Defending and Declaring the Faith: Some Scottish Examples, 1860-1920

by Alan P.F. Sell

Between 1860-1920 a number of distinguished Scottish theologians grappled with the problems of reconciling a biblical faith with current philosophical and theological trends. Alan Sell has selected eight of John Kennedy of Dingwall (1819-1884); Robert Flint (1838-1910); John Caird (1820-1898); A. B. Bruce (1831-1899); James Iverach (1839-1922); James Orr (1844-1913); D. W. Forrest (1856-1918); and James Denney (1856-1917). The book is not only of historical interest; many of the issues confronted by these scholars are also of contemporary interest. Professor James Torrance 'This study is invaluable in keeping alive the authentic tradition that Scotland has produced great theologians, . . . but perhaps supremely in the period covered by this eminently readable book.'

280 pages, Paperback

First published June 1, 1988

About the author

The Reverend Professor Alan Philip Frederick Sell (15 Nov. 1935 - 7 Feb. 2016) was a philosopher, theologian, ecumenist, academic, and a minister of the United Reformed Church. He had held positions as Professor of Christian Doctrine and Philosophy of Religion at the United Theological College, Aberystwyth (Wales), Visiting Professor at the University of Chester, and Honorary Professor at Sárospataki Református Teológiai Akadémia in Hungary.

He wrote in the areas of philosophy, theology, ethics, and history and held leadership roles in mainline ecumenical organizations such as the World Alliance of Reformed Churches. His book The Great Debate: Calvinism, Arminianism and Salvation (Baker, 1983) introduced the phrases "Armianism of the head" and "Armianism of the heart", which were made more well known through Roger E. Olson's Arminian Theology: Myths and Realities (IVP, 2006).

Rev. Sell gained his PhD in 1967 and was a Fellow of the Royal Historical Society, and the Royal Society of Antiquaries. He had received a Doctorate of Divinity from the University of Manchester based on his many published works. He also held Honorary Doctorates in Divinity from Ursinus College (Pennsylvania) and Acadia University (Nova Scotia), and an Honorary Doctorate of Theology from the University of Debrecen (Hungary).

In general, Professor Sell sought to bring together both ideas and people. Thus, he investigated the relations between philosophical and theological ideas through history and today; he ventured into history when enquiring how far doctrinal convictions influence what happens to church life on the ground: this with special reference to the Reformed and Dissenting traditions; and he explored ways in which the stances of the several Christian traditions may be prevented from obscuring the unity of the one Church, holy, catholic and apostolic. As to people, he founded the inter-disciplinary Eighteenth-Century Study Group at the University of Calgary; the Centre for the Study of British Christian Thought at Aberystwyth; and the Association of Denominational Historical Societies and Cognate Libraries. During the period of communist rule, he developed a special interest in Hungarian-speaking churches, which continued to his death.