Tethered to the Cross - by Thomas Breimaier (Paperback)

About the Book

What guided English Baptist minister Charles H. Spurgeon's reading of Scripture? Tracing the development of Spurgeon's thought and his approach to biblical hermeneutics throughout his ministry, theologian and historian Thomas Breimaier argues that Spurgeon viewed the entire Bible through the lens of the cross of Christ.

Book Synopsis

Tethered to the Cross unveils the deeply rooted philosophy of the "Price of Preachers," Charles H. Spurgeon. For nearly forty years, Spurgeon commanded the pulpit at London's bustling Metropolitan Tabernacle, where his sermons became legendary. But what made his scriptural insights so transformational?

Theologian and historian Thomas Breimaier takes us on an enlightening exploration of Spurgeon's profound interpretative technique. Breimaier reveals how Spurgeon, with unwavering focus, read every passage of Scripture through the lens of the cross of Christ. This cross-centered approach was not merely a method but a mission--a passionate crusade to convert unbelievers through the power of the gospel. With Breimaier as our insightful guide, we are invited to experience the enduring impact of Spurgeon's teachings, learning how to anchor our own understanding of Scripture in the life-changing power of the cross.

Spurgeon's commitment to preaching Christ and him crucified extended beyond the walls of his church, making his life a testament to the enduring strength and relevance of Christianity's central message. Through Tethered to the Cross, we are inspired to pursue a similar depth of conviction, influencing our communities with the same passion and purpose that characterized Spurgeon's ministry.

Review Quotes

"I am delighted to commend this scholarly study of the approach of C. H. Spurgeon to his work as a minister. Spurgeon was often termed the 'Prince of Preachers, ' but his preaching and its hermeneutical underpinning have not previously been analyzed with the care shown by Thomas Breimaier in Tethered to the Cross. Based on thorough research, Breimaier argues convincingly that Spurgeon in his sermons and his writings saw the cross of Christ as central. He shows that Spurgeon's passionate commitment was to biblical preaching as the communication of the gospel. The way these themes are explored here both informs and inspires."

--Ian Randall, research associate at the Cambridge Centre for Christianity Worldwide

"In Tethered to the Cross, Thomas Breimaier has done a marvelous job crafting a superb academic study of Spurgeon that is very accessible to a broad readership. Readers will finish its pages and be surprised to find that they not only thoroughly know Spurgeon's biography, but that they also have been deeply informed by his theology and the nineteenth-century historical context in which he lived. Noteworthy throughout the book is the way Breimaier illuminates Spurgeon's interpretation of Scripture, showing us how the great preacher connected all of Scripture with the grand evangelical themes of conversion and the cross of Christ."

--Robert W. Caldwell III, Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, author of Theologies of the American Revivalists

"This is an exceptional work by a talented, gifted, Christian scholar. The life and ministry of Charles Haddon Spurgeon is rightly understood as a rich treasure store bequeathed to the global church. Tethered to the Cross is an absolute must-have for anyone wishing to be enriched by the timeless truths of the gospel woven throughout the life and preaching of the Prince of Preachers."

--Philip McCormack, principal of Spurgeon's College, London

"Thomas Breimaier's Tethered to the Cross: The Life and Preaching of Charles H. Spurgeon is the most important scholarly study of Spurgeon that has ever been written. It is the very best place to start for anyone who wants to study Spurgeon...Whatever you think of Spurgeon--even if you dislike him--if you want to study him, this book is essential for you. If you love Spurgeon, however, you will love this book."

--From the foreword by Timothy Larsen

About the Author

Thomas Breimaier (PhD, University of Edinburgh) lectures in systematic theology and history at Spurgeon's College in London. Originally from Cleveland, Ohio, he holds degrees from Moody Bible Institute and Wheaton College Graduate School and is a book review editor for the Scottish Bulletin of Evangelical Theology.