reading such works as those of Augustine or Anselm, a book like this would have no reason for being. But such illuminated masters are known to modern Christians only by name. Publishers dutifully reprint their books and in due time these appear on the shelves of our studies. But the whole trouble lies right there: they remain on the shelves. The current religious mood makes the reading of them virtually impossible even for educated Christians.
For that reason, an effort such as this may be not without some beneficial effect. Since this book is neither esoteric nor technical, and since it is written in the language of worship with no pretension to elegant literary style, perhaps some persons may be drawn to read it. While I believe that nothing will be found here contrary to sound Christian theology, I yet write not for professional theologians but for plain persons whose hearts stir them up to seek God Himself.
It is my hope that this small book, Knowledge of the Holy War (2016), may contribute somewhat to the promotion of personal heart religion among us; and should a few persons by reading it be encouraged to begin the practice of reverent meditation on the being of God, that will more than repay the labour required to produce it."
By A W Tozer
The present edition is a reproduction of 1920 publication of this work. Minor typographical errors may have been corrected without note, however, for an authentic reading experience. The spelling, punctuation, and capitalization have been retained from the original text.
In 2006, Knowledge of the Holy was named in “The Top 50 Books That Have Shaped Evangelicals.
About the author: Born in rural Pennsylvania, Aiden Wilson Tozer (1897-1963) - American Christian pastor, author, magazine editor, and spiritual mentor - began his lifelong pursuit of God at age seventeen.
He was born again or converted to Christianity as a teenager in Akron, Ohio. Walking home from work one day, he heard a street preacher say: "If you don't know how to be saved, just call on God." When young Tozer got home, he climbed into his attic and did just that. In many ways, that simple act would characterize Tozer's entire life and ministry. In his early 20s, just after his ordination ceremony, he retreated to a quiet place in the woods and prayed what he later wrote down and titled, The Prayer of a Minor Prophet. It seems God granted his request, for Tozer gave himself to three main tasks: prayer, study, and proclamation. He was known to arrive at his office in the early morning, change into a pair of old pants so he wouldn't wrinkle his slacks and pray for up to three hours at a time - beginning on the couch, but soon moving to the floor, face buried in the carpet.
He made time for sustained study as well, mostly meditating on Scripture, but also reading deeply of many authors - early church fathers, mystics, writers of the Middle Ages, Reformers, Puritans, philosophers, and even his contemporaries – impressive, considering his formal education ended at the sixth grade.
What Tozer heard from God through prayer and study he spoke to men through books and sermons. Tozer wrote The Pursuit of God, perhaps his most popular work, on an overnight train, equipped with just a Bible, notebook, and pencil. His books and sermons cut to the heart and healed many spiritual ills. In 2000, The Pursuit of God was named to Christianity Today’s list of 100 “Books of the Century.”
His countenance was stern but his sense of humour was warm. His mind was steel and his rhetoric sharp. But these only made him a gifted man. It was his deep devotion, his abiding dependence on the Spirit - his painstaking attention to the beauty of Christ - that made him a servant of God. A W Tozer ministered until his death in May 1963. His body rests in Akron, OH, under and epitath that simply reads: "A W TOZER - A MAN OF GOD". Fitting words for a minor prophet. For his accomplishments, he received honorary doctorates from Wheaton and Houghton Colleges.
His official publisher, Christian Publications, released many titles after his death, based on his magazine articles and sermon transcriptions. These continue in print with Moody Publishers. Several other publishers have released his public domain works.
