The Works of Thomas Goodwin

by Thomas Goodwin

Thomas Goodwin was a prolific author and editor. During the 1630s he coedited with John Ball the works of John Preston and Richard Sibbes. He began to publish his own sermons in 1636. Prior to his death, he had published at least twelve devotional works, most of which were collections of sermons. The fact that they were reissued forty-seven times indicates the high demand and wide circulation of his publications. Most of Goodwin's major theological writings were the fruit of his riper years and were published posthumously. His unusually large corpus of treatises display a pastoral and scholarly zeal rivaled by few Puritans. The first collection of Goodwin's works was published in five folio volumes in London from 1681 to 1704 under the editorship of Thankful Owen, Thomas Baron, and Thomas Goodwin Jr. An abridged version of Goodwin's works, condensed by J. Rabb, was printed in four volumes (London, 1847-50). The presently reprinted twelve-volume authoritative edition was printed by James Nichol (Edinburgh, 1861-66) as his first choice in what would become known as the well-edited and highly regarded Nichol's Series of Standard Divines; not surprisingly, it is far superior to the original five folio volumes.

Genres: Theology

624 pages, Paperback

First published March 1, 2001

About the author

Thomas Goodwin known as 'the Elder', was an English Puritan theologian and preacher, and an important leader of religious Independents. He served as chaplain to Oliver Cromwell, and was imposed by Parliament as President of Magdalen College, Oxford in 1650. Christopher Hill places Goodwin in the ‘main stream of Puritan thought’.

Reviews

[Evelynn Moorman · Rating 4 out of 5]

Some good sermons. I was especially interested in his discussion of knowledge and communion with God.

[Liam]

Had to throw in the towel on this for now. Just too heady for an audiobook listen. Will likely pick up this mighty Ephesians volume at some point in the future.

[Andy · Rating 5 out of 5]

The whole of Volume 1 is dedicated to his commentary on Ephesians 1. It's too bad that Goodwin didn't write a commentary on the entire book of Ephesians! His work is both scholarly and practical, a trademark of most of the Puritans. He never skimps on the doctrinal theology taught and implied in the text, and he expects his readers to keep up (This was originally sermons, so he expected his congregation to keep up!). However, the exposition is laced with loads of practical observations and pastoral applications. I won't say that this is an easy read, but it is far more readable than almost anything by John Owen. But the pay-off makes the work worthwhile.