These four volumes offer a text-by-text introduction to John Wesley’s teaching. Thomas C. Oden systematically examines Wesley’s thought on the basic tenets of Christianity: God, providence, sin, salvation, pastoral care, and issues of ethics and society.
This systematic exposition of Wesley’s theology is faithful to Wesley’s own writings. Wesley was a prolific writer and commentator on Scripture—his collected works fill 18 volumes—and yet it is commonly held that he was not systematic or consistent in his theology and teachings. On the contrary, Oden demonstrates that Wesley displayed a remarkable degree of internal consistency over 60 years of preaching and ministry.
In accessible modern English, Oden clarifies Wesley’s explicit intent and communicates his meaning clearly to a contemporary audience. Both lay and professional readers will find this series useful for devotional reading, moral reflection, sermon preparation, and for referencing Wesley’s opinions on a broad range of pressing issues of contemporary society.
