Most Revd Glenn Davies, Archbishop of Sydney, Australia
‘This biography provides the first comprehensive account of Australia’s pre-eminent biblical scholar, Leon Morris. It traces his rise from the obscurity of a blue-collar family in rural Australia to the hallowed halls of Cambridge University, and from a young schoolboy to a sparring partner challenging the leading theologians of his day.
Leon’s love of research, his devotion to the church and his heart for his Savior shine forth throughout. It is a pity that we have had to wait this long for a full account of the life of this scholar-author-pastor. But at least we are now well-served.’
Chuck Lowe, English Pastor, Chinese Bible Church of Greater Boston, Lexington, USA
‘Neil Bach has accomplished a great service for us all by chronicling the life and work of Leon Lamb Morris. If the reader did not know of the outstanding achievements of this modest and humble scholar of God’s word, then they will soon be enlightened. With consummate ease Bach outlines the early years of extraordinary service in the rural communities of South Australia, that Leon and Mildred Lamb exercised through the Bush Church Aid Society. During this time he completed a BD through London University with first class honours, having previously completed a ThL with first class honours, without any formal theological education. The recognition of his scholarship and pastoral heart led him to Ridley College as Vice Principal, from where he traveled to Cambridge to undertake his seminal work on the Cross of Christ, and where he gained his PhD. Bach takes us along with Leon on his extraordinary ministry in Cambridge as Warden of Tyndale House and back to Ridley College as Principal, including numerous overseas lecturing engagements. The impact of Leon Morris’ writings, lecturing and speaking is difficult to overestimate. At a time when Evangelical scholarship was at a low ebb, Leon Morris stepped out on the world stage, with a confidence in God’s word as wholly true and wholly trustworthy. He mentored and emboldened younger scholars to do the same, yet he did so with humility and grace, pointing others to the centrality of the cross of Christ for the gospel, and the power of the Holy Spirit to convert hearts and change lives. While an Australian scholar of whom we can be justly proud, Leon Morris was a Christian teacher for the whole world and the world is in his debt.’
Most Revd Glenn Davies, Archbishop of Sydney, Australia
‘When I think of Leon Morris, I think of three words: inductive, evangelical, courageous. Time and time again Leon Morris asked Bible readers to go back to the evidence of the Bible to re-examine what to think and what to believe and how to live. In his day and apart from F.F. Bruce, Leon Morris was the most influential evangelical theologian in the world and he exercised that influence mostly through his inductive pen. Morris’s stature was overwhelmed by his courage and it was he who stood up for an atonement theory that required he go toe-to-toe with none other than England’s foremost scholar, C.H. Dodd. He did this by taking us all back to the Bible to defend the classic evangelical theory. In the pages of this book you will meet the man through the story of his faithful and long service to our Lord.’
Scot McKnight, Julius R. Mantey Professor of New Testament, Northern Seminary, USA
‘Leon Morris was a humble Australian who had a world-wide impact through his ministry, and especially through his speaking, teaching, and writing. His delight in the Scriptures, and his boasting only in the cross of Christ enriched his life and all his ministry. He influenced many people around the world for good, from everyday believers to significant leaders in the world-wide evangelical movement. He used his extraordinary gifts to enrich many thousands of people, and to honour his God and Saviour. This accessible book is an excellent summary of Leon’s life and ministry, and will interest and intrigue all who read it.’
Peter Adam, Vicar Emeritus of St Jude’s Carlton, and former Principal of Ridley College, Melbourne, Australia
‘Descriptors of Leon Morris somehow fail to do justice to the man, even when they multiply: scholar and rural pastor, Australian and international thinker, self-effacing Christian thrust into the public arena, lecturer and administrator, serious teacher and impish humorist, clear thinker expressing himself in a winsome lisp – and I’ve only begun the list. Leon rose to the top tier of evangelical scholarship at a time when he did not have many competitors, but he would have stood out in any age because of his instinct to address core biblical and theological issues – not least the atonement. Every memory of Leon and Mildred I greatly cherish. When some years ago I read his too-brief autobiography, I thought to myself, “Someone needs to write a full, faithful, and insightful biography of this man.” And that is what Neil Bach has done.’
D.A. Carson, Research Professor, Trinity Evangelical Divinity School, USA
‘At a time when evangelical biblical scholarship was at best marginal, Leon Morris attained a worldwide reputation as a New Testament scholar of the first rank. Morris deserves to be mentioned alongside the likes of F.F. Bruce and I. Howard Marshall as one of the fathers of modern evangelical biblical scholarship and we continue to give thanks to God for his life and work. He combined a high view of Scripture and a living faith with rigorous academic study. Much of his research remains seminal to this day. And there is still much to learn from his example. Neil Bach’s study of his life and work is an instructive and inspiring read at every level. Highly recommended.’
Brian Rosner, Principal, Ridley College, Melbourne, Australia
‘What a joy it is to read Neil Bach’s thoughtful biography of Leon and Mildred Morris. He well captured what I remember of the Morris’s love for God, his word and each other, as well as their delightful sense of humor. It was a particular joy to find Leon’s surprising passion for the Dodgers highlighted among the well-deserved accolades for his astounding scholarship.’
Mary Hubbard Given, former Vice President, Alumni and Church Relations, Fuller Theological Seminary, USA