 |
| 24-Volume Works of John Owen |
 |
| Click here to learn more about Logos Bible Software Packages |
“From this influx, it is not surprising that the doctrines of faith and, most especially, that of the new birth became so rapidly corrupted in the churches. With separation from the world spurned, there is no wonder that the sanctity and glory of the gospel was overshadowed, and superstitious practices flooded in along with the unconverted pagans, until, at length, Christian church discipline was remodeled on the fashion of the pagan secular state. Once hypocrites and other unregenerate people began, as it were, to swamp and overwhelm the believers, there soon emerged leaders who were pleased enough to accommodate spiritual doctrines to the prevailing systems of philosophy. And so it came about that faith was neglected, doctrine no longer studied, regeneration equated to the mechanical performance of the rite of baptism, truth and piety no longer defended by any great efforts in the assemblies and councils, the majorities at best indifferent, at worst bitterly hostile, to the total over-shadowing of these essential things. By that time, most of the world had taken up the Christian profession so, at most, everything that had been instituted by Christ had been basely transmuted into another gospel. Strange to tell, it was done without a protest or major split in the Church.”
John Owen, Biblical Theology(Soli Deo Gloria, 1994), 660 (emphasis mine).
(HT: R. Scott Clark)
This morning I posted a review of the following title at SharperIron.
Reviewed by Paul Martin Henebury, Ph.D, founder and president of Veritas School of Theology.
Owen, John. Communion with the Triune God, edited by Kelly M. Kapic and Justin Taylor.
(Review copy courtesy of Crossway Books.)
ISBNs: 1581348312 / 9781581348316
Features:
Forward by Kevin J. Vanhoozer (pp. 11-13)
Introduction by Kelly M. Kapic (pp. 17-46)
A Note on This Edition by Justin Taylor (pp. 47-49)
A detailed Outline including page numbers (pp. 51-83)
Editorial footnotes; Glossary; Subject Index; Name Index; Scripture Index
Excerpts:
Contents
Foreword, A Note on This Edition, Preface, Chapter 1, and Glossary - 544K PDF
Subjects: Biblical Theology, Trinity
John Owen (1616-1683), an English Puritan theologian, was a prolific author. His book Of Communion with God the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost first appeared in 1657. (from the cover)Read the review here.
Purchase: BOT | WTS | CBDConsider James 1:13, "Let no one say when he is tempted..." and 1:14, "But each person is tempted when he is lured and enticed by his own desire" (ESV).The Apostle Paul, likewise, believed that temptation is the common lot of the children of God.
No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it. (1 Cor. 10:13)I find that the subject of temptation is an unpleasant one. I'm sure that you do, too. I know that I am tempted in many ways and at many times, and this subject elicits a sense of shame as I am caused to remember specific failures. However, the Scriptures address this subject, not only, to cause us to be repulsed by our failures and especially the temptations that lead to them, but also, to stir us up to the offensive resisting of temptations.
I know not any place in the world where there is more need of pressing this exhortation that in this place. Go to our several colleges, inquire for such and such young men; what is the answer in respect of many? “Ah! such a one was very hopeful for a season; but he fell into ill company, and he is quite lost. Such a one had some good beginning of religion, we were in great expectation of him; but he is fallen into temptation.” And so in other places. “Such a one was useful and humble, adorned the gospel; but now he is so wofully entangled with the world that he is grown all self, hath no sap nor savour. Such a one was humble and zealous; but he is advanced, and hath lost his first love and ways.” Oh! how full is the world, how full is this place, of these woful examples; to say nothing of those innumerable poor creatures who are fallen into temptation by delusions in religion. And is it not time for us to awake before it be too late, — to watch against the first rising of sin, the first attempts of Satan, and all ways whereby he hath made his approaches to us, be they never so harmless in themselves?Abridged:
I do not know any place in the world where there is more need of pressing this exhortation than this place. Go to our various colleges, enquire for such and such a young man. What is the answer concerning many? 'Ah, he was very hopeful for a season; but he fell into ill company, and he is quite lost. Another started off well in religion, we expected great things from him, but he has fallen into temptation.' And so in other places: 'He was useful and humble, and adorned the gospel; but now he is so sadly entangled with the world that he is living for self, and has no life and savour. Such and such a person was humble and zealous; but he has advanced, and has lost his first love and ways.' Oh! How full is the world, how full is this place, of such mournful examples, to say nothing of those innumerable poor creatures who have fallen into temptation by religious delusions. Is it not time for us to awake before it is too late, to watch against the first rising of sin, the first attempts of Satan, and all the ways in which he has made his approaches to us, even if they are never so harmless in themselves?Not only does Rushing succeed at smoothing out the grammar, but he also adds helpful historical footnotes and Scripture references wherever Owen employs Biblical allusions. One of the first allusions used, sets the tone of this little book. This allusion is to Numbers 16:46-47 (ix) when the Yahweh smote 14,700 Israelites after he had opened up the earth and swallowed Korah and his rebel gang. Whereas the congregation was ignorant of the plague of God's wrath, Moses saw that it was at work taking lives. Owen states that he is writing, not to those taken captive by temptation or utterly blind to it's power, but to those who "see that the plague has begun" (ix).
What I say is meant for those who mourn in secret for all the abominations found among those who profess the gospel, and for those who, under the guidance of the Captain of their salvation, are fighting and resisting the power of temptations, whatever their source. (ix-x)Friends, this is a matter of vital importance and here is a book that will be of immeasurable help to you. I have read of this book being used in a Sunday School setting, and I think that that is a great idea. I would especially encourage teenagers to take up and read this little book. Owen has never been so accessible, and he is an author Christians ought to be familiar with. Here is a great place to start.
