The Love of God Holds Creation Together: Andrew Fuller's Theology of Virtue

by Ryan P. Hoselton, Michael A. G. Haykin (Foreword by)

Overview

The English Baptist Andrew Fuller (1754-1815) is well-known today for his nuanced Evangelical answer to the "Modern Question" against hyper-Calvinism, founding and leading the Baptist Missionary Society, and his exemplary pastoral ministry. In his day, however, he was also esteemed as a formidable apologist for Christian orthodoxy, especially in the area of moral reasoning. Following in the footsteps of his theological mentor, Jonathan Edwards, Fuller labored to defend the moral goodness and salutary nature of Christian doctrine against the new moral philosophy of the Enlightenment. As optimism in the moral potential of human nature waxed, reliance on God for truth and virtue waned. Echoing a long tradition of classical theologians, Fuller wished to declare afresh that the love of God, as manifested in the gospel, furnished humankind's only hope for virtue, excellence, and happiness. In this concise study, Hoselton looks to recover the importance of ethical reasoning in Fuller's theology and ministry and reflect on its merit for today.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781498244275
Publisher:	Pickwick Publications
Publication date:	02/26/2018
Series:	Monographs in Baptist History , #7
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
Pages:	110
File size:	1 MB

About the Author

Ryan P. Hoselton is an instructor and doctoral candidate in church history at Ruprecht-Karls-Universität Heidelberg in Germany, and a Junior Fellow of The Andrew Fuller Center for Baptist Studies.
Michael A. G. Haykin (ThD, University of Toronto) is professor of church history and biblical spirituality at The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary and director of The Andrew Fuller Center for Baptist Studies. He has authored or edited more than twenty-five books, including Rediscovering the Church Fathers: Who They Were and How They Shaped the Church.

Table of Contents

Foreword Michael A. G. Haykin ix

Preface xi

Abbreviations xii

1 Introduction 1

2 "The Power of Sinful Men": Fuller and Moral Inability 5

3 "Religion that Inspires the Love of God": Fuller's Aretegenic Orthodoxy 25

4 "A System of Holiness": Fuller's Evangelical Calvinistic Theology of Virtue 47

5 "Abide in the Vine": The Source and Motivation of Virtue 69

6 Conclusion 88

Bibliography 93

Name Index 99

Subject Index 103

What People are Saying About This

From the Publisher

“This new study of Andrew Fuller’s theology of virtue is both a helpful contribution to the field and a needed pastoral reminder. Fuller challenged key heresies of his day by advocating a view of the Christian life that seamlessly wed sound doctrine and Christian virtue. For Fuller, these themes came together in an Edwardsean version of evangelical Calvinism. Evangelicals need more of this sort of pastoral theology today, and Fuller offers a fine role model for how to do it well.”


—Nathan A. Finn, Dean, School of Theology and Missions, Union University

Editorial Reviews

This new study of Andrew Fuller’s theology of virtue is both a helpful contribution to the field and a needed pastoral reminder. Fuller challenged key heresies of his day by advocating a view of the Christian life that seamlessly wed sound doctrine and Christian virtue. For Fuller, these themes came together in an Edwardsean version of evangelical Calvinism. Evangelicals need more of this sort of pastoral theology today, and Fuller offers a fine role model for how to do it well.”


—Nathan A. Finn, Dean, School of Theology and Missions, Union University

From the Publisher