Following in the footsteps of Richard Watson’s Institutes, this systematic study of classic Arminian-Methodist theology summarizes the main points of Methodist faith for a broad audience. Given as lectures to students, the body of this theology was distributed throughout the United Methodist Church South, as an introductory text to theology for local preachers. What you’ll find in this memorable tome is not so much a technical treatise of Methodist theology or a commentary on emerging theological thought, but a representation on the classic theological positions that have defined Methodism since the days of the Wesley brothers.
As such, this classic systematic theology enjoyed a wide readership and was a go-to text for nearly a century. To this day, The Elements of Divinity is referenced in numerous Wesleyan-Arminian theological and ecclesiastical studies, such as Thomas Oden’s Systematic Theology (3 vols.) and the Wesleyan Theological Perspectives (5 vols.) series.
