JOHN OWEN AND ENGLISH PURITANISM: Experiences of Defeat

Oxford Studies in Historical Theology

by Crawford Gribben

John Owen was a leading theologian in seventeenth-century England. Closely associated with the regicide and revolution, he befriended Oliver Cromwell, was appointed vice-chancellor of the University of Oxford, and became the premier religious statesman of the Interregnum. The restoration of the monarchy pushed Owen into dissent, criminalizing his religious practice and inspiring his writings in defense of high Calvinism and religious toleration. Owen transcended his many experiences of defeat, and his claims to quietism were frequently undermined by rumors of his involvement in anti-government conspiracies.

Crawford Gribben's biography documents Owen's importance as a controversial and adaptable theologian deeply involved with his social, political, and religious environments. Fiercely intellectual and extraordinarily learned, Owen wrote millions of words in works of theology and exegesis. Far from personifying the Reformed tradition, however, Owen helped to undermine it, offering an individualist account of Christian faith that downplayed the significance of the church and means of grace. In doing so, Owen's work contributed to the formation of the new religious movement known as evangelicalism, where his influence can still be seen today.

Genres: Theology, Biography, History, Church History

424 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2017

About the author

A cultural and literary historian whose work concentrates on the development and dissemination of religious ideas, Crawford Gribben is Professor of History at Queen's University, Belfast.

Reviews

[Jacob Aitken · Rating 5 out of 5]

Crawford Gribben suggests, perhaps ironically, that John Owen’s life is shaped around a series of “defeats.” Although this text is part of Oxford’s series on historical theology, is weighted more towards biography than to theology, though Gribben is capable of skillfully surveying Owen’s theological developments.

Gribben gives considerable detail to Owen’s life in the Cromwellian era, both as a chaplain for the Irish invasion and as a courtier under Cromwell’s reign. On Gribben’s reading Owen isn’t necessarily opposed to Cromwell’s invasion of Ireland, merely grieved at some of the (inevitable?) excesses of a shock-and-awe campaign.

What is even more shocking, though, is Owen’s hostility to Presbyterianism. He fully supported Cromwell’s invasion of Scotland (Granted, the Presbyterian’s decision to back the debauched pervert Charles II is fairly high on the stupidity list). Owen’s specific criticism of Scotland should be seen in the larger context of “exporting England’s revolution” (cited in Gribben 106).

Much of Owen’s hostility to Scottish Presbyterianism owes to the latter’s view of a “National Religion.” He minces no words. “An unjust usurper had taken possession of this house, and kept it in bondage; —Satan had seized on it, and brought it, through the wrath of God, under his power” (Owen 8:298).

The rest of Gribben’s narrative matches conventional accounts of Owen’s life. Now to the theology. One of the criticisms of the Goold edition of Owen’s works is that they are arranged topically rather than chronologically. For example, “A Display of Arminianism,” one of Owen’s earliest works, is in the same volume as Death of Death.

This is a fine volume that deals with many nuances of Owen’s life in a judicial and sensitive manner. Gribben, perhaps unlike his topic, writes with an easy and engaging prose style.

[Andy Efting · Rating 4 out of 5]

I probably had unrealistic expectations for this book than I should have. I was looking for more information regarding the relationship between Owen and Oliver Cromwell. I found the book difficult mainly due, I think, to my unfamiliarity with British history. It would have been nice for the author to fill in those gaps for me, but I don't think that was the purpose of his book.

I was going to give the book three stars but I changed it to four because of an unexpected section on Owen's writing on the preservation of Scripture. I found this section to be extraordinarily helpful. It provided the context for positions by Owen that I had before thought to be extreme, and hijacked by those who believe and promote perfect preservation as the foundation for their KJV Only beliefs. One this subject Owen has to be read with an understanding of the historical context and Gribben helped provide that context, along with some further analysis that shows Owen was not quite as extreme as I originally thought.

