38 of 39 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
An important achievement, September 2, 2007
This review is from: The Theology of John Wesley: Holy Love and the Shape of Grace (Paperback)
The problem and importance of creating a Theology of John Wesley is that Wesley left us no Systematic Theology to study. His theology is found in his sermons, letters, notes and various treatises'. The present work succeeds is organizing Wesley's views on various topics in a useful manner. In such an endeavor, the bias of the writer must be viewed and weighed against the source material from which the writer draws his material. Fortunately, Wesley's writings are all readily available and delightful to read such that students will enjoy studying the source material along with this important book.
It is important, in my opinion that any student wishing to understand Wesley should not rely on a book such as this regardless of its qualities. Rather, "The Theology of John Wesley" should serve as a guide to Wesley's writings and be read alongside of them rather than in their stead. Wesley's concepts are quite fluid at times and evolved over time and a full understanding of Wesley can only come from reading the material first hand as it developed and evolved and in its historic context.
Unlike a systematic theology that seeks to define and answer all if not most theological issues, this is a book about John Wesley's theology which was more focussed and certainly not systematic or comprehensive. It is not, therefore, a substitute for the study of classic systematic theology. Wesley's goal in life was not to produce a systematic theology but to come to a personal understanding of God and our relationship to Him and as important, to save souls through preaching and creating a vehicle for evangelism called Methodism. Therefore, Wesley's theology was living, breathing, theoretical and applied whose singular thrust was for salvation of all.
Dr. Collins writes lucidly and I believe he fairly interprets Wesley's viewpoints on the issues raised in the book. There are some areas that are not as clearly presented as we would expect in a systematic theology. An example is God's relationship to man and the Moral Law. The apparent lack of clarity may reflect Wesley more than Dr. Collins. Furthermore, the text does not always bring into discussion other theological views which may be in contrast or augment that of Wesley unless vital to Wesley's argument. An example is the discussion of how sin entered the world. The Augustine view of evil being the privation of good is an example. Wesley's assertion that Satan introduced sin into the world must be read in context of Augustine lest we fall into the trap of making God the author of Sin. The author's conclusion may better be stated: "that Satan and unregenerate man are depraved and the vehicles through which sin is worked out in creation." Satan, as a created being, is part of creation and therefore could not have created sin de novo. Regardless, the reader must remember that these are Wesley's views and should familiarize him/herself with the full repertoire of historical and current lines of thought.
I believe that the student wishing to understand Wesley will find this book an excellent teacher and guide, a resource to be read and reread as Wesley's original material is primarily studied.
I am glad that a solitary text cannot substitute for reading Wesley. It would be tragic and a great loss for students to miss the joy and blessing of reading Wesley.
Finally, Dr. Collins draws much from Wesley's great sermon "The Image of God" which is not available in all collections of Wesley's sermons and, to the best of my knowledge, not available on line. This one sermon, this gem, contains much Wesley was to offer. It is published in the "John Wesley's Sermons: An Anthology" edited by Outler.
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24 of 25 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Holy Love: The Heart of Wesley's Theology, August 28, 2007
This review is from: The Theology of John Wesley: Holy Love and the Shape of Grace (Paperback)
Here is an engaging text that readers will find helpful not only in obtaining a better grasp of Wesley's theology but also in understanding how that theology is relevant, in a very practical way, to their own lives and culture. The book employs an eighteenth century lens (Wesley's own thought), but then it transitions to the twenty-first century as well. The "Today and Tomorrow" sections at the end of each chapter are outstanding. I especially appreciate the manner in which Collins thoughtfully engages various interpretations of Wesley's theology and the evidence he presents from Wesley's own writings to support his conclusions. While this book is definitely written on a scholarly level, the author's appealing style of writing makes it accessible to readers of many backgrounds. The Theology of John Wesley: Holy Love and the Shape of Grace is an excellent resource for anyone who desires to know both the form and substance of Wesley's theology as well as its ongoing significance. Holy love really is at the heart of it all.
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3 of 5 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Thorough and complete analysis of Wesleyan Theology., January 5, 2010
This review is from: The Theology of John Wesley: Holy Love and the Shape of Grace (Paperback)
I was looking for a book that would explain the theology of the founder of Methodism, John Wesley. Kenneth Collins' comprehensive and thorough study of Wesley has provided that and so much more. "The Theology of John Wesley: Holy Love and the Shape of Grace", though challenging for a newcomer to Wesley and theological study, delivers an in depth look at the historical Wesley and exposes the 18th century preacher's relevance to modern believers.
Collins presents John Wesley's theological system using the writings of Wesley and the historical and cultural atmosphere in which Wesley's ideas were developed.
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