Mark K Olson | Indiana Wesleyan University (original) (raw)
Papers by Mark K Olson
Suffering and Becoming Holy: Insights from John Wesley's Pastoral Counsel, 2021
The eighteenth century was rife with human suffering and death, with the average life span a shor... more The eighteenth century was rife with human suffering and death, with the average life span a short 37 years. John Wesley was moved by the suffering and understood it in largely theological terms. Human suffering was rooted in the Fall and God’s redemptive work involves a process of healing — spirit, soul, and body. But Wesley also saw suffering as one of the means God used to sanctify his people. He therefore counselled and encouraged his people to see their sufferings as a means of grace.
Opening Salvation's Door: Acts 10:35 and Salvation in Other Religions, 2013
Then Peter opening his mouth said, I perceive of a truth that God is not a respecter of persons: ... more Then Peter opening his mouth said, I perceive of a truth that God is not a respecter of persons: But in every nation he that feareth him, and worketh righteousness, is accepted by him.
From the Beginning to the End, 2020
The article explores John Wesley's theology of creation and how it serves as a foundation for his... more The article explores John Wesley's theology of creation and how it serves as a foundation for his doctrine of holy living.
A John Wesley Reader on Eschatology, 2011
In this second issue of a six-part study we examine how early Methodists saw themselves as an esc... more In this second issue of a six-part study we examine how early Methodists saw themselves as an eschatological movement, called to help usher in the millennium through its message of salvation and holiness. Wesley's 1739 Journal and early sermons are explored, along with the eschatological views of leading Methodists. Central to this selfunderstanding was the linking of the Evangelical Revival to sacred narrative of Christ and to promises of his future millennial reign. In this way Methodists infused their movement with eschatological meaning and purpose. In his classic work on societal awakenings, William McLoughlin repeatedly links the great revivals of the past to millennial aspirations.1 Even though his focus is on the American scene and its five epochal awakenings,2 his principles equally apply to the British context since the revivals on both sides of the Atlantic cross-fertilized each other. Great awakenings, says McLoughlin, are "not periods of neurosis (though they begin in times of cultural confusion)" but are "therapeutic and cathartic."
A John Wesley Reader on Eschatology, 2011
This article highlights several themes in Wesley's eschatology. First, he believed the Evangelica... more This article highlights several themes in Wesley's eschatology. First, he believed the Evangelical Revival was preparing the way for the millennial reign of Christ through the conversion of the world. Regarding the nature of Christ's reign, Wesley drew a distinction between the present kingdom of grace and the future kingdom of glory. Then there was the concept of the Chain of Being, which influenced his understanding of the new creation and its structure. Wesley's eschatology was also influenced by salvation history, current political events, the materiality of the eternal states, and the active role of departed humans in the intermediate state...
A John Wesley Reader on Eschatology, 2011
In this third installment Wesley's views on eschatology are sketched from the 1720s till the 1780... more In this third installment Wesley's views on eschatology are sketched from the 1720s till the 1780s. It is shown that Wesley initially held an amillennial view and transitioned to a postmillennial position in the wake of his embrace of evangelicalism in 1738. With several prominent Methodists endorsing the premillennial position, it appears that Wesley flirted with premillennialism in the early 1760s to finally settle as a postmillennialist. However, Wesley's views matured in response to his exposure to contemporary views in natural philosophy...
A John Wesley Reader on Eschatology, 2011
This is the first of six studies on John Wesley's eschatology. This article recounts the developm... more This is the first of six studies on John Wesley's eschatology. This article recounts the developments of eschatology in England from the Protestant Reformation to the Evangelical Revival of the eighteenth century. The central aim is to address the relationship between millennial expectations and the problem of nominal belief in the Protestant traditions and how this relationship contributed to Methodism's identity as an eschatological movement in the eighteenth century. Apart from minor changes, this paper was originally published in Mark K. Olson, ed. The John Wesley Reader on Eschatology (Truth in Heart, 2011). Methodism was born in an age when many Protestants believed they were living on the precipice of human history...
