What do you think?
Rate this book
John Wesley: A Theological Journey
John A Theological Journey has been nominated for a Wesleyan Theological Society Book Award. Abingdon Press would like to congratulate Kenneth Collins on this honor. John Wesley remains a seminal figure, not only for "the people called Methodist, " but also within the larger Protestant tradition. Understanding his theology is a requirement for understanding the development of the Western Christian tradition in the modern period. In recent years much work has been done to grasp the intricacies of Wesley's theology. However, most of this work has been thematic in organization, studying Wesley's thought according to a topical or systematic outline. The weakness of this approach, argues Kenneth J. Collins, is that it fails to demonstrate the evolution and changes of Wesley's theology. What is called for is a historical presentation--one that examines the development of Wesley's theology across the span of his long and eventful theological career. Collins thus provides a chronological presentation of the development of Wesley's theology. Drawing on an extensive examination of the primary sources, and demonstrating an intimate knowledge of the different contexts and social locations in which Wesley's theology took place, John A Theological Journey will be necessary reading for anyone wishing to understand the broad scope of the Methodist leader's theological development and contribution.
355 pages, Paperback
First published February 1, 2003
21 people are currently reading
46 people want to read
About the author
Kenneth J. Collins
30 books8 followersAmerican theologian Kenneth J. Collins is an internationally recognized scholar in the field of Historical Theology who has an ecumenical heart and who has produced a number of works in Christian Spirituality to reach a broad and energetic following. A popular and engaging speaker, Collins has given lectures in England, South Korea, Japan, Russia, Estonia, Costa Rica, Australia and elsewhere. Some of his works have been translated into Russian, Portuguese, Korean, Estonian and Chinese. He is a graduate of Princeton Seminary (Th.M.) and Drew University (Ph.D.) and has written and edited more than seventeen books and scores of articles. He currently serves as a professor of Historical Theology and Wesley Studies at Asbury Theological Seminary.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
August 30, 2018
I loved this book. There are few figures in history that can match the richness and nuanced theological journey of John Wesley. His long life and struggles provided a glimpse of the theological richness of Christianity, itself. Kenneth Collins does a fine job of conveying this.
When I speak of theology in this way, I am really referring to the subject of Soteriology, which encompasses the doctrines of justification, regeneration, sanctification, and glorification. In short, the doctrine of salvation. Wesley’s life exemplifies and bridges the Catholic to the Protestant understandings of salvation but leans in favor of the Protestant side. But in saying this, I am being too simplistic. You must read this excellent book to understand what I mean.
About a decade ago, I read Wesley’s a Plain Account of Christian Perfection and was greatly influenced by it. This biography helps me understand the context. There were three movements within evangelical and protestant theology of which John Wesley was struggling to make sense of. The three strains were:
1. The Moravians and other German pietists. The straw man that many Calvinists create regarding Wesley is really a derivation of what some of the Moravians believed including Count Zinzendorf. Wesley distinguished his theology from the Moravians by teaching that sin is not done away with; but is still present after conversion (regeneration and justification). In this he was in agreement with the Calvinists.
2. The Calvinists. In contradistinction to the Calvinists, Wesley believed that we have the power to overcome sin. This is in agreement with Paul who said, “let not sin have dominion over you…. Consider yourself dead to sin. … etc. “ ( Romans 6) See also 1 John and the epistles of Peter. Calvinists, like Whitefield, who was Wesley’s colleague, friend, and interlocutor; believed that Christians always sin and cannot be free until death.
3. The Anglicans: Wesley was an Anglican, but he violated their sensibilities because he was too “enthusiastic” in an age of enlightenment, which meant reasonableness, good taste, restraint, classical virtues. Wesley distinguished himself from this as well. In this sense he was like Jonathan Edwards in America. But Edwards remained a Calvinist; but had his own twist on it so to speak.
Collins book is a welcome addition to any theological students’ library. I believe it can also serve as a guide in the Christian’s life.
When I speak of theology in this way, I am really referring to the subject of Soteriology, which encompasses the doctrines of justification, regeneration, sanctification, and glorification. In short, the doctrine of salvation. Wesley’s life exemplifies and bridges the Catholic to the Protestant understandings of salvation but leans in favor of the Protestant side. But in saying this, I am being too simplistic. You must read this excellent book to understand what I mean.
About a decade ago, I read Wesley’s a Plain Account of Christian Perfection and was greatly influenced by it. This biography helps me understand the context. There were three movements within evangelical and protestant theology of which John Wesley was struggling to make sense of. The three strains were:
1. The Moravians and other German pietists. The straw man that many Calvinists create regarding Wesley is really a derivation of what some of the Moravians believed including Count Zinzendorf. Wesley distinguished his theology from the Moravians by teaching that sin is not done away with; but is still present after conversion (regeneration and justification). In this he was in agreement with the Calvinists.
