Alexander Whyte's well researched compendium of
biographies has been of great use to pastors, study
group leaders and others for about 100 years. It is
the most comprehensive, and most well respected,
source of material for understanding the characters
involved in the events of the Bible, ever published.
The
material is here gathered into a handy hardback
volume to continue its life of usefulness to the
church today. Once you start dipping into Bible
Characters the people in the New Testament will leap
from the page as real people - making the Bible as
relevant today as Jesus was to the people of his.
This
is indeed the best exposition on Biblical characters
ever written! Alexander Whyte reveals insights into
the lives of the people of the Bible that casual
readers might never find. Then he powerfully applies
truths revealed in such a way that the reader is
left spiritually convicted and seeking God's mercy.
Through the scriptures you meet the people of the
Bible. But through Alexander Whyte you will come to
know them better. Next to the Bible, you will find
Bible Characters the greatest help in understanding
the men and women in God's Word. Whyte writes brief
biographies faithful to the Biblical text. Without
stretching the truth, he stretches our minds to
embrace the character of the individuals revealed
there. He is never superficial. He writes like a
modern newspaperman in terms of human interest and
deep insight. It's just as though he had interviewed
an individual and returned to the newspaper office
to write up the feature! The reader of these works
will not be disappointed as they will walk away with
a deeper and greater understanding of those men and
women God used in his Word as examples for us all.
Alexander Whyte (January 13, 1836 - January 6, 1921)
was a Scottish divine. He was born at Kirriemuir in
Forfarshire and educated at the University of
Aberdeen and at New College, Edinburgh. He entered
the ministry of the Free Church of Scotland and
after serving as colleague in Free St John's,
Glasgow (1866-1870), removed to Edinburgh as
colleague and successor to Dr RS Candlish at Free St
Georges.
Born
in the small Angus town of Kirriemuir, Whyte was
educated at Aberdeen University and the Free Church
College in Edinburgh. After four years as assistant
minister at Free St. John's, Glasgow (1866-1870), he
became colleague and successor to the famous R. S.
Candlish at Free St. George's, Edinburgh. His
appearance in the pulpit was as arresting and
impressive as the preaching itself, which attracted
people of every class and kind. A deep appreciation
of God's grace to save sinners gave him rare passion
and power. A dramatic quality captivated his
congregations with its depth of spiritual fervor.
"To know Dr. Whyte", said J. M. Barrie, himself a
native of Kirriemuir, "was to know what the
Covenanters were like in their most splendid hours."
In the
month after Dr. Candlish died (1873), Whyte welcomed
to Edinburgh two unknown American evangelists,
Dwight L. Moody and Ira D. Sankey, and warmly
supported both their meetings and the follow-up
work. Such was the attendance at his own Tuesday
prayer meeting that it had to move from the hall
into the church itself. His addresses to men on
personal morality were unusually forthright, and
some were "shaken to the foundations of their
being".
Whyte
also had a breadth of culture (he lectured on Dante
and corresponded with Newman) not often found in
evangelicals of his day. In 1909 he became principal
of New College, a post he held until three years
before his death. He was moderator of his church's
general assembly in 1898, and he wrote much, but it
is as a preacher that he will always be remembered.
His Works
Include:
-
(1856).
A Commentary on the Shorter Catechism.
-
(1893).
Characters and Characteristics of William Law.
-
(1893-1908). John Bunyan Characters [4
Vols.]
-
(1894).
Samuel Rutherford and Some of His Correspondents.
-
(1895).
An Appreciation of Jacob Behmen.
-
(1895).
Lancelot Andrewes and his Private Devotions
-
(1895).
The Four Temperaments.
-
(1896-1902). Bible Characters [6 vols.]
-
(1897).
Santa Teresa.
-
(1898).
Father John of the Greek Church.
-
(1898).
The Principles of Protestantism.
-
(1898).
Sir Thomas Browne, an Appreciation.
-
(1898).
An Appreciation of Browne's Religio Medici.
-
(1901).
Newman: An Appreciation in Two Lectures.
-
(1903).
Bishop Butler.
-
(1905).
The Walk, Conversation and Character of Jesus
Christ Our Lord.
Pastor
Reviews:
"Through the scriptures I first met the characters
of the Bible. But only through Alexander Whyte have
I come to know them. Next to the Bible I find Bible
Characters the greatest help in understanding the
men and women in God's Word....Whyte writes brief
biographies faithful to the Bible. He has a creative
mind. Without stretching the truth, he stretches our
minds to embrace the character of the individuals
revealed here. He is never superficial. He writes
like a modern newspaperman - in terms of human
interest and deep insight. It's just as though he
had interviewed an individual and returned to the
newspaper office to write up the feature. As a
former newspaperman I deeply appreciate his
thoroughness and his talent."