Suffering and Becoming Holy: Insights from John Wesley's Pastoral Counsel, 2021
The eighteenth century was rife with human suffering and death, with the average life span a shor... more The eighteenth century was rife with human suffering and death, with the average life span a short 37 years. John Wesley was moved by the suffering and understood it in largely theological terms. Human suffering was rooted in the Fall and God’s redemptive work involves a process of healing — spirit, soul, and body. But Wesley also saw suffering as one of the means God used to sanctify his people. He therefore counselled and encouraged his people to see their sufferings as a means of grace.
Opening Salvation's Door: Acts 10:35 and Salvation in Other Religions, 2013
Then Peter opening his mouth said, I perceive of a truth that God is not a respecter of persons: ... more Then Peter opening his mouth said, I perceive of a truth that God is not a respecter of persons: But in every nation he that feareth him, and worketh righteousness, is accepted by him.
From the Beginning to the End, 2020
The article explores John Wesley's theology of creation and how it serves as a foundation for his... more The article explores John Wesley's theology of creation and how it serves as a foundation for his doctrine of holy living.
A John Wesley Reader on Eschatology, 2011
In this second issue of a six-part study we examine how early Methodists saw themselves as an esc... more In this second issue of a six-part study we examine how early Methodists saw themselves as an eschatological movement, called to help usher in the millennium through its message of salvation and holiness. Wesley's 1739 Journal and early sermons are explored, along with the eschatological views of leading Methodists. Central to this selfunderstanding was the linking of the Evangelical Revival to sacred narrative of Christ and to promises of his future millennial reign. In this way Methodists infused their movement with eschatological meaning and purpose. In his classic work on societal awakenings, William McLoughlin repeatedly links the great revivals of the past to millennial aspirations.1 Even though his focus is on the American scene and its five epochal awakenings,2 his principles equally apply to the British context since the revivals on both sides of the Atlantic cross-fertilized each other. Great awakenings, says McLoughlin, are "not periods of neurosis (though they begin in times of cultural confusion)" but are "therapeutic and cathartic."
A John Wesley Reader on Eschatology, 2011
This article highlights several themes in Wesley's eschatology. First, he believed the Evangelica... more This article highlights several themes in Wesley's eschatology. First, he believed the Evangelical Revival was preparing the way for the millennial reign of Christ through the conversion of the world. Regarding the nature of Christ's reign, Wesley drew a distinction between the present kingdom of grace and the future kingdom of glory. Then there was the concept of the Chain of Being, which influenced his understanding of the new creation and its structure. Wesley's eschatology was also influenced by salvation history, current political events, the materiality of the eternal states, and the active role of departed humans in the intermediate state...
A John Wesley Reader on Eschatology, 2011
In this third installment Wesley's views on eschatology are sketched from the 1720s till the 1780... more In this third installment Wesley's views on eschatology are sketched from the 1720s till the 1780s. It is shown that Wesley initially held an amillennial view and transitioned to a postmillennial position in the wake of his embrace of evangelicalism in 1738. With several prominent Methodists endorsing the premillennial position, it appears that Wesley flirted with premillennialism in the early 1760s to finally settle as a postmillennialist. However, Wesley's views matured in response to his exposure to contemporary views in natural philosophy...
A John Wesley Reader on Eschatology, 2011
This is the first of six studies on John Wesley's eschatology. This article recounts the developm... more This is the first of six studies on John Wesley's eschatology. This article recounts the developments of eschatology in England from the Protestant Reformation to the Evangelical Revival of the eighteenth century. The central aim is to address the relationship between millennial expectations and the problem of nominal belief in the Protestant traditions and how this relationship contributed to Methodism's identity as an eschatological movement in the eighteenth century. Apart from minor changes, this paper was originally published in Mark K. Olson, ed. The John Wesley Reader on Eschatology (Truth in Heart, 2011). Methodism was born in an age when many Protestants believed they were living on the precipice of human history...