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Commissioned by the General Board of Higher Education and Ministry for use in United Methodist doctrine/polity/history courses.
Runyon sets Wesley's own discussion of the "way of salvation" in the larger context of Christian doctrine, beginning with the Creation (and the Fall) and moving through the drama of salvation towards its eschatological fulfillment in the "new creation" of all things.
"This is for me the Wesley book at the end of the century, with new perspectives for the next millennium. Reliable in historical research, brilliantly written, it offers the social witness of John Wesley for today's crises. Professor Runyon gives a coherent picture of Wesley's theology for the Christian oecumene and far beyond. I am very grateful for this book."--Jürgen Moltmann
The New Creation has been translated into 5 languages: Korean, Portuguese, Russian, German, and Spanish.
Product Details
| Publisher | Abingdon Press |
| ISBN | 0687096022 |
| Features |
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| Format | Paperback |
| Author | Theodore Runyon |
| EAN | 9780687096022 |
| Label | Abingdon Press |
| Dewey Decimal Number | 287.092 |
| Studio | Abingdon Press |
| Number Of Pages | 272 |
| Title | The New Creation: John Wesley's Theology Today |
| Publication Date | 1998-04 |
| Manufacturer | Abingdon Press |
Customer Reviews
SatisfiedReview by Karen J. Morris, 2009-03-09
I ordered 8 copies of this book for my Sunday School class. They sent me one copy with in a few days and then the other 7 by the end of the week. I was very satisfied at the speed of the delivery and the product.
Wesley for Today
Review by Van Noppen Jean Pierre, 2008-12-28
A truly inspiring book -- Wesley's vision (Salvation through grace, faith working through love) is still valid today and can be implemented, as in his time, in plenty of practical ways, including our attitude towards the environment. Some of Runyon's chapters are a bit scholarly (like the debate between Methodism and Calvinism on Free Grace). Yancey in "What's so Amazing about Grace" manages to make grace a lot more exciting as a concept, Maddox in "Responsible Grace" to make it a lot more thought-provoking, and Jennings in "Good News to the Poor" is more clearly committed socially -- but Runyon knows how to make even the idea of obedience (as openness and responsiveness to grace, mercy and love) an attractive idea. Chapter Six shows the present relevance of Wesleyan thought to most of those issues that are close to our hearts and concerns today -- human rights, women's rights, social justice, the environment -- and goes to show that being a Christian today is not just about "saving one's soul" and even less about judging and excluding others, but about hope and action for a better, juster, more loving world here and now.
21st Century Emergent Wesley
Review by Readalots, 2007-06-24
Systematic Theology Professor Theodore Runyon offers a final 20th century look while proposing an initial 21st century glance at John Wesley with his 1998 book "The New Creation". In 270 pages, with six instructive chapters, he reviews Wesley's theologies of God's creation, renewal of the Image of God, transforming grace, the means of grace, the religious experience, and John Wesley's emerging 21st century use.
Runyon begins his discussion with a re-statement of the via salutis (the way of salvation). He properly understands that holiness is the final "trusting...mark [which] is created in our hearts by... action of God" (page 55). The following chapters then discuss each aspect of the via with regards to God's saving activity through grace (regeneration, transformation, sanctification, perfection, etc.). The author identifies Wesley's most popular ("Means of Grace", chapter 4) and most controversial ("Entire Sanctification", pages 91-101) doctrines and analyses each with precision.
Professor Runyon helpfully reviews Wesley's objections to the ancient mystics, his quarrel with the "antinomians" (the save by grace alone crowd), his confrontation with "quietism" ("holiness is not an avoidance of the world but a challenge to it", page 113), and his life-long argument with predestinarianism. Readers learn that Wesley "affirmed infant baptism and even baptismal regeneration" (page 140). He understands that Christian experience is "the medium through which reality is transmitted" which is founded in orthodoxy (right belief), orthopraxy (right practice) and orthopathy (right feeling). Runyon correctly suggests that for Mr. Wesley "Scripture remains the standard by which feelings are to judged" (page 154).
Runyon's text is 21st century emergent Wesleyan theology. His scholarship is unmistakable (with 24 pages of authoritative endnotes and eight pages of selected bibliography). This text is recommended to all members of the Wesleyan family (Methodists, Pentecostals, Nazarenes, Free Will Baptists, etc.).
Definative!
Review by Alan Gantzhorn, 2001-08-28
Without a shadow of a doubt, this is the definative study of the theology of John Wesley currently in print. Runyon's treatment of Wesley's soteriology is thorough and balanced, but offers wise reflections on the meaning of Wesley's thought for Methodists and Wesleyans of today. Highly recommended for anyone interested in the theological foundations of the people called Methodists.
Wonderful!
Review by John Healy (jhealy@atl.invesco.com), 2000-03-07
This is an invaluable book for anyone who is serious about learning Methodist doctrine. Dr. Runyon provides a clear exposition of John Wesley's and the Church's understanding of critical theological views such as justification, salvation and sanctification. For those who question the once-saved-always-saved theology and are searching for assurance, this book is a must read. It also provides a true picture of what the Church of Jesus Christ should look like.
Responsible Grace: John Wesley's Practical Theology (Kingswood Series)
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