Description:
A book that brings Wesleyan systematic theology to life for a new generation of readers
As the most up-to-date statement of Wesleyan systematic theology available today, Love Divine serves both as an authoritative reference and an accessible introduction for newcomers to the field. This comprehensive text introduces readers to the full range of Christian doctrines, beginning with the doctrine of God and including the doctrines of creation, human nature and sin, the person and work of Christ, the person and work of the Holy Spirit, salvation, church and sacraments, and last things. The volume also provides an overview of major theological developments in church history. Engaging each topic from a Wesleyan point of view, the book is firmly grounded in Holy Scripture, committed to classical creeds and confessions, and conversant with contemporary theologians from Catholic, Orthodox, and other Protestant traditions. One of the book's most distinctive features is that the authors offer thoughtful responses to common objections to classical Christian orthodoxy and specific Wesleyan beliefs.
From start to finish, Love Divine makes vital connections between theology, ministry, and a Christian life of praise and service. In so doing, it serves as an essential resource for students preparing for ministry in Wesleyan, Methodist, Anglican, holiness, and Pentecostal traditions. This landmark volume will also be of interest to anyone seeking to understand Wesleyan theology's distinctive contributions to the broader Christian tradition.
Brief description:
Thomas H. McCall is Timothy C. and Julie M. Tennent Professor of Theology at Asbury Theological Seminary. His publications include Analytic Christology and the Theological Interpretation of the New Testament, Against God and Nature: The Doctrine of Sin, and Love Divine: A Wesleyan Systematic Theology.
Review Quotes:
"I recommend Love Divine to my fellow Pentecostals. If we learn anything about God, let it be, as McCall and Vickers write, that 'God -- the triune God whose nature is holy love -- is wholly and necessarily and perfectly good.' Amen!"
--George P. Wood, Influence Magazine
"McCall and Vickers have pulled off a significant achievement in this work, in that they have pursued a vision of systematic theology that makes sense for the Wesleyan theological tradition. Standard topics in the genre of systematic theology are covered here, which is helpful when students wonder how a 'Wesleyan take' would be similar to or different from other accounts. At the same time, one sees several emphases here that make this also a constructive piece. Therefore, it is a work that is both exhaustive and particular. Overall, students and scholars in the field will benefit tremendously from the effort expended here; it should have a long shelf life and make a contribution to generations of students and scholars who are seeking to think and speak out of a theological grammar with a Wesleyan accent."
--Daniel Castelo, William Kellon Quick Professor of Theology and Methodist Studies and director of the Center for Studies in the Wesleyan Tradition, Duke Divinity School
"An instant must have for all serious theologians. McCall and Vickers have written the finest Wesleyan systematic theology in recent decades. I resonate deeply with their prayerful posture, their biblical grounding, their concern for the catholic tradition, and their lucid reasoning. Even in those places where I am not persuaded, I still value their aims and arguments. Love Divine has strangely warmed the heart of this Reformed theologian."
--Kevin J. Vanhoozer, Jonathan Blanchard Professor of Theology, Litfin Divinity School, Wheaton College
"Whether there is any truth in the old saw that 'Wesley was not a systematic theologian, ' Thomas McCall and Jason Vickers vividly show that Wesleyans certainly can be--that Wesleyan convictions and insights bear much fruit when cast into the form of a comprehensive, conceptually stringent account of God and all things in relation to God. Among its virtues, this welcome and needed book will greatly help those of us outside the Wesleyan tradition to appreciate its special genius."
--Bruce D. Marshall, Lehman Professor of Christian Doctrine, Perkins School of Theology, Southern Methodist University