Humility in the Writings of Charles Wesley and the Early Church Fathers/Mothers
Ebook
Humility is a central focus of the early church fathers/mothers. Similarly, it is at the heart of Charles Wesley's thought expressed in his poetry, sermons, and journal. For Wesley, humility plays an active role in the process of salvation. "It can but lead to faith," he says. For the fathers/mothers of the early church, salvation void of humility is unthinkable. For Wesley the words "humble" and "humility" pervade almost every aspect of Christian character, personality, and experience. A careful examination of Wesley's writings reveals congruences with and a close relationship to the thought of the early church fathers and mothers on the subject of humility. Throughout this study, examples from witnesses of the Eastern church emphasize the closeness of their thought with that of Charles Wesley. A careful comparative study is made of St. Basil the Great's "Homily on Humility" and Wesley's multiple references to humility in prose and poetry. This leads to an interesting response to the question: How does one practice humility? St. Basil says, "Everything that Christ did was a lesson in humility." This study suggests that in the cycle of the Christian year and the liturgical rehearsal of everything that Christ did, one learns to practice humility.
“We should pay attention when a Lutheran who became a leading Eastern Orthodox theologian recommends a contemporary book by a Methodist about Charles Wesley’s theology of humility! Really! S T Kimbrough offers what is to many contemporaries a problematic but consistent aspect of Charles Wesley’s theology: his insistence that we regard ourselves with humility while exalting the work of Christ in us. As Kimbrough shows, this does not allow us to debase ourselves, but rather (as he quotes St Basil), we ‘lower ourselves to exalt ourselves, imitating the Lord.’”
—Ted A. Campbell, professor of Wesley studies and church history, Perkins School of Theology, Southern Methodist University
“S T Kimbrough has given us a valuable example of ecumenical methodology, by tracing the single theme of humility in the writings of two traditions vastly removed in historical, cultural, and theological contexts. Humility is a misunderstood virtue in the hard-driving, competitive world that has molded even much of contemporary Christian life. This little book holds some surprising insights and commonalities to be found in reading Charles Wesley alongside spiritual writers of the ancient Church such as Macarius of Egypt, John Climacus, Basil the Great, Mother Syncletica, and many others.”
—John A. Jillions, president, Orthodox Theological Society in America
- Title: Humility in the Writings of Charles Wesley and the Early Church Fathers/Mothers
- Authors: Jr. S T Kimbrough, John H. Erickson
- Publisher: Wipf and Stock
- Print Publication Date: 2024
- Logos Release Date: 2024
- Language: English
- Resources: 1
- Format: Digital › Ebook
- ISBNs: 9798385227228, 9798385227204, 9798385227211
- Resource ID: LLS:9798385227228
- Resource Type: Monograph
- Metadata Last Updated: 2024-09-24T20:55:08Z
S T Kimbrough, Jr. holds a PhD from Princeton Theological Seminary and is currently a research fellow of the Center of Studies in the Wesleyan Tradition at Duke Divinity School. He has taught on leading theological faculties in Europe and the USA. He has published numerous books with Wipf and Stock including Partakers in the Life Divine, which also addresses Charles Wesley’s thought and that of Eastern Orthodoxy; The Lyrical Theology of Charles Wesley; Radical Grace; and many books of poetry.