The Theology of John Wesley: Holy Love and the Shape of Grace

by Kenneth J Collins Ph.D.

Overview

A rich articulation of John Wesley's theology that is appreciative of the old and mindful of the new, faithful to the past and attentive to the present. This work carefully displays John Wesley's eighteenth century theology in its own distinct historical and social location, but then transitions to the twenty-first century through the introduction of contemporary issues. So conceived, the book is both historical and constructive demonstrating that the theology of Wesley represents a vibrant tradition. Cognizant of Wesley's own preferred vocabulary, Collins introduces Wesley's theological method beginning with a discussion of the doctrine of God. "In this insightful exposition the leitmotif of holy love arises out of Wesley's reflection on the nature of the divine being as well as other major doctrines." (Douglas Meeks)

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780687646333
Publisher:	Abingdon Press
Publication date:	08/01/2007
Pages:	423
Sales rank:	1,063,766
Product dimensions:	6.00(w) x 9.00(h) x 1.10(d)

About the Author

Kenneth J. Collins is Professor of Historical Theology and Wesley Studies at Asbury Theological Seminary in Wilmore Kentucky, and an elder in the Kentucky Conference of The United Methodist Church. He also teaches at the Baltic Methodist Theological Seminary in Estonia, and is a member of the Wesleyan Theological Society, Wesley Historical Society, and Society for the Study of Christian Spirituality. He is the author of A Real Christian: The Life of John Wesley, The Scripture Way of Salvation: The Heart of John Wesley's Theology, co-editor of Conversion in the Wesleyan Tradition, and John Wesley: A Theological Journey.

Table of Contents

Introduction: John Wesley's Practical Divinity: A Theology of Holy Love     1
John Wesley as a Practical Theologian     1
The Style of Wesley's Practical Theology     3
The Axial Theme of Wesley's Practical Theology     5
The Axial Theme of Holiness and Grace     6
Holiness as Holy Love: The First Half of the Axial Theme     6
Law and Grace     10
Grace: The Other Half of the Axial Theme     11
Work of God Alone/Synergism     12
Favor/Empowerment     13
Receiving/Responding     14
Instantaneous/Process     15
The Flow of the Book     16
The God of Holy Love     19
The Personal and Essential Attributes of God     19
Holy Love     20
Eternity     22
Omnipresence     23
Omniscience     25
Omnipotence     26
The Essential Attributes and Predestination     29
The Work of God/Father     33
Creator     34
Sovereign     37
Governor     38
The Moral Law     39
Providential Provider     40
Summary of the Attributes     42
Todayand Tomorrow: Recent Trends in Cosmology     43
Humanity: Created in Holy Love, Fallen in Nature     49
Humanity Created as Complex Beings     50
The Image of God     51
The Fall of Humanity     57
The Effects of the Fall     59
Original Sin     64
How Original Sin Is Transferred     66
The Consequences of Original Sin     68
Total Depravity     70
Prevenient Grace     73
The Benefits of Prevenient Grace     77
Today and Tomorrow: Contemporary Views of the Self     82
Jesus Christ: The God of Holy Love Revealed     87
The Person of Christ     88
The Divine Nature     88
The Human Nature     92
The Work of Christ     95
Prophet     96
Priest     98
Atonement     99
Objective Elements     103
Subjective Elements     108
King     110
Today and Tomorrow: The Christ of the Qur'an     113
The Holy Spirit: The Presence of the God of Holy Love     121
Administrator of Redemption     122
Convincing Grace     122
The Moral Law      123
The Presence of the Spirit as Holy Love     124
The Gifts and Fruit of the Spirit     127
The Assurance of the Holy Spirit     129
Assurance Nuanced     131
The Full Assurance of Faith     136
The Question of a Specialized Vocabulary     137
The Full Assurance of Hope     140
The Perceptibility of Grace     142
The Trinity     143
The Filioque Clause     144
Wesley on Trinitarian Language     145
The Trinity and the Language of Holy Love     148
Today and Tomorrow: The Rise of Pentecostal Religion     149
Justification: The God of Holy Love for Us     155
Co-operant Grace (Catholic Emphasis)     155
Repentance     156
Works Suitable for Repentance     157
The Necessity of Repentance and Works Suitable Thereto     158
Free Grace (Protestant Emphasis)     160
Justifying Faith     165
Justification Itself: The First Focus of the Wesleyan Order of Salvation     169
Justification as Freedom from Guilt: The First Liberty of the Gospel     172
Imputation     174
The Question of Sola Fide     176
Justification and Regeneration Are Linked     181
The Difference between Acceptance and Justification     182
Temporal Elements as the Key     184
Today and Tomorrow: The Realities of Forgiveness     189
The New Birth: The God of Holy Love in Us     195
Regenerating Grace as the Favor of God     196
Regenerating Grace as the Power of God     197
The Contribution of Peter Bohler     199
Defining Regeneration     200
The New Birth as a Necessary Change     205
The New Birth as a Vast Change     207
The Influence of German Pietism     208
The New Birth as a Crucial Change     211
The Contribution of August Hermann Francke     214
The Temporal Elements as Key     215
The New Birth as Liberating Change: The Second Liberty of the Gospel     217
Did Wesley Maintain His Standard of the New Birth?     222
The New Birth as the Freedom to Love God and Neighbor     226
Today and Tomorrow: Conversion Revisited     229
The Church and the Means of Grace: The Community of Holy Love     237
The Church     238
The Church in Decline     240
Methodism as a Reform of the Church     244
The Significance of German Pietism and Moravianism     247
The Methodist Infrastructure     249
The Practical Christian Life     253
The Means of Grace     257
The Instituted Means of Grace     257
The Sacrament of the Lord's Supper     259
The Sacrament of Baptism     262
Prudential Means of Grace     266
Works of Mercy     267
Today and Tomorrow: What Are They Thinking about Natural Law and Politics?     270
Entire Sanctification: The Purity and Excellence of Holy Love     279
Evangelical Repentance     280
Works Suitable for Repentance     282
Faith     286
The Balance of Wesley's Conception of Grace     288
The Temporal Dimensions of Entire Sanctification     293
Entire Sanctification Itself: The Second Focus of the Wesleyan Order of Salvation     297
What Entire Sanctification Is Not     298
What Entire Sanctification Is: The Third Liberty of the Gospel     300
The Full Assurance of Faith     303
Pastoral Considerations on the Way to Eternity     304
Today and Tomorrow: Rethinking the Wesleyan Ordo Salutis?     307
Eschatology and Glorification: The Triumph of Holy Love      313
Revivalism and Millennialism     314
Eschatology and the Reign of God     316
Death     316
The Intermediate State     318
Resurrection and Judgment     320
Final Justification     321
The Question of Merit     322
The New Creation     324
Today and Tomorrow: John Wesley's Practical Theology as a Resource for Discipleship and Service     327
Notes     333
Selected Bibliography     401
Index     413