Knowing the Times: Addresses Delivered on Various Occasions 1942 - 1977

Martyn Lloyd-Jones biblically informed insight gave a certain prophetic quality to his ministry; not in the sense that he foretold the future, but rather in his God-given ability to put his finger on the essential issues, and to apply the burden of God's Word...Knowing the Times brings together...a number of addresses which exhibit this vibrant prophetic character...

Those who heard Dr. Lloyd-Jones speak in a variety of contexts will easily recall the kind of impact which accompanied addresses like these...All will agree that Knowing the Times is one of the most significant Lloyd-Jones titles ever published. The addresses reprinted here remain “tracts for the times.” The publishers believe that they have the potential to be used in the preparation of another generation who will be like the children of Issachar referred to in 1 Chronicles 12:32: 'Men that had understanding of the times, to know what Israel ought to do.'

About the Author

David Martyn Lloyd-Jones was born in Cardiff and raised in Llangeitho, Ceredigion, Wales. Educated at Tregaron County Intermediate School and then in London at Marylebone Grammar School between 1914 and 1917, he went to St Bartholomew’s Hospital as a medical student. He then worked as Chief Clinical Assistant to the Royal Physician, Sir Thomas Horder.

After sensing a call to preach, in 1927 Lloyd-Jones returned to Wales – having married Bethan Phillips (with whom he later had two children, Elizabeth and Ann) – as minister at the Bethlehem Forward Movement Church (known as ‘Sandfields’) in Aberavon (Port Talbot).

After eleven years at Sandfields, he was called in 1939 to be associate pastor of Westminster Chapel, London, working alongside G. Campbell Morgan. During the same year, he became the president of the Inter-Varsity Fellowship of Students (known today as the Universities and Colleges Christian Fellowship (UK)). In 1943 Campbell Morgan retired, leaving Lloyd-Jones as the sole Pastor of Westminster Chapel, a position he was to hold for the next 25 years.

After retiring from Westminster Chapel in 1968, due to illness, for the rest of his life ‘the Doctor’ concentrated on editing his sermons for publication, counselling other ministers, answering letters and attending conferences. He preached for the last time on June 8, 1980, at Barcombe Baptist Chapel. He died peacefully in his sleep at Ealing on March 1, 1981, and was buried at Newcastle Emlyn, near Cardigan, west Wales.