The Rise of Evangelicalism: The Age of Edwards, Whitefield and the Wesleys

by Mark Noll

Publisher:

IVP

, 2004

Overview

This inaugural book, in a series that charts the course of English-speaking evangelicalism over the last 300 years, offers a multinational narrative of the origin, development and rapid diffusion of evangelical movements in their first two generations. Theology, hymnody, gender, warfare, politics and science are all taken into consideration. But the focus is on the landmark individuals, events and organizations that shaped the story of the beginnings of this vibrant Christian movement. The revivals in Britain and North America in the mid-eighteenth century proved to be foundational in the development of the movement, its ethos, beliefs and subsequent direction. In these revivals, the core commitments of evangelicals were formed that continue to this day. In this volume you will find the fascinating story of their formation, their strengths and their weaknesses, but always their dynamism.

Contents

Top Highlights

“In the sixteenth century, however, differences were so strong that ‘evangelical’ became a virtual synonym for ‘Protestant’” (Page 14)

“A series of revivals—or intense periods of unusual response to gospel preaching linked with unusual efforts at godly living—marked the origin of a distinctly evangelical history. In Britain these precipitating events were known as the ‘Evangelical Revival’, while in the American colonies they were called the ‘Great Awakening’.” (Page 15)

“Thus, ‘evangelical’ religion has always been ‘gospel’ religion, or religion focusing on the ‘good news’ of salvation brought to sinners by Jesus Christ.” (Page 13)

“The public upsurge of piety that became known as the Evangelical Revival in Britain and the Great Awakening in America did not arise out of thin air. When revival came, it took shape under the direct influence of three earlier Christian movements: an international Calvinist network in which English Puritanism occupied a central position, the pietist revival from the European continent and a High Church Anglican tradition of rigorous spirituality and innovative organization.” (Page 45)

“Boston’s stress on the supernatural character of conversion and on conversion as the beginning of holy living made possible by the work of the Holy Spirit was read with appreciation by George Whitefield, Jonathan Edwards, John Wesley and other leaders of the evangelical movement.” (Page 53)

Product Details

• Title: The Rise of Evangelicalism: The Age of Edwards, Whitefield and the Wesleys
• Author: Mark Noll
• Series: A History of Evangelicalism
• Volume: 1
• Publisher: IVP
• Print Publication Date: 2004
• Logos Release Date: 2019
• Language: English
• Resources: 1
• Format: Digital › Logos Research Edition
• Subjects: Evangelicalism › History--18th century; Evangelicalism › Great Britain--History--18th century; Evangelicalism › North America--History--18th century
• ISBNs: 9781844745616, 1844745619
• Resource ID: LLS:HISTEVGRISE
• Resource Type: Monograph
• Metadata Last Updated: 2022-09-30T00:31:13Z

About Mark Noll

Mark A. Noll (PhD, Vanderbilt University) is Francis McAnaney Professor of History at the University of Notre Dame. He is a fellow of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences. Noll’s main academic interests concern the interaction of Christianity and culture in eighteenth- and nineteenth-century Anglo-American societies. He has published articles and reviews on a wide variety of subjects involving Christianity in modern history. Some of his many books include The Civil War as a Theological Crisis, Is the Reformation Over?, The Rise of Evangelicalism: The Age of Edwards, Whitefield and the Wesleys, and The Old Religion in a New World.