The duties that God has for us along our ordinary path of life are not in proportion to the strength we have in ourselves, but in proportion to the help and relief that is laid up for us in Christ. (7)
This evening I picked up my copy of John Owen: The Man and His Theology edited by Robert W. Oliver (Evangelical Press/P&R Publishing, 2002) in order to compare it to Carl Trueman's John Owen: Reformed Catholic, Renaissance Man (Ashgate, 2007). I had forgotten I had this little volume but was glad to find a chapter by Carl R. Trueman entitled "John Owen the Theologian".From its very inception at the hands of Martin Luther, Protestant education had placed knowledge of the biblical languages at the very heart of its theological and ministerial training. This was for the very simple reason that Protestantism, with its high view of the unique nature and authority of the biblical canon, inevitably demanded that its leaders be acquainted with the texts of that canon in their original languages. To have failed in this area would thus have made a practical nonsense of the theological commitment to the scriptural authority. Owen himself gives four reasons why knowledge of the languages is to be desired among those who seek to lead the church: divine inspiration refers to the original texts, not translations; every jot, tittle and subtlety of the original is therefore of great importance; the emphasis and texture of the originals are lost or obscured in translation; and the idiomatic nature of scriptural language requires broad familiarity with cognate literature in the original languages. In other words, the minister or theologian would ideally not have just grasped the rudiments o Hebrew and Greek but should also have a profound understanding of the languages and the cultures from which they arose. To put it bluntly, Protestant commitment to the notion of sola scriptura required nothing less than the training of ministers in the solid, classical traditions of linguistic excellence. (47-48)Speaking of becoming acquainted with primary sources, I found the following passage by John Owen in Volume IV of his collected works:
This only I say, that it is of singular advantage, in the interpretation of the Scripture, that a man be well acquainted with the original languages, and be able to examine the use and signification of words, phrases, and expressions as they are applied and declared in other authors. And even to the understanding of the Greek of the New Testament it is necessary that a man have an acquaintance with the Hebrew of the Old...(John Owen. The Works of John Owen, volume 4: The Reason of Faith. Edited by William H. Goold. Albany, OR: Books for the Ages, Version 1.o, 2000. pp. 270-72.)
By these things great advantage may be obtained unto the right understanding of the sense of the Scripture, or the mind of the Holy Ghost therein; for there is no other sense in it than what is contained in the words whereof materially it doth consist, though really that sense itself be such as our minds cannot receive without the especial divine assistance before pleaded. And in the interpretation of the mind of any one, it is necessary that the words he speaks or writes be rightly understood; and this we cannot do immediately unless we understand the language wherein he speaks, as also the idiotisms of that language, with the common use and intention of its phraseology and expressions. And if we do not hereby come unto a perfect comprehension of the sense intended, because many other things are required thereunto, yet a hinderance is removed, without which we cannot do so; occasions of manifold mistakes are taken away, and the cabinet is as it were unlocked wherein the jewel of truth lies hid, which with a lawful diligent search may be found. And what perplexities, mistakes, and errors, the ignorance of these original languages hath cast many expositors into, both of old and of late, especially among those who pertinaciously adhere unto one translation, and that none of the best, might be manifested by instances undeniable, and these without number. ... And those among ourselves who are less skilled in this knowledge are to be advised that they would be careful not to adventure on any singular exposition of the Scriptures, or any text in them, upon the credit of any one or all translations they can make use of, seeing persons of greater name and worth than to be mentioned unto their disreputation have miscarried upon the same account. A reverential subjection of mind, and diligent attendance unto the analogy of faith, are their best preservative in this matter; and I fear not to add, that a superficial knowledge in these tongues, which many aim at, is of little use unless it be to make men adventurous in betraying their own ignorance. But the sense and substance of the Scripture being contained entirely in every good translation (amongst which that in use among ourselves is excellent, though capable of great improvements), men may, by the use of the means before directed unto, and under the conduct of the teaching of the Spirit of God in them, usefully and rightly expound the Scripture in general unto the edification of others; whereof many instances may be given amongst ancient and modern expositors.
This skill and knowledge, therefore, is of great use unto them who are called unto the interpretation of the Scripture; and the church of God hath had no small advantage by the endeavors of men learned herein, who have exercised it in the exposition of the words and phraseology of the Scriptures, as compared with their use in other authors. But yet, as was before observed, this skill, and the exercise of it in the way mentioned, is no duty in itself, nor enjoined unto any for its own sake, but only hath a goodness in it with respect unto a certain end. Wherefore, it is in its own nature indifferent, and in its utmost improvement capable of abuse, and such in late days it hath fallen under unto a great extremity; for the study of the ordinal languages, and the exercise of skill in them in the interpretation of the Scripture, hath been of great reputation, and that deservedly. Hence multitudes of learned men have engaged themselves in that work and study, and the number of annotations and comments on the Scripture, consisting principally in critical observations, as they are called, have been greatly increased; and they are utter strangers unto these things who will not allow that many of them are of singular use. But withal this skill and faculty, where it hath been unaccompanied with that humility, sobriety, reverence of the Author of the Scripture, and respect unto the analogy of faith, which ought to bear sway in the minds of all men who undertake to expound the oracles of God, may be, and hath been, greatly abused, unto the hurt of its owners and disadvantage of the church.
In the Books forum at SharperIron.org we have been discussing a book that we are reading as a Book Club. For the month of May we are reading Richard Sibbes' The Bruised Reed (find at CBD, Westminster Bookstore, or Amazon). If you haven't been reading along with us or reading the comments, please take a look here. I have enjoyed and have been edified by this discussion group more than any other in a LONG time. If you already have a copy of this book and would like to jump in, PLEASE DO. We'd be glad for your thoughts on the subject.
John Owen (1616-1683)