2. The Calvinists. In contradistinction to the Calvinists, Wesley believed that we have the power to overcome sin. This is in agreement with Paul who said, “let not sin have dominion over you…. Consider yourself dead to sin. … etc. “ ( Romans 6) See also 1 John and the epistles of Peter. Calvinists, like Whitefield, who was Wesley’s colleague, friend, and interlocutor; believed that Christians always sin and cannot be free until death.
3. The Anglicans: Wesley was an Anglican, but he violated their sensibilities because he was too “enthusiastic” in an age of enlightenment, which meant reasonableness, good taste, restraint, classical virtues. Wesley distinguished himself from this as well. In this sense he was like Jonathan Edwards in America. But Edwards remained a Calvinist; but had his own twist on it so to speak.
Collins book is a welcome addition to any theological students’ library. I believe it can also serve as a guide in the Christian’s life.
July 2, 2011
This book by Collins is an approach that I have not read before. He took the history of John Wesley and plugged in the theological insights and problems that Wesley was wrestling with at that period of time. It is a very helpful and inciteful book. Wish I had written it, but the historical is beyond me. The combination of historical insight and theological insight is rare and Collins has found a way to present it that is also readable and helpful. Good job!
J. Robert Ewbank author "John Wesley, Natural Man, and the 'Isms'"
J. Robert Ewbank author "John Wesley, Natural Man, and the 'Isms'"
November 16, 2019
I really enjoyed this book. It provides a solid understanding of Wesley’s theology and gives an understanding of how it developed over his lifetime. The information is very similar to Ken Collins “THe Theology of John Wesley”, but I prefer this historical structure.
January 22, 2021
AMAZING. It is a thorough review of the life of Wesley, his theology, and all that shaped him. It is written beautifully so even though it is a scholarly work, it is easy to read and engage with the material.
November 20, 2024
This was a simple, engaging, fun read. As someone who doesn’t have a Wesleyan/Methodist background and was assigned this as a textbook for a class, this book gave me a basic understanding of John Wesley’s life, historical setting, and theological teachings as they developed overtime. I received a thorough explanation of Wesley’s conversion experience at Aldersgate, a story I had heard referenced before, but never in full or with historical context. After reading the book I was able to better grasp how Methodism arose and the distinctions it developed which separated it from Reformed and Baptist lines of thinking and practice. The book’s explanation of the Anglican influence upon Wesley was especially helpful in drawing connections between Anglicanism and Methodism.
There were a few ways I feel the book could have been better. Sometimes the author wrote and made references in such a way that it felt like he took for granted the amount of background knowledge his readers would come to the text with. Sometimes terms and references went undefined. I realized a bit into the book that this work is NOT a full biography of John Wesley, but more like an introduction to his life and thought. That was slightly disappointing, though I understand the author had a specific goal in writing a work like this and I can appreciate that.
Overall, criticisms aside, this was a very fun read, and history buffs and theology nerds alike will enjoy reading it. Amid the many other books I’m having to read this semester for my classes, this one was always one of my favorites to “have” to pick up and read.
There were a few ways I feel the book could have been better. Sometimes the author wrote and made references in such a way that it felt like he took for granted the amount of background knowledge his readers would come to the text with. Sometimes terms and references went undefined. I realized a bit into the book that this work is NOT a full biography of John Wesley, but more like an introduction to his life and thought. That was slightly disappointing, though I understand the author had a specific goal in writing a work like this and I can appreciate that.
Overall, criticisms aside, this was a very fun read, and history buffs and theology nerds alike will enjoy reading it. Amid the many other books I’m having to read this semester for my classes, this one was always one of my favorites to “have” to pick up and read.
March 7, 2012
This autobiography is arranged theologically rather than chronologically. It is a fascinating arrangement and reveals the depth of awareness that Collins has of Wesley's life. At the same time, this does make for a more complex read. If you prefer to read in a more chronological fashion, there are other Wesley biographies that will be more conducive to following the story.
This is a great resource for understanding how Wesleyan teachings developed.
This is a great resource for understanding how Wesleyan teachings developed.
March 24, 2012
Excellent work by Dr. Collins. Clear writing and keen insights based in a historical examination of the evidence. This book is a biography through the lens of Wesley's theology and very helpfully tracks development's in Wesley's understandings of such key doctrines as justification, sanctification, and assurance.
May 19, 2010
A fantastic introduction to the life and thought of John Wesley. I'm reading this in order to re-acquaint myself with Wesleyan theology before pursuing further theological studies, as well as a thoughtful reading of the recent book "Postmodern and Wesleyan?" edited by Jay Akkerman and Thomas Jay Oord.
October 1, 2012
While this book is a great reference for the theology of John Wesley, and many of the soteriological debates of the day, the author can get a little verbose and lose focus. I would have appreciated more exploration of the connection with Catholic mysticism and Eastern Orthodox theologies that influences Wesley. Thankfully this volume has great footnotes.
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews