Andrew Fuller's Theology of Revival

Revival is the arguable heartbeat of evangelical Christianity. Though a theologically diverse and globally diffused phenomenon, evangelicalism originated in a distinctly Calvinistic milieu. Many Puritans in the seventeenth century, “evangelicals before the revivals,” emphasized the work of the Holy Spirit, including the importance of personal conversion. Unlike theologically Arminian proponents of revival such as Charles G. Finney, many Puritans and early evangelicals believed and taught that the absolute sovereignty of God was compatible with human responsibility. Calvinistic Baptists in the early eighteenth century who rejected this tension declined numerically, yet a new generation of pastors led their denomination through this impasse. Andrew Fuller (1754–1815) defended Reformed doctrine in the Particular Baptist tradition while emphasizing the importance of human response in his preaching, writing, and fundraising for the Baptist Missionary Society. The fruit of Fuller’s ministry included growth of churches in England, conversions among people groups in the Global South, and the preservation of Reformed theology in a challenging Enlightenment context.

Ryan Rindels is pastor of First Baptist Church in Sonoma, California. He earned his PhD in historical theology from Gateway Seminary of the Southern Baptist Convention where he also teaches as adjunct professor. You can follow him on Twitter @RyanRindels.

Chris Chun is Associate Professor of Church History at Golden Gate Baptist Theological Seminary near San Francisco, California. He is the author of The Legacy of Jonathan Edwards in the Theology of Andrew Fuller (2012).