A.W. Tozer - The Quotable Tozer: A Topical Compilation of the Wisdom and Insight of A.W. Tozer

While doing my research for the biography of A.W. Tozer, I spent some time with Ray McAfee, Dr. Tozers assistant for many years. One thing he said stuck with me: Nobody could say it quite like Tozer. It didnt mean so much immediately, but as I looked deeper into Tozers work, I began to understand what McAfee was talking about. A.W. Tozer had a unique way of saying things. I think I can say safely that he never said anything off the top of his head. I believe everything was carefully thought through before he spoke.

To create The Quotable Tozer , I have gone through all of his books and pulled quotes from them that I believe will help readers get to know him better and understand who he was.

The most interesting section of work was with the 475 editorials Tozer wrote for The Alliance Weekly/Witness , the periodical of which he was editor from 1950 until his death in 1963. The topics range from A to Z. As I read through them from the first to the last, I noticed how he grew over the years, especially in the area of writing. He certainly did have a way with words. Even though The Alliance Weekly/Witness was a denominational publication, most people subscribed to it because of A.W. Tozers editorials. They were published all over the world at the time.

To begin a project like this, I hardly knew where to start and where to stop. My purpose in putting it together was first for those who may not be acquainted with Tozers writings, to introduce the reader to them in small slices that they can absorb. In addition, I wanted to include short pieces that might be used on social media, such as Twitter and Facebook.

If no one else benefits from this book, and I know you will, it was enough that I have greatly benefited. Often during its preparation, I was experiencing some difficult times, and the words of Tozer on those days encouraged me like I had not been encouraged in a long time. My prayer is that you will experience this as well. Of course, I also hope that preachers, speakers, writers, and magazine editors will find this a beneficial volume to their work and ministry.

One more thing I found interesting about the writings of A.W. Tozer is just how relevant they are today. One of his quotes speaks to this: Whatever is new isnt true, and whatever is true isnt new. Think about that. The problems A.W. Tozer addressed concerning the church in his day are the same problems that need addressing in the church today. I believe one reason for this is that he didnt focus on passing fads of the day, but on the truth set forth in the Word of God.

James L. Snyder