A Heavenly Directory: Trinitarian Piety, Public Worship and a Reassessment of John Owen's Theology (Reformed Historical Theology) (Reformed Historical Theology, 29) - Hardcover

Ryan M. McGraw

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 3525550758 ISBN 13: 9783525550755

Publisher: Vandenhoeck & Ruprecht, 2014

Synopsis

There is a growing body of historical literature on the importance of John Owen. Ryan M. McGraw seeks to reassess Owen's theology in light of the way in which he connected his trinitarian piety to his views of public worship. McGraw argues that Owen's teaching on communion with God as triune was the foundation of his views of public worship and that he regarded public worship as the highest expression of communion with the triune God. These themes not only highlight Owen's context as a Reformed orthodox theologian, but the distinctive influence of English Puritanism on his theological emphases. The connection between his practical trinitarianism and public worship runs through the course of his writings and every major area of his theology. These include the nature of theology, the knowledge of God, the doctrine of the Trinity, public worship, spiritual affections, apostasy, covenant theology, ecclesiology, and Christology. This work treats these themes in Owen's thought and shows how they intersect and are intertwined with the Trinity and public worship. In addition, this book provides a detailed exposition of the parts of Reformed worship. While other works have treated the centrality of his trinitarianism in his theology, few have acknowledged the importance of public worship in his thinking. This research concludes that communion with God in public worship was integral to Owen's practical trinitarian theology.

About this title

About the Author

Ryan M. McGraw is Pastor of First Orthodoxy Presbyterian Church in Sunnyvale, California, research associate for the University of the Free State, and Adjunct Professor of Systematic Theology at Greenville Presbyterian Theological Seminary in South Carolina.

Review

"This little volume of less than 300 pages is vitally engaging. Vitally, because the topic is in such deseprate need of modern implementation; and engaging because the reader is never bored because the book is never boring." --Jim West, Zwinglius Redivivus

"This book has two major strengths: first, its clarity and accessible language; its style makes it readable for any Christian who is serious about faith and worship. Secondly, it is confessional--McGraw supports his conclusions from the Westminster Standards." --Arthur J. Fox, Puritan Reformed Journal

About this edition

• Publisher: Vandenhoeck & Ruprecht
• Publication date: 2014
• ISBN 10: 3525550758
• ISBN 13: 9783525550755
• Binding: Hardcover
• Number of pages: 270