John Williamson Nevin


Book Description

This biography, written by a provocative, prolific historian, gives readers insights into Nevin's critique of the revivalist tradition and shows how it applies today. Hart recovers a nearly forgotten nineteenth-century theologian and demonstrates his ongoing relevance. This book is extensively documented, and includes a substantial bibliographical essay and an index. Nevin (1803-1886) taught at Mercersburg Seminary when he wrote The Anxious Bench (1843) and The Mystical Presence (1846), volumes dealing with revivalism and the Lord's Supper, respectively. The last ten years have seen a revival of interest in this theologian, who was a graduate of Princeton Theological Seminary and who substituted for Hodge during his two-year study-leave in Europe.




The Anxious Bench


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The Mystical Presence


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Incarnation and Sacrament


Book Description

The nineteenth century Eucharistic controversy between Charles Hodge and John Williamson Nevin is an important episode in the history of American Christianity. Hodge and Nevin battled over issues that lie at the heart of Christian faith and piety, such as: Why did God become man? What bearing does the incarnation of Christ have on the redemption of the world? How are believers on earth united with the ascended Christ who is in heaven? Is Christ really present in the Lord's Supper? And if so, then how is he made to be present? These are just a few of the age-old questions that Charles Hodge and John W. Nevin sought to answer, and over which they came to vigorously contend. Incarnation and Sacrament provides an in-depth historical and theological analysis and assessment of the controversy that arose between these two great nineteenth century American theologians. By doing so, it aims to provide some illumination on the theological heritage of the Protestant churches in the United States of the twenty-first century.




5 Minutes in Church History


Book Description

The history of the church is filled with stories. Stories of triumph, stories of defeat, stories of joy, and stories of sorrow. These stories are a legacy of God's faithfulness to His people. In this book, Dr. Stephen J. Nichols provides postcards from the church through the centuries. These snapshots capture the richness of Christian history with glimpses of fascinating saints, curious places, precious artifacts, and surprising turns of events. In exploring them, Dr. Nichols takes the reader on a lively and informative journey through the record of God's providence to encourage, challenge, and enjoy. This is our story--our family history. "THE CENTURIES OF CHURCH HISTORY GIVE US A LITANY OF GOD'S DELIVERANCES. GOD HAS DONE IT BEFORE, MANY TIMES AND IN MANY WAYS, AND HE CAN DO IT AGAIN. HE WILL DO IT AGAIN. AND IN THAT, WE FIND COURAGE FOR TODAY AND FOR TOMORROW."




The Mystical Presence


Book Description

Reprint of the original, first published in 1867.




The Anxious Bench, Antichrist and the Sermon Catholic Unity


Book Description

In 1843, the first edition of Nevin's The Anxious Bench was published. It has been called the most probing critique of Finneyism ever written. The background to the treatise was Nevin's general dislike of Finneyism, and also a major schism in the German Reformed Church in 1830. In that year a Finneyite revivalist, John Winebrenner, had led a breakaway movement from the German Reformed Church to form a new denomination, the so-called Church of God. Finneyism had made big inroads into the German Reformed Church, much to Nevin's disgust--Banner of Truth.




The Suffering and Victorious Christ


Book Description

American theologians tend to focus on the great hope Christians have through Christ's resurrection, emphasizing Christ's victory while minimizing or ignoring his suffering. Through their engagements with Japanese Christians and African American Christians on the topic of Christology, Richard Mouw and Douglas Sweeney have come to recognize and underscore that Christ offers hope not only through his resurrection but also through his incarnation. The authors articulate a more compassionate and orthodox Christology that answers the experience of the global church, offering a corrective to what passes for American Christology today. The book includes an afterword by Willie James Jennings of Duke Divinity School.







Theology Drives Methodology


Book Description

Are evangelistic methods neutral? Or is there a connection between what we believe and how we evangelize? In "Theology Drives Methodology", Karl Dahlfred examines the theology and methods of Charles Finney and John Nevin, demonstrating how the different beliefs of these two men led them to radically different conclusions about the best methods to use in promoting the Gospel. Finney's beliefs led him to use high-pressure revival meetings to induce conversions. Nevin's beliefs led him to emphasize preaching, catechism, and pastoral care as the means that would produce conversions through the everyday ministry of the local church. Which man's methods were correct? Your answer to that question all depends on what you believe about God, man, conversion, and the nature of the Gospel itself. After an historical and theological survey of Finney & Nevin's beliefs and methods, the author draws out implications of each man's views and makes applications for the contemporary church.