[Inwoo · Rating 5 out of 5]

Besides the notes placed at the end, this work is excellent—with room to quibble and respectfully disagree here and there (e.g., see McGraw, 'Seeing Things Owen’s Way: John Owen’s Trinitarian Theology and Piety in Its Early-Modern Context' in 'John Owen: Between Orthodoxy and Modernity,' 197). One of the book's strengths is placing Owen in his historical and political context, providing the reader with the important backdrop to Owen's writings, which was much needed especially for the 1660s. As people of our time, many rightly dislike hagiography, yet possibly, due to our culture and times, we have become too allergic to historical figures' “good intentions.” I may have read too much into certain parts of the work, yet there were times where it seemed the author assumed much about Owen intentions and involvement instead of giving him the benefit of the doubt. In the end, it is well-researched, cohesive, detailed, and it does not hurt that Gribben’s writing style is articulate.

[Daniel Taylor · Rating 4 out of 5]

Such a detailed and well researched biography. A must read for all interested in John Owen

Although I see what Gribben is getting at with the theme of experiences of defeat, I wish the conclusion ended on a more joyful tone due to the fact of Owen's key role in our reformed theology today. Owen did experience defeat upon defeat in his life, but he trusted in the immutable God to be faithful to the Church.

Today, because Owen was faithful to proclaim the faith once delivered to the saints, we have a fountain of deep and life giving riches to be found in his literary works that highlight the glory of the triune God in his redeeming sinners. In my opinion, this is the greatest victory one can have: faithfulness even amidst defeat.

I am sure God welcomed him into heaven saying "Well done good and faithful servant." There is much to be learned from Owen and much to immitate from how he lived in holiness. Thank you God for your Servant John Owen. We imitate him as he imitated Christ.

[Brady Graves]

Read for PhD seminar

[Thomas · Rating 4 out of 5]

An unflattering biography of John Owen, Independent Puritan, drawn principally from his writings and sermons given the paucity of autobiographical detail of his life. He was truly a man of his times, immersed in the ecclesial-political concerns of 17th century England as one who used the connections he had to promote his cause. The author does not capture well the nuance of Owen's view of the Mosaic covenant and offers an evaluation of his theology which, in my view, is overstated hence my 4 star rating. But it is clearly written, demonstrating a wealth of knowledge of Owen and his context and as such is essentially reading for anyone desiring to understand this significant thinker.

[Graham · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is quite a scholarly biography of Owen and as such it does well to show the strengths and weaknesses of the man. Gribben's portrayal displays Owen's numerous oddities in a balanced way. I had no idea of the many quirks and eccentricities of Owen as a human, so the book was very enlightening in many ways. Gribben does assume some familiarity with English history on the part of the reader, so at certain points I was left a bit confused, and at others my breath was taken away at things towards which the English probably shrug their shoulders. This has made me simultaneously appreciate Owen's theology more on account of the extraordinary decades he lived in, and respect the man a bit less, which is perhaps only due to taking away some of the golden haziness with which I previously viewed him. He's a fascinating, complex, and certainly not perfect theologian from whom I'm eager to learn more.

[Calvin Coulter · Rating 4 out of 5]

A great read for a reader largely ignorant of the context of Owen's prolific output. What a confusing political atmosphere he lived through and survived.

[Joel Zartman · Rating 4 out of 5]

Puritanism in general has not been viewed highly. Perhaps because of this, there are circles in which efforts are made to boost puritan reputations. The world having turned on Perry Miller, his legacy of re-appreciating them nevertheless continues by varied ways and means.

One of the puritans with one of the best reputations is John Owen. Perhaps because of this, in turn, Crawford Gribben writes as he does. I appreciate the Perry Miller in Gribben, always having found it useful, because it is provocative and never fails to encourage closer scrutiny. Gribben is not without admiration for John Owen, but it is of a tempered sort.

That the first assumption which disesteems puritans cannot be maintained in the academy is now apparent in the fact that puritans are regularly subjects of intellectual biography, such as this one. And that they ought to serve for more than inspirational purposes is something Gribben goes to some lengths to promote (learning from their mistakes). I appreciate the effort. I think from time to time Gribben may come across as more zealous for sizing the outsized puritan reputation down rather than up, but I think he is mostly performing a good and necessary function. He is thought-provoking and his aim is to obtain clarity. At the end of the day, that's the aim to pursue.

[Ivan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Not the most flattering book on Owen, and definitely not a devotional read, but important for placing Owen in his context.

[Steve · Rating 5 out of 5]

A superb account of John Owen, setting him in his theological, historical and historical context.