Scottish Theology: In Relation to Church History

by John MacLeod, Ian Hamilton (Foreword), George N.M. Collins (Introduction)

In Its Relation to Church History


'It has been my endeavour to handle my theme in a free and familiar fashion so as to avoid a coldly technical and stiff treatment of it, and to make it as instinct with human interest as the case permitted. This called for setting forth a theological discourse in a setting of real church life. Thus discussion and exposition are woven into a fabric of narrative. I need hardly say that I write from the standpoint of one cordially attached to the faith and witness of the Reformed churches. Though that faith is, for the time being, largely under an eclipse, its friends live in the hope that with a resurgence of evangelical godliness in days of reviving it will have an ample vindication, so that its future will in glory and in power surpass the best and brightest days of its past.' PRINCIPAL JOHN MACLEOD


Scotland has made a unique contribution in the field of theology, and the influence of its theologians has been and continues to be felt across the world. Indeed it was an American audience for whom John Macleod prepared this narrative of Scottish Theology , which was originally delivered as lectures to students at Westminster Theological Seminary.


Scottish Theology traces the development of theological thought as it was worked out in the life of the church in Scotland after the Reformation. It is far from a neat and straightforward story. But Macleod, in no way neglecting the details or the personalities involved, recounts it in such a way as to draw attention to the broad themes and the big principles that were at stake in the debates and controversies which took place amidst ongoing changes in the realms of church and state. At one level, Macleod's narrative is an historical document in itself a Reformed, evangelical, and Presbyterian interpretation of the events that it describes.


But it is much more significant than a mere historical source. The issues documented the relationship between church and state; the authority of Scripture; the nature of the atonement; intra-church conflict; the persecution of Christians; the church's missionary responsibility all have a resounding contemporary significance, and especially so with the hindsight of the developments that have taken place since the conclusion of Macleod's narrative. A judicious consideration of history is a sure way to promote humility, and a careful study of Macleod's account will enable readers to appreciate more fully the distinctive theological inheritance of Scotland, and to be thankful for the way God has worked in his providence to use this heritage to build and preserve his church down through the centuries to the present day.

Genres: Theology, Church History, History, Nonfiction, Church

381 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1943

About the author

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Reviews

[Zack · Rating 5 out of 5]

I thoroughly enjoyed cruising through this book. If you pay attention, Macleod will give you a worthy reading list of pure gold Scottish Reformed theology. He does a nice job of giving an overview of the Scottish theological tradition without getting into the weeds (too often). I will be returning to this book, for sure.

I loved the sections on Rutherford, Halyburton, Cunningham, Bannerman, Chalmers, John Duncan, and Hugh Martin.

[Sean McGowan · Rating 5 out of 5]

A sweeping overview of the richness of the Scottish theological tradition. I highly recommend this book for anyone that desires to know more about Scottish theology.

[Gary · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very competent and nicely laid out survey of Scottish theology. Not perhaps highly scholarly or particularly catholic but full of warmth and a desire to stir up the reader with the glory of the Reformed tradition in Scotland.

I liked it a great deal at the time and am sure I would still really enjoy it.

[John Nash · Rating 2 out of 5]

Look, MacLeod is unbelievably well read on this topic. Just the sheer number of people he mentions is mind boggling. But that's the only positive I have. This book was harder to finish than a game of monopoly. It just kept going and going. I don't know what I expected, but if you want to read 100s of names of Scottish dudes and the theological controversies they were involved with, then this will be a real treat for ya. If you wanted an overview of Scottish theology, then this is weirdly not the place to go.

[Daniel · Rating 3 out of 5]

In some ways, this book is vastly over-rated. The early chapters are largely just mini-biographies, which add comparatively little to the discussion. It picks up, however, once he gets to the Marrow Controversy and debates surrounding Neonomianism. The subsequent discussions of the Secession and the Free Church are also very good. You have to remember that the book is a survey, not a work of original scholarship. Hence, there are no references, though the author evidently had a very good grasp of the original literature.

[Drew Norwood · Rating 4 out of 5]

An encouraging read. Macleod's love for Scotland and for the Reformed faith is evident. He seems to write his history with the aim of building up churchmen such as the Scottish Reformers, Covenanters, Seceders, and Evangelicals; in short, men who will serve the church as "wide-awake guardians of the Reformed faith and polity." Two things stand out as you read through this book: (1) Scotland has had many heroes of the faith to call its own, a long list of Mr. Great-hearts; and (2) Scotland has had an equal share of controversy and challenges.

[Johns · Rating 3 out of 5]

Mis-titled, IMHO. This instructive book provides an exhaustive collection of biographies; it's not a primer on the theology the men trumpeted and espoused. Along the way you may pick up some tenants of the theology that drove the Presbyterian revolution in Scotland but the main value of this book is the biographies contained in the work. I'm glad to have it in our library.

[Peter Stonecipher · Rating 4 out of 5]

A fine overview of Scottish church history and theology. I stalled out in the first half of the book and left this untouched for a couple of years. Picking back up in the 18th c. Just before the Disruption, this was a riveting read. Numerous parallels can be drawn to issues and debates in present day Presbyterianism.

[Zack Hudson · Rating 2 out of 5]

I am not at all opposed to Macleod's conservative, anti-critical historiography, nor his shameless partiality for orthodoxy. It's refreshing in small doses.

This, however, is a sloppy and disorganized mess with a tendency towards hero worship.

[Scott · Rating 5 out of 5]

Macleod does a wonderful job of mapping out Scottish Theology. Talks about the main men that influenced the theology of the church in Scotland. The footnotes are worth purchasing the book.

[Jan Beekman · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very good read about the history of the reformed church in Scotland!

[mpsiple · Rating 3 out of 5]

Some helpful background to Scotland's theological contributions to the Reformed world. Medium-difficulty reading made exhausting by poor organization. Could have been MUCH better with a helpful editor.

[Frank · Rating 4 out of 5]

It is a good book about the theological history of Scotland. As has been said it could benefit from the services of an editor but that being aside if you want to know what the history of Scotland is from its theological perspective then this book should not disappoint.