author
J. W. (Jacob Whistler) Byers
1859–1944
A self-taught teacher turned holiness preacher, this early Church of God writer devoted his books and ministry to practical Christian living. Best known for Sanctification, he wrote in a direct, earnest style shaped by revival work across the United States.
1 Audiobook
Sanctification
by J. W. (Jacob Whistler) Byers
About the author
Born in Whiteside County, Illinois, on March 26, 1859, Jacob Whistler Byers grew up in a religious family and first prepared himself to become a teacher. Later, after a renewed Christian commitment, he entered ministry and became associated with the Church of God reformation movement and the wider holiness tradition.
Byers and his wife, Jennie, were active in pastoral and evangelistic work in several parts of the United States. His writing reflects that background: plainspoken, practical, and centered on holy living, spiritual experience, and everyday faith. He is especially remembered for Sanctification, a work that continued to circulate long after its first publication.
He died in Los Angeles, California, on October 16, 1944. Although not widely known outside religious and historical circles, his books remain of interest to readers exploring early holiness teaching and the literature of the Church of God movement.