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The Complete Works of John Owen #7
The Holy Spirit: The Helper
Crossway Introduces the Collected Works of John Owen, Updated for Modern Readers
Regarded as one of the greatest theologians in history, 17th-century pastor John Owen wrote extensively on holiness, Scripture, the Trinity, missions, and ecclesiology. His classic works--which have inspired Christian thinkers including Charles Spurgeon, J. I. Packer, and John Piper--remain influential, but until now haven't been offered in an easy-to-read collection.
The Complete Works of John Owen is a 40-volume series that brings together all of Owen's original theological writing, reformatted for modern readers. Volume 7, The Holy Spirit: The Helper, includes the treatises "Reason of Faith"; "The Causes, Ways, and Means of Understanding the Mind of God as Revealed in His Word"; and "A Discourse of the Work of the Holy Spirit in Prayer." Exploring the topics of illumination, biblical interpretation, and extemporaneous prayer, it features 50 pages of helpful introductions by editor Andrew Ballitch, along with outlines, footnotes, and other supporting resources.
This series, published over the next 6 years, presents Owen's prolific work in an easy-to-read layout to reach and inspire a new generation of Bible readers and scholars to deeper faith.
Regarded as one of the greatest theologians in history, 17th-century pastor John Owen wrote extensively on holiness, Scripture, the Trinity, missions, and ecclesiology. His classic works--which have inspired Christian thinkers including Charles Spurgeon, J. I. Packer, and John Piper--remain influential, but until now haven't been offered in an easy-to-read collection.
The Complete Works of John Owen is a 40-volume series that brings together all of Owen's original theological writing, reformatted for modern readers. Volume 7, The Holy Spirit: The Helper, includes the treatises "Reason of Faith"; "The Causes, Ways, and Means of Understanding the Mind of God as Revealed in His Word"; and "A Discourse of the Work of the Holy Spirit in Prayer." Exploring the topics of illumination, biblical interpretation, and extemporaneous prayer, it features 50 pages of helpful introductions by editor Andrew Ballitch, along with outlines, footnotes, and other supporting resources.
This series, published over the next 6 years, presents Owen's prolific work in an easy-to-read layout to reach and inspire a new generation of Bible readers and scholars to deeper faith.
369 pages, Hardcover
Published December 6, 2022
18 people are currently reading
67 people want to read
About the author
John Owen
1,348 books408 followersJohn Owen was an English theologian and "was without doubt not only the greatest theologian of the English Puritan movement but also one of the greatest European Reformed theologians of his day, and quite possibly possessed the finest theological mind that England ever produced" ("Owen, John", in Biographical Dictionary of Evangelicals, p. 494)
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Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
January 15, 2024
This volume is one of the first entries in Crossway's republication of John Owen's complete works. Several features of this initial volume illustrate the value of this series and also the fittingness of this volume as one of the first new issues to be published.
The book itself has a classic look and feel with readable text and user-friendly headings and chapter breaks. Editor Andrew Ballitch provides a helpful historical orientation to Owen's social and theological context. He specifically focuses on the issues and groups that Owen responds to in the works included in this volume. For example, Ballitch describes the Roman Catholic church in England during this period and the debates about the use of church tradition. He also surveys the various sectarian groups that were active and influential (e.g., the various groups of Baptists & Quakers).
Ballitch explains that Owen navigates between the over-use of reason, the uncritical deference to church tradition, and the alternate over-emphasis on experience. Owen's work in this area of theologial method articulates the necessity and authority of Scripture alongside a modified use of reason, tradition, and experience.
The two works included in this volume are The Reason of Faith (1677) and the Causes, Ways, and Means of Understanding the Mind of God (1678). Both of these works are meant to be viewed in light of his larger project on the person and activity of the Holy Spirit. After establishing who the Holy Spirit is, Owens addresses two particular issues that relate to the Spirit's illumination of the Scriptures.
Why does a believer affirm the Scriptures to be the true and authoritative word of God? And second,
How does a believer understand the meaning of the Scriptures themselves?
In answering these questions, Owen develops some of the main components of a special hermeneutic. The answer to both questions involves the work of the God himself.
There are "external" tools and evidences that can support and enhance our understanding and conviction about the inspiration and meaning of Scripture. However, they are not ultimate & cannot lead us to a saving faith in God's word and the truth of the gospel. As Owen articulates several times, these other sources of theology are "helpers of our joy" but can never be "lords of our faith" (95).
As Owen insists, "All real useful knowledge of the 'wonderful things' that are in the Scripture is an effect of God's opening our eyes by the illuminating grace of his Holy Spirit."
This volume is a helpful entryway into Owen's doctrine of Scripture as well as a strong start to this new edition of Owen's complete works.
