John Wesley’s theology of Christian Perfection by William M Greathouse MA, DD
Wesley Fellowship, 1989 (Occasional Paper No. 4) 24 pages £2
This is a paper presented to the Wesley Fellowship in