Tribute to Dr. Lloyd-Jones by his eldest daughter, Elizabeth Catherwood
Scripture
Sermon Description
In this tribute to her father, delivered at the Evangelical Library in London, Lady Elizabeth Catherwood fondly recounts Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones's strong affinity to books and reading. She begins by recalling some of her memories of her father, who always had a book in his hand. She recalls a beach holiday, where all her family was playing and enjoying the sun, sand and water in beach attire, but her father was fully clothed in a suit, sitting quietly by a rock reading “The Divine Imperative”. “Everyone took reading as a part of him” she states. Lady Elizabeth then goes on to list some books and aspects of reading that Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones disliked: paperbacks, digest and encyclopedias, over-concentration on “style” in books, agonizing over words, novels, and wrong intention for reading. Next, she lists the positive aspects of Dr. Lloyd-Jones’s reading such as his phenomenal memory, the amazing breadth and depth of his reading, his ability to point out dangers in books, and the variety in his reading (both basic and elaborate). She then expands on Dr. Lloyd-Jones’s favorite genres to read, that being Welsh hymns (as he was "a true Welshman"), church history, biographies, and of course, the Bible. To end her tribute, she speaks on how her father had confidence in his faith on his death bed. He had fought a good fight. He had finished his race.
Sermon Breakdown
- Dr. Lloyd-Jones begins by introducing the topic of the sermon which is about her father, Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones, and his reading habits.
- She mentions that her father loved the Evangelical Library and the work they did. He was involved with it from the beginning.
- Her first memory of her father reading was when she was very young. He would read poems to her and discuss the characters in the stories.
- Her father would always read on holidays and in the mornings. He believed reading was important for relaxation and rest.
- Her father did not like paperbacks, digests or an overconcentration on style. He cared most about the content and truth.
- Her father read slowly but had an amazing memory. He could recall what he read in great detail.
- Her father read widely including biography, theology, apologetics, and more. He stayed up to date with current events and read reviews to get book recommendations.
- Her father believed in balance in reading and warned against reading becoming an escape or "drug." Reading should stimulate thinking.
- Her father gave book recommendations tailored to each person. He knew people's interests and what would benefit them.
- Her father read for information and to better understand topics. He researched thoroughly and didn't theorize without facts.
- Her father read medical journals and used the information to help diagnose a medical issue with his grandson. His wide reading proved useful in many areas of life.
- Her father read theology, devotional works, church history, and biographies. He especially enjoyed the Puritans, Jonathan Edwards, and Welsh hymns.
- Her father was a Welshman and loved reading Welsh hymns, especially at the end of his life.
- Her father followed a Bible reading plan and read through the entire Bible regularly. He pointed to Bible verses even when he couldn't speak at the end of his life.
- Dr. Lloyd-Jones concludes by quoting a passage about Thomas Scott that reminds her of her father and his life and ministry. Her father fought the good fight, finished his race, and kept the faith.
Sermon Q&A
How Did Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones Approach Reading and Books?
What was Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones' relationship with the Evangelical Library?
The Evangelical Library meant a great deal to Dr. Lloyd-Jones. He loved the work of the library, appreciated working with figures like Mr. Williams and Mr. Sayer, and valued the concept of "this great library full of Christian books, this great heritage and treasure." He was personally involved in founding it after being introduced to Mr. Williams through a mutual friend. He felt it was "a great work of God" and could never understand why thousands of people weren't taking advantage of its resources.
How did Dr. Lloyd-Jones view paperback books?
Dr. Lloyd-Jones strongly disliked paperbacks. He viewed books as "friends that you kept for life," and paperbacks disappointed him because "they fall apart if you just bend them open." He grudgingly accepted "stiff paperbacks" and eventually allowed some of his own works to be published in paperback format for economic reasons, recognizing that many students couldn't afford expensive hardcover books.
What was Dr. Lloyd-Jones' approach to reading novels?
