J.N. Darby and the Roots of Dispensationalism
Published on 19. June 2024
Book
Hardback
258 pages
978-0-19-093234-3 (ISBN)
Description
J.N. Darby and the Roots of Dispensationalism describes the work of one of the most important and under-studied theologians in the history of Christianity. In the late 1820s, John Nelson Darby abandoned his career as a priest in the Church of Ireland to become one of the principal leaders of a small but rapidly growing religious movement that became known as the "Plymouth Brethren." Darby and other brethren modified the Calvinism that was common among their evangelical contemporaries, developing distinctive positions on key doctrines relating to salvation, the church, the work of the Holy Spirit, and the end times.
After his death in 1882, Darby's successors revised and expanded his arguments, and Darby became known as the architect of the most influential system of end-times thinking among the world's half-a-billion evangelicals. This "dispensational premillennialism" exercises extraordinary influence in religious communities, but also in popular culture and geopolitics. But claims that Darby created this theological system may need to be qualified -for all his innovation, this reputation might be undeserved. This book reconstructs Darby's theological development and argues that his innovations were more complex and extensive than their reduction into dispensationalism might suggest. In fact, Darby's thought might be closer to that of his Reformed critics than to that of modern exponents of dispensationalism.
After his death in 1882, Darby's successors revised and expanded his arguments, and Darby became known as the architect of the most influential system of end-times thinking among the world's half-a-billion evangelicals. This "dispensational premillennialism" exercises extraordinary influence in religious communities, but also in popular culture and geopolitics. But claims that Darby created this theological system may need to be qualified -for all his innovation, this reputation might be undeserved. This book reconstructs Darby's theological development and argues that his innovations were more complex and extensive than their reduction into dispensationalism might suggest. In fact, Darby's thought might be closer to that of his Reformed critics than to that of modern exponents of dispensationalism.
Reviews / Votes
J.N. Darby and the Roots of Dispensationalism is the definitive work on Darby's theology of salvation, the Holy Spirit, ecclesiology, and eschatology. Among the book's many achievements is the demonstration that Darby's eschatological speculations, which have often been treated in isolation, were deeply embedded in his views of salvation, the church, and the Holy Spirit-and that later 'dispensationalists' rarely or never followed Darby on those matters. No one has even come close to the depth and insight of this book on how John Nelson Darby constructed his own theology. * Mark Noll, Author of America's Book: The Rise and Decline of America's Bible Civilization, 1794-1911 * John Nelson Darby is both vastly influential and vastly under-recognized. One of the most voluble of Victorian doctrinal writers, he is the voice behind much of radical evangelicalism in the United States and, indeed, worldwide. The question long has been: did Darby, who had myriad doctrines, actually have a theology? Crawford Gribben answers that question in the affirmative with a coherent, comprehensive, and sympathetic exposition of Darby's underlying systematic theology. This a fine, often heroic, book. * Donald H. Akenson, A.C. Hamilton Distinguished University Professor & Douglas Professor of Canadian and Colonial History, Queen's University * This book is, no doubt, the definitive, concise study of the theology of J. N. Darby, particularly of his eschatology and of the role it played in the creation of modern dispensationalism. It establishes the author's surprising judgment that Darby "contributed some of the system's [dispensationalism's] key ideas: he saw the roots, but not the birth, ofdispensationalism". * Protestant Reformed Theological Journal * J. N. Darby and the Roots of Dispensationalism is must-reading for anyone interested in Darby or the history of dispensationalism. * Laurence M. Vance, Journal of Dispensational Theology * It is essential reading for anyone interested in modern Evangelicalism and its impact on wider society. * Gerald Bray, The Global Anglican *More details
Language
English
Place of publication
New York
United States
Target group
College/higher education
Dimensions
Height: 165 mm
Width: 240 mm
Thickness: 26 mm
Weight
494 gr
ISBN-13
978-0-19-093234-3 (9780190932343)
Copyright in bibliographic data and cover images is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or by the publishers or by their respective licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Classification
Other editions
Additional editions
Crawford Gribben
J.N. Darby and the Roots of Dispensationalism
E-Book
02/2024
OUP eBook
€24.99
Available for download
Crawford Gribben
J.N. Darby and the Roots of Dispensationalism
E-Book
02/2024
OUP eBook
€24.99
Available for download
Person
Crawford Gribben is Professor of History at Queen's University Belfast. He writes about the religious history of Britain, Ireland, and North America, focusing on the literary cultures of puritanism and evangelicalism, with special interests in millennial and apocalyptic thought.
Content
Preface
Introduction Chapter 1: Soteriology Chapter 2: Ecclesiology Chapter 3: Pneumatology Chapter 4: Eschatology
Conclusion Bibliography
Index
Introduction Chapter 1: Soteriology Chapter 2: Ecclesiology Chapter 3: Pneumatology Chapter 4: Eschatology
Conclusion Bibliography
Index