The book itself has a classic look and feel with readable text and user-friendly headings and chapter breaks. Editor Andrew Ballitch provides a helpful historical orientation to Owen's social and theological context. He specifically focuses on the issues and groups that Owen responds to in the works included in this volume. For example, Ballitch describes the Roman Catholic church in England during this period and the debates about the use of church tradition. He also surveys the various sectarian groups that were active and influential (e.g., the various groups of Baptists & Quakers).
Ballitch explains that Owen navigates between the over-use of reason, the uncritical deference to church tradition, and the alternate over-emphasis on experience. Owen's work in this area of theologial method articulates the necessity and authority of Scripture alongside a modified use of reason, tradition, and experience.
The two works included in this volume are The Reason of Faith (1677) and the Causes, Ways, and Means of Understanding the Mind of God (1678). Both of these works are meant to be viewed in light of his larger project on the person and activity of the Holy Spirit. After establishing who the Holy Spirit is, Owens addresses two particular issues that relate to the Spirit's illumination of the Scriptures.
Why does a believer affirm the Scriptures to be the true and authoritative word of God? And second,
How does a believer understand the meaning of the Scriptures themselves?
In answering these questions, Owen develops some of the main components of a special hermeneutic. The answer to both questions involves the work of the God himself.
There are "external" tools and evidences that can support and enhance our understanding and conviction about the inspiration and meaning of Scripture. However, they are not ultimate & cannot lead us to a saving faith in God's word and the truth of the gospel. As Owen articulates several times, these other sources of theology are "helpers of our joy" but can never be "lords of our faith" (95).
As Owen insists, "All real useful knowledge of the 'wonderful things' that are in the Scripture is an effect of God's opening our eyes by the illuminating grace of his Holy Spirit."
This volume is a helpful entryway into Owen's doctrine of Scripture as well as a strong start to this new edition of Owen's complete works.
January 13, 2023
The first volume released in a 40 volume set that is a stunning example of scholarship.
To begin the process of reading “The Holy Spirit - The Helper” (Volume 7) (The Complete Works of John Owen), readers are blessed with a 10 page Works Preface followed by a 70 page Editor’s Introduction. The Preface details the excruciating attention to detail that was paid organizing and combining the various previous editions of Owens writings on the Holy Spirit. In the Introduction, readers are given an amazingly thorough education on the historical elements of the World, Church, State & Crown as well as a brief bio on Owen and his family.
As discussed in the Preface, the book is laid out in a contemporary style that employs chapters, headings, paragraphs and footnotes. The writing style is ERUDITE minus the 17th century Olde English spellings and syntax. Altho’ the editors have modernized the text somewhat, you will have a no doubt the author is not from the 21st century.
Multiple texts and translations were used by Owen and presented in this volume as well: Greek, Hebrew, Latin, and various Bible translations available to him are quoted and compiled in the Scripture Index for easy reference. There’s also a General Reference for topical look ups but that is the extent of the end notes. Everything else appears in the extensive opening.
Physically, the book is handsome. It does NOT have a dust jacket. It has a marketing band that’s easily removed. All the information is right where it belongs on the title page. Speaking of pages, they are lightly varnished, hand sewn to the binding and should last readers a long time with reasonable care. I wish there were end papers to complete the package. The binding has the title and volume embossed on it and both covers are devoid of printed information. These physical volumes are meant to be stored vertically and enjoyed for their handsome appearance. Volume 8, “The Holy Spirit - The Comforter”, is due out 5/16/23
All things considered, Puritan, Reformed, Scholarly and Challenging📚
To begin the process of reading “The Holy Spirit - The Helper” (Volume 7) (The Complete Works of John Owen), readers are blessed with a 10 page Works Preface followed by a 70 page Editor’s Introduction. The Preface details the excruciating attention to detail that was paid organizing and combining the various previous editions of Owens writings on the Holy Spirit. In the Introduction, readers are given an amazingly thorough education on the historical elements of the World, Church, State & Crown as well as a brief bio on Owen and his family.
As discussed in the Preface, the book is laid out in a contemporary style that employs chapters, headings, paragraphs and footnotes. The writing style is ERUDITE minus the 17th century Olde English spellings and syntax. Altho’ the editors have modernized the text somewhat, you will have a no doubt the author is not from the 21st century.
Multiple texts and translations were used by Owen and presented in this volume as well: Greek, Hebrew, Latin, and various Bible translations available to him are quoted and compiled in the Scripture Index for easy reference. There’s also a General Reference for topical look ups but that is the extent of the end notes. Everything else appears in the extensive opening.
Physically, the book is handsome. It does NOT have a dust jacket. It has a marketing band that’s easily removed. All the information is right where it belongs on the title page. Speaking of pages, they are lightly varnished, hand sewn to the binding and should last readers a long time with reasonable care. I wish there were end papers to complete the package. The binding has the title and volume embossed on it and both covers are devoid of printed information. These physical volumes are meant to be stored vertically and enjoyed for their handsome appearance. Volume 8, “The Holy Spirit - The Comforter”, is due out 5/16/23
All things considered, Puritan, Reformed, Scholarly and Challenging📚
July 12, 2023
I must admit that I still find Owen a very difficult read, even with these splendid new editions by Crossway. The reformatting (i.e. adding paragraph breaks, subject headers, and footnotes) certainly does help a bit, though. Even so, it is always worthwhile to read Owen's works, not only for growth in grace and knowledge and for edification, but also (at least for me personally) for it's humbling effect on one's ego, lest the reader have a higher estimation of his (or her) own learning than he should.
May 30, 2023
Truly excellent. This 7th volume of the new edition by Crossway of the works of John Owen contain two of his books : 1. The Reason of Faith ; and 2. The Causes, Ways, and Means of Understanding the Mind of God as Revealed in His Word. Those two book really complete each others.
1. The Reason of Faith biblically answer the question as to why a true Christian believe with faith divine and assurance that the Bible is indeed the Word of God. If I was to propose a resumé, I would say that we believe the Scriptures to be the Word of God with faith divine because the Holy Spirit subjectively illuminate our hearts so that we are now graciously able to perceive the authority and glory of God objectively present in the Bible. Owen also write about the usefulness but not necessary place of "natural" arguments for divine inspiration : those arguments are useful to answers the critics attacks and the Christian's doubts. It is the same kind of book, and answer, as A Peculiar Glory from John Piper.
2. The Causes, Ways, and Means, is really like the second book from Piper, Reading the Bible Supernaturally. It was so convicting to read Owen put so much emphasis on the necessity of the work of the Spirit, and therefore on the needs on our parts to be much in prayer,being humble and having receptive heart. He also adresse the usefulness of knowing biblical languages and other stuff, but he is always quick to stress the superiority of applying the rule of the analogy of faith.
I must also share my appreciation of this new edition. Not only it is superbe in terms of quality and beauty, but the language's modernization, the new layouts, the introduction, the footnotes giving the meanings of words, sources and context explications is so helpful. I am greatly grateful for this ambitious projet that will, I'm sure, help younger generations to discover the pillar that was John Owen.
1. The Reason of Faith biblically answer the question as to why a true Christian believe with faith divine and assurance that the Bible is indeed the Word of God. If I was to propose a resumé, I would say that we believe the Scriptures to be the Word of God with faith divine because the Holy Spirit subjectively illuminate our hearts so that we are now graciously able to perceive the authority and glory of God objectively present in the Bible. Owen also write about the usefulness but not necessary place of "natural" arguments for divine inspiration : those arguments are useful to answers the critics attacks and the Christian's doubts. It is the same kind of book, and answer, as A Peculiar Glory from John Piper.
2. The Causes, Ways, and Means, is really like the second book from Piper, Reading the Bible Supernaturally. It was so convicting to read Owen put so much emphasis on the necessity of the work of the Spirit, and therefore on the needs on our parts to be much in prayer,being humble and having receptive heart. He also adresse the usefulness of knowing biblical languages and other stuff, but he is always quick to stress the superiority of applying the rule of the analogy of faith.
I must also share my appreciation of this new edition. Not only it is superbe in terms of quality and beauty, but the language's modernization, the new layouts, the introduction, the footnotes giving the meanings of words, sources and context explications is so helpful. I am greatly grateful for this ambitious projet that will, I'm sure, help younger generations to discover the pillar that was John Owen.
June 14, 2023
This is not review, yet a note. There are two works in this one volume, which I read. On good reads they do not offer it as two books, so I added another book listed with the same title.
The two works includes Owen’s The Reason of Faith and The Causes, Ways, and Means of Understanding the Mind of God.
The two works includes Owen’s The Reason of Faith and The Causes, Ways, and Means of Understanding the Mind of God.
January 3, 2024
Owen is, by all accounts, a difficult read. This series helps the modern reader by setting the good doctor in his historical context and giving some explanatory notes along the way. Still, he's a daunting author to approach. All that being said, you should read Owen. Just one page of his is often worth whole volumes written today in terms of depth and insight, and no, that is not an exaggeration.
February 17, 2023
Owen, in typical fashion, writes beyond comprehension. So this one needs to be taken slow. He does however communicate beautifully the necessity of the Holy Sprit in the everyday walk of a Christian and His power in the reading and teaching of the Word of God.
March 3, 2023
Fantastic. Some fire in these pages. Some slog too...
December 5, 2023
The Reason of Faith ****
September 2023
The Causes, Ways, and Means of Understanding ***
December 2023
September 2023
The Causes, Ways, and Means of Understanding ***
December 2023
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews