A Story of Conflict

by Jonathan Burnham, Grayson Carter (Foreword by)

Overview

This study explores the complex and turbulent relationship between B.W. Newton and J.N. Darby, the two principal leaders of the early Brethren movement. Burnham traces Darby's development of his prophetic system and his biblical literalism which led to his distinctive views on pretribulational, premillennial dispensationalism. Darby's eschatological views went on to have far-reaching effects on evangelicalism. While having much in common with Darby, Newton departed from him on key points. In 1845 the dispute between the two men intensified, leading to Darby founding a rival assembly in Plymouth. By the end of 1847, following debate over the orthodoxy of his christology, Newton seceded from the Brethren and left Plymouth. In many ways, Newton and Darby were products of their times, and this study of their relationship provides insight not only into the dynamics of early Brethrenism, but also into the progress of nineteenth-century English and Irish evangelicalism.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781597527590
Publisher:	Wipf & Stock Publishers
Publication date:	01/01/2007
Series:	Studies in Evangelical History and Thought
Pages:	298
Product dimensions:	6.00(w) x 8.90(h) x 0.70(d)

About the Author

Jonathan D. Burnham is the University Professor of Church Leadership at Palm Beach Atlantic University and the Senior Pastor of Boca Raton Community Church, Florida. He also serves as the President of BMI, an international training organization whose mission is to train and equip Christian leaders in the third world. He received his BA from Wheaton College and his MA and DPhil degrees from the University of Oxford, England.

Table of Contents

Foreword   Grayson Carter     xi
Preface     xv
Acknowledgements     xxi
Abbreviations     xxiii
Historical Setting     1
Economic and Political Conditions     1
Cultural Conditions     4
Religious Conditions     5
The Formative Years of John Nelson Darby, 1800-1830     14
Early Years     14
Spiritual Crisis     17
The Church of Ireland     19
Evangelicalism and the Irish Church     21
Darby's Spiritual Development     29
Developments in Darby's View of Prophecy     35
Origins of the Brethren     38
The Formative Years of Benjamin Wills Newton, 1807-1832     44
Early Years     44
Evangelical Conversion     49
Doctrinal Development     57
Newton Meets Darby     61
'Spirit-led manifestations'     63
The Fracturing of Oxford Evangelicalism     66
The Emergence of the Plymouth Brethren, 1831-1836     75
Origins of the Plymouth Assembly     75
Early Leadership of the Plymouth Assembly     77
Doctrinal Principles of the Plymouth Assembly     79
Irvingism     89
The Eschatological Development of Darby and Newton, 1830-1836     101
Introduction     101
The Historical Development of Premillennialism     104
Continued Development of Darby's Premillennialism     113
Darby and the Pretribulational Rapture     122
Further Development of Darby's Ecclesiology and Eschatology     127
Developments in Newton's View of Prophecy     136
The 1834 Prophetic Conference     141
Newton's Shift to Premillennial Futurism     143
Darby and Newton: Rising Tensions     146
A Deteriorating Relationship, 1837-1845     149
Darby and the Swiss Evangelicals     149
Newton and Darby's 'Dangerous Hermeneutic'     154
Darby's Return to Switzerland     157
Newton's Leadership of the Plymouth Assembly     158
Newton's Thoughts on the Apocalypse     162
Opposition from Darby     163
Differences of Interpretation     167
Pamphlet War     171
Darby's Withdrawal from Ebrington Street     175
Investigations into the Charges against Newton     178
A Devastating Schism     180
The Division Completed, 1846-1847      181
A Brief Peace     181
Darby's Narrative of the Facts     183
Darby's Account of the Proceedings at Rawstorne Street     187
Newton's Christology under Suspicion     188
Support for Newton begins to Crack     195
Newton's Departure from Plymouth     200
Conflict Ended     203
The Remaining Years     205
Darby's Continued Conflicts and Theological Writings     205
Summary of Newton's Later Movements     213
Summary of Newton's Later Theology     218
Newton Vindicated     226
Darby's Final Days     229
Conclusion     232
Work Remaining to be Done     232
Concluding Assessment     233
Bibliography     239
General Index     261

What People are Saying About This

From the Publisher

'Until recently, the remarkable influence of J. N. Darby and B. W. Newton upon the Western church - and upon evangelical theology in particular - has been curiously overlooked. Jonathan Burnham has gone some way in correcting that omission, and his extensive study of the complex relationship between these two towering figures of the nineteenth century will initiate an important revision in our assessment of modern evangelical history and scholarship, and its impact upon contemporary religious life and culture. This is a most welcome study and one that deserves wide recognition by scholars of modern Christian history and theology.'
—Grayson Carter, Associate Professor of Church History, Fuller Theological Seminary SW, Phoenix, Arizona, USA

'The changing relationship between Darby and Newton had dramatic repercussions for the Brethren movement which are still continuing. I warmly welcome Jonathan Burnham's book for its judicious and detailed presentation of this controversial topic.'
—Tim Grass, Associate Tutor, Church History, Spurgeon's College, London, UK

'This well ordered, cogent and sympathetic exposition will undoubtedly stimulate the long felt need for a full critical biography of Darby, as well as a fresh examination of Newton's life and theology.'
—Nigel Pibworth is a Christian writer living in Bedfordshire, UK

'Jonathan Burnham is a meticulous scholar who has undertaken important research in the early years of the Brethren movement. This book is an important contribution to some of the early personalities of the movement and shows how conflicts can rise not only from theological issues but also from a clash of personalities.'
—Ralph Waller, Harris Manchester College, Oxford, UK

Editorial Reviews

'Until recently, the remarkable influence of J. N. Darby and B. W. Newton upon the Western church - and upon evangelical theology in particular - has been curiously overlooked. Jonathan Burnham has gone some way in correcting that omission, and his extensive study of the complex relationship between these two towering figures of the nineteenth century will initiate an important revision in our assessment of modern evangelical history and scholarship, and its impact upon contemporary religious life and culture. This is a most welcome study and one that deserves wide recognition by scholars of modern Christian history and theology.'
—Grayson Carter, Associate Professor of Church History, Fuller Theological Seminary SW, Phoenix, Arizona, USA

'The changing relationship between Darby and Newton had dramatic repercussions for the Brethren movement which are still continuing. I warmly welcome Jonathan Burnham's book for its judicious and detailed presentation of this controversial topic.'
—Tim Grass, Associate Tutor, Church History, Spurgeon's College, London, UK

'This well ordered, cogent and sympathetic exposition will undoubtedly stimulate the long felt need for a full critical biography of Darby, as well as a fresh examination of Newton's life and theology.'
—Nigel Pibworth is a Christian writer living in Bedfordshire, UK

'Jonathan Burnham is a meticulous scholar who has undertaken important research in the early years of the Brethren movement. This book is an important contribution to some of the early personalities of the movement and shows how conflicts can rise not only from theological issues but also from a clash of personalities.'
—Ralph Waller, Harris Manchester College, Oxford, UK

From the Publisher