The Use and Misuse of John Wesley on the Authority of Scripture (original) (raw)

Wesley and Methodist Studies, volumes 1 to 15/2

Wesley and Methodist Studies

Wesley and Methodist Studies (WMS) publishes peer-reviewed essays that examine the life and work of John and Charles Wesley, their contemporaries (proponents or opponents) in the eighteenth-century Evangelical Revival, their historical and theological antecedents, their successors in the Wesleyan tradition, and studies of the Wesleyan and Evangelical traditions today. Its primary historical scope is the eighteenth century to the present; however, WMS will publish essays that explore the historical and theological antecedents of the Wesleys (including work on Samuel and Susanna Wesley), Methodism, and the Evangelical Revival. WMS has a dual and broad focus on both history and theology. Its aim is to present significant scholarly contributions that shed light on historical and theological understandings of Methodism broadly conceived. Essays within the thematic scope of WMS from the disciplinary perspectives of literature, philosophy, education and cognate disciplines are welcome. WMS is a collaborative project of the Manchester Wesley Research Centre and The Oxford Centre for Methodism and Church History, Oxford Brookes University and is published biannually by Penn State University Press.

What John Wesley Might Say to Uniting Church Ordinands

It’s always a difficult thing to summon the dead out of their graves and ask for their opinion on present circumstances. Voltaire once said that, ‘History is just a pack of tricks we play on the dead.’ It’s all too easy to distort the ideas of the departed, who are not in a position to defend themselves, in order to serve some agenda of our own. But this is the topic that has been suggested to me and I’m going to take it on and see where it leads us. Keep in mind that all of this is my idea of what John Wesley might say to UCA ordinands. It is meant only to be suggestive not definitive. What he might say about the Uniting Church is a topic perhaps for another time. I am going to suggest here four words of advice from the founder of Methodism: 1. Plunder the Egyptians 2. Offer Christ 3. Have an Optimism of Grace 4. In Mission, Love the Church

DO 690 John Wesley's Theology for Today

2003

Paul W. Chilcote, Praying in the Wesleyan Spirit (entirety) Paul Chilcote, Recapturing the Wesleys’ Vision Manuscript (entirety) Tom Langford, “Charles Wesley as Theologian” (handout) Albert Outler, “John Wesley as Theologian” (handout) Albert Outler, John Wesley, 3-33, 51-69, 87-147, 177-209, 231-50, 271-344, 353-76, 384-424, 492-99 Albert Outler, Theology in the Wesleyan Spirit (entirety; but only theology section) John Wesley, Sermons, 39-68, 157-72, 193-206, 251-74, 287-98, 325-46, 419-40, 485- 500, 511-22, 541-58 Frank Whaling, John and Charles Wesley, 146-61, 192-95, 251-72, 289-91

DO 690 John Wesley’s Theology Today

2005

Required Texts: Paul W. Chilcote, Praying in the Wesleyan Spirit Paul W. Chilcote, Recapturing the Wesleys’ Vision Albert C. Outler, ed., John Wesley Albert C. Outler, Evangelism & Theology in the Wes’n Spirit A. Outler & R. Heitzenrater, eds., John Wesley’s Sermons Frank Whaling, ed., John and Charles Wesley

John Wesley as a theologian: an introduction

2015

The twentieth century saw a revival of interest in John Wesley as a theologian, but whereas the standard treatments of his theology have arranged his thought in the customary shape of Systematic Theologies, this article takes the shape of Wesley’s theology from the way he arranged and prioritized his doctrines pastorally in his Standard Sermons. This demonstrates that he began with the evangelical doctrine of the Reformation on Justification and the Atonement (focusing on Christ), understood regeneration and assurance in relation to the Holy Spirit, and saw the sovereign grace of God the Father as extending to ‘all his works’. The underlying structure is Trinitarian. His much misunderstood doctrine of ‘perfection’ was inherited from the Fathers and was his most creative contribution to Evangelical theology, but needs further development and clarification. 254 • EQ Thomas A. Noble sectarianism. It needs to be developed in a fully Trinitarian way so that the living experience of ‘real...

Christ alone for salvation' : the role of Christ and His work in John Wesley's theology

2017

The University of Manchester Isaac Hopper Degree of Doctor of Philosophy 'Christ Alone for Salvation': The Role of Christ and His Work in John Wesley's Theology 2017 This thesis is a study of the relationship between John Wesley's Christology and his broader theology. No specific effort has yet been made to assess whether or not a meaningful change to Wesley's Christology ever occurred, or to what extent Wesley's Christology shaped his broader theology. The purpose of this study is to fill this gap by first demonstrating that a change to Wesley's Christology did occur and describing the implications of this shift for his broader theology and, second, by evaluating to what degree Wesley's broader theology arose out of, or was shaped by, his Christology. Chapter one describes Wesley's inherited theology, which he received from his family and faith tradition, in order to provide a foundation from which to examine changes to his Christology. Chapter two then demonstrates that a change to Wesley's Christology did occur around his 1738 'evangelical conversion', and describes the implications of this shift for Wesley's evangelical theology. John Wesley identified the core doctrines of the early Methodists as repentance, faith, and holiness. Following Wesley's lead, this study examines three correlating areas of focus as representative of these core Methodist doctrines, in order to describe the relationship between these doctrines and Wesley's Christology. Chapter three, 'Christ and Humanity' examines Wesley's doctrine of humanity, including his understanding of the image of God, original sin, and the nature of salvation as restoration of the divine image. This chapter lays out Wesley's understanding of the need for human repentance. Chapter four, 'Christ Working for Us' examines those doctrines most closely tied to justification as an orienting concern. This includes Wesley's understanding of grace, the stages of faith, repentance itself, works meet for repentance, Christ's imputed righteousness, and adoption. Finally, chapter five, 'Christ Working in Us' examines those doctrines most closely linked to sanctification as an orienting concern. This includes the doctrine of the new birth, freedom from sin, assurance, and Christian perfection. By identifying the changes that occurred to Wesley's Christology and evaluating the relationship between his Christology and other core doctrines, this thesis will contribute to the growing body of research into the theological foundations of Methodism and the life and thought of the Rev. John Wesley.