Recapturing the Wesleys' Vision - by Paul Wesley Chilcote (Paperback)

About the Book

Paul Wesley Chilcote introduces the dynamic faith of John and Charles Wesley, showing how they were able to balance faith and works, Word and Spirit, the personal and the social, head and heart, mission and service.

Book Synopsis

Scholar and teacher Paul Wesley Chilcote provides a full and clear introduction to the dynamic faith of John and Charles Wesley. The vital theology of John is skillfully gleaned from his voluminous writings. The corresponding faith of Charles is culled from his enduring hymns. For students and general readers this book illuminates the vital balance the Wesleys found in Christian teaching that overcomes the often mutually exclusive options presented in other theological traditions. Chilcote shows that such a synthetic faith is not boring or irrelevant but transforming and life-giving, bringing together faith and works, Word and Spirit, the personal and the social, the head and the heart, mission and service.

Review Quotes

"Recapturing the Wesleys' Vision intentionally focuses on the truths of both Christianity and the life of Christians within the context of the central gospel message of the love of God. This book well develops the Wesleys' grand vision of the Christian life lived within a knowledge of God in Christ, and challenges the believer dynamically and creatively to live out the truths of that knowledge in an active faith. Here is indeeda masterful and compelling book by Paul Chilcote, building on his previous studies of the Wesleyan tradition and basing his writing on the Scriptures and on key Wesleyan texts. This work encourages the reader to embrace the Wesleyan balance of knowledge and vital piety, and makes readily availablethe joy of doing so."

--Roger J. Green, Ph.D., Professor and Chair of Biblical and Theological Studies, Terrelle B. Crum Chair of Humanities, Gordon College, Wenham, Massachusetts

"Paul Chilcote has given us a wonderfully symmetrical introduction to the Wesleys' theology. Anyone interested in discovering or rediscovering the theology that shaped the heart of the movement known as Methodism would benefit greatly from this clearly written, lively and balanced book. Chilcote covers all the essential themes with grace and brevity. Recapturing the Wesleys' Vision is not only an excellent reminder of what Wesleyan theology was in the past, it is also a powerful plea for embracing the Wesleys' vision of the Christian faith as a reliable guide into the future."

--Kenneth W. Brewer, Assistant Professor of Religion, Spring Arbor University

A challenging but manageable book, which many fellowship groups ought to obtain and make a mirror of self-examination.

--David Tripp, Rolling Prairie United Methodist Church, Rolling Prairie, Indiana, Sacramental Life, Spring 2007

About the Author

Paul Wesley Chilcote (M.Div., Ph.D., Duke University) is Visiting Professor of the Practice of Evangelism at Duke University. He previously taught at Africa University (Mutare, Africa), Asbury Theological Seminary (Florida), Wesley College (Bristol, UK) and the Methodist Theological School (Ohio).

A clergy member of the North Indiana Methodist Church Conference, Chilcote has served parishes in both North Carolina and Indiana and has been active in global Methodism through his work with the World Methodist Council sponsored Oxford Institute of Methodist Theological Studies and the global Theological Education Committee. With his wife he served as a United Methodist missionary in Limuru, Kenya. He co-chairs the World Methodist Council/Salvation Army Dialogue, serves on the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America/United Methodist Church Bilateral Dialogue and is a Benedictine Oblate of Mt. Angel Abbey in Oregon. He serves as president of The Charles Wesley Society.

Chilcote is the author of Praying in the Wesleyan Spirit (Upper Room Books, 2001), Her Own Story: Autobiographical Portraits of Early Methodist Women (Abingdon, 2002), Recapturing the Wesleys' Vision (IVP, 2004), Changed from Glory into Glory: Wesleyan Prayer for Transformation (Upper Room Books, 2005), Wesley Speaks on Christian Vocation (Discipleship Resources, 1986), John Wesley and the Women Preachers of Early Methodism (Scarecrow Press, 1991), She Offered Them Christ (Abingdon, 1993; Spanish translation, 1995) and An African Journal of Hope (GBGM, 1998). Chilcote also serves as a unit editor for the definitive edition of The Works of John Wesley, having responsibility (with Randy Maddox) for volumes 12 and 13 on doctrine and theology.