Matthew Henry must surely be one of the best known and most influential names in Christian history and at the same time one of the least known lives. Now, at long last, we have been blessed with a good biographical account of this most famous of all Bible Commentators, thanks to the efforts of Allan Harman.
As the sub-title indicates, Harman sets out to do two things – introduce us to the life, family and world of Matthew Henry and then consider and explain the influence of his writings on so many down through the years. All in all I found it fascinating, and very enlightening.
Matthew Henry was the son of Philip, himself a contemporary and friend of some of the best known Puritans. Matthew, the second of six children, was born in 1662, the year of the Act of Uniformity in England which resulted in two thousand Ministers, among them Matthew’s father, Philip, being ejected from their ministries and being labelled as non-conformists. Harman paints a vivid picture of these circumstances which are crucial to an understanding of the context into which Matthew Henry was born and then became so influential.
Henry’s family life and its profound impact on his spiritual growth and development are well portrayed as are his studies and the call to and preparation for ministry; a challenging prospect given the ecclesiastical and political turmoil of his day. For twenty-five years, Matthew Henry ministered in Chester among a people who dearly loved him and responded to his ministry. Devoted to the systematic exposition of the Bible he preached through the entire Bible more than twice during those years in Chester as well as embarking on his major writings project.
See my full review here