Dr. Lloyd-Jones generally did not enjoy novels, though he didn't disapprove of others reading them in moderation. He actively disliked Dickens (finding his emotional manipulation tiresome) and Hardy (disliking his "cynical pessimism"). The major exception was Sir Walter Scott, whom he truly loved. Interestingly, he particularly enjoyed the detailed historical background sections in Scott's novels that many readers skip, which aligned with his preference for thoroughness rather than condensed information.
How did Dr. Lloyd-Jones view the purpose of reading?
Dr. Lloyd-Jones believed that while reading provides information, its primary function is to stimulate thinking. He said, "The business of books is to make one think. The function of reading is to stimulate us in general, to stimulate us to think and to think for ourselves." He advised readers to "take all you read and masticate it" rather than simply memorizing or regurgitating others' ideas. He believed reading should become part of you, stimulating your own thoughts rather than replacing them.
What reading habits did Dr. Lloyd-Jones discourage?
Dr. Lloyd-Jones discouraged several reading habits: 1. Using reading as a drug or escape 2. Reading just to impress others or "parade" knowledge 3. Reading simply to regurgitate others' ideas without processing them 4. Reading "digests" and encyclopedias, which he felt "encourage a ready reckoner mentality rather than thought" 5. An over-concentration on style at the expense of content
What characterized Dr. Lloyd-Jones' memory and reading speed?
Though Dr. Lloyd-Jones was not a quick reader (and wished he could read faster), he had a "phenomenal memory" for what he read. This wasn't due to rote memorization skills (which he lacked) but because he thoroughly processed and internalized content. For example, while preaching, he could recite 15 verses from Paul's epistles without stopping because "the contents had mastered him." His deep engagement with texts, rather than speed, made his reading effective.
What were Dr. Lloyd-Jones' favorite types of reading?
His favorite types of reading included: 1. Biblical theology (but it had to arise from the Word of God, not abstract theological discussion) 2. Devotional works that helped understand Scripture (particularly the Puritans and Jonathan Edwards) 3. Welsh hymns (which reflected his Welsh identity and contained rich doctrine and imagery) 4. Church history and detailed biographies (not "potted" condensed versions) 5. Medical journals (which he read for relaxation but also practical application) 6. The Bible itself, which he read systematically using the Murray M'Cheyne system for over 50 years
How did Dr. Lloyd-Jones approach the Bible in his reading?
Dr. Lloyd-Jones believed in reading the Bible systematically from beginning to end, not just focusing on favorite passages. He followed the Murray M'Cheyne reading system for over 50 years, meaning he read through the New Testament approximately 110 times. In his final days when he couldn't speak, he would point to Bible verses for comfort and guidance. His daughter noted that the last chapter in his daily reading before his death was 1 Corinthians 15, about the resurrection of the body.
How did Dr. Lloyd-Jones help others with their reading?
Dr. Lloyd-Jones was remarkably helpful to others in their reading. He would give books as gifts for various occasions, always thoughtfully matched to the recipient's interests. He read widely so he could recommend appropriate books to people in different situations. He understood that different readers needed different books—for example, he wouldn't give a book emphasizing sin and depravity to someone prone to depression. He also stayed current with theological and philosophical developments, often reading important works years before they became widely known.
Tributes to Dr. Lloyd-Jones
Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones
Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones (1899-1981) was a Welsh evangelical minister who preached and taught in the Reformed tradition. His principal ministry was at Westminster Chapel, in central London, from 1939-1968, where he delivered multi-year expositions on books of the bible such as Romans, Ephesians and the Gospel of John. In addition to the MLJ Trust’s collection of 1,600 of these sermons in audio format, most of these great sermon series are available in book form (including a 14 volume collection of the Romans sermons), as are other series such as "Spiritual Depression", "Studies in the Sermon on the Mount" and "Great Biblical Doctrines". He is considered by many evangelical leaders today to be an authority on biblical truth and the sufficiency of Scripture.