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Christian Theology
Selected from Dr. Adam Clarke's published and unpublished writings, and systematically arranged covering a wide array of topics including: God, the Attributes of God, Christ, the Holy Spirit, Man, the Fall of Man, the Scriptures, Repentance, Faith, Hope, Justification, Adoption, Regeneration, Entire Sanctification, The Moral Law, Public Worship, Prayer, Praise, Baptism, The Lord's Supper, Temptations, Good and Bad Angels, Afflictions, Apostasy, Death, Judgment, Hell, Heaven … and many more relevant Gospel topics.
- GenresTheology
306 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 1835
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About the author
Adam Clarke
645 books5 followers1760/62 - 1832
British Methodist theologian and biblical scholar.
British Methodist theologian and biblical scholar.
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Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews
July 26, 2024
A SYSTEMATIC PRESENTATION OF WRITINGS BY A FAMED METHODIST THEOLOGIAN
Adam Clarke (1762-1832) was a British Methodist theologian and Biblical scholar. This book was not written by Dr. Clarke, but was compiled after his death from his writings. It is subdivided into thirty-five topics such as: The Scriptures; God; The Trinity; Faith; Justification; Entire Sanctification; Public Worship; Husband and Wife; Rulers and Subjects; Good and bad Angels; Apostasy; Heaven, etc. (NOTE: page numbers below refer to the paperback edition.)
He wrote, "It has ever been a matter of astonishment to me that any soul...should have ever ... laboured to prove, that ... (God should have) a sovereign, irrespective, eternal love to a few of the fallen human race; together with a sovereign, irrevocable, and eternal hatred to the great mass of mankind; according to which the salvation of the former, and the perdition of the latter, have been, from all eternity, absolutely and irrevocably fixed, preordained, and decreed!" (Pg. 77-78) About the so-called 'unpardonable sin,' he advises that "no man who believes the divine mission of Jesus Christ ever can commit this sin." (Pg. 105)
He observes, "The doctrine of justification by faith... is so very plain that all may comprehend it; and so free that all may attain it." (Pg. 139) He rhetorically asks, "why is not the moral obligation of (keeping the Sabbath) insisted on by our Lord and the apostles? They have sufficiently insisted on it; they all kept it sacred, and so invariably did all the primitive Christians." (Pg. 214)
His anti-Catholic orientation is shown in passages such as, "The Church of Rome... has so blended a pretended Christian devotion with heathenish and Jewish rites and ceremonies, two parts of which are borrowed from pagan Rome, the third from the Jewish ritual ill understood... and the fourth part from other corruptions of the Christian system." (Pg. 248)
He argues, "To suppose that sinners shall be annihilated, is as great a heresy, though scarcely so absurd, as to believe that the pains of damnation are emendatory, and that hell fire shall burn out." (Pg. 374) Still, he adds, "What this everlasting destruction consists in, we cannot tell. It is not annihilation, for their being continues." (Pg. 376)
It is regretted that Clarke himself never wrote a systematic theology; still, this volume serves much of the same purpose.
Adam Clarke (1762-1832) was a British Methodist theologian and Biblical scholar. This book was not written by Dr. Clarke, but was compiled after his death from his writings. It is subdivided into thirty-five topics such as: The Scriptures; God; The Trinity; Faith; Justification; Entire Sanctification; Public Worship; Husband and Wife; Rulers and Subjects; Good and bad Angels; Apostasy; Heaven, etc. (NOTE: page numbers below refer to the paperback edition.)
He wrote, "It has ever been a matter of astonishment to me that any soul...should have ever ... laboured to prove, that ... (God should have) a sovereign, irrespective, eternal love to a few of the fallen human race; together with a sovereign, irrevocable, and eternal hatred to the great mass of mankind; according to which the salvation of the former, and the perdition of the latter, have been, from all eternity, absolutely and irrevocably fixed, preordained, and decreed!" (Pg. 77-78) About the so-called 'unpardonable sin,' he advises that "no man who believes the divine mission of Jesus Christ ever can commit this sin." (Pg. 105)
He observes, "The doctrine of justification by faith... is so very plain that all may comprehend it; and so free that all may attain it." (Pg. 139) He rhetorically asks, "why is not the moral obligation of (keeping the Sabbath) insisted on by our Lord and the apostles? They have sufficiently insisted on it; they all kept it sacred, and so invariably did all the primitive Christians." (Pg. 214)
His anti-Catholic orientation is shown in passages such as, "The Church of Rome... has so blended a pretended Christian devotion with heathenish and Jewish rites and ceremonies, two parts of which are borrowed from pagan Rome, the third from the Jewish ritual ill understood... and the fourth part from other corruptions of the Christian system." (Pg. 248)
He argues, "To suppose that sinners shall be annihilated, is as great a heresy, though scarcely so absurd, as to believe that the pains of damnation are emendatory, and that hell fire shall burn out." (Pg. 374) Still, he adds, "What this everlasting destruction consists in, we cannot tell. It is not annihilation, for their being continues." (Pg. 376)
It is regretted that Clarke himself never wrote a systematic theology; still, this volume serves much of the same purpose.
June 27, 2022
Worth reading. This book brings together selections from Adam Clarke's extensive writing on the Bible and other subjects relevant to Christianity. He was a big advocate for learning, and he was one of the first to support women in the ministry. He was also an abolitionist. He makes a great argument against the use of tobacco based on its effect on physical health. All that is great.
Some of his theology/philosophy either seems severe or dated. For example, he argues that music has the least utility of any of the arts. He's a bit of a stick in the mud on the subject of music. We now know that music is one of the best activities for brain development, and the therapeutic power of music is well documented. Since he died in 1832, I can cut him some slack, but not much. He does not favor choral music in church, or orchestras, etc. He believes they do more harm than good. He does make a point when he asserts that the quality of the music is given more importance than the religious convictions of those who perform it. Even so, this does not have to be the case, and often is not. He has an even more damning attitude toward dancing. A bit of a know-it-all and a stuffed shirt, who even so has plenty of things to say that are worth reading. His scholarship and command of languages is staggering.
Some of his theology/philosophy either seems severe or dated. For example, he argues that music has the least utility of any of the arts. He's a bit of a stick in the mud on the subject of music. We now know that music is one of the best activities for brain development, and the therapeutic power of music is well documented. Since he died in 1832, I can cut him some slack, but not much. He does not favor choral music in church, or orchestras, etc. He believes they do more harm than good. He does make a point when he asserts that the quality of the music is given more importance than the religious convictions of those who perform it. Even so, this does not have to be the case, and often is not. He has an even more damning attitude toward dancing. A bit of a know-it-all and a stuffed shirt, who even so has plenty of things to say that are worth reading. His scholarship and command of languages is staggering.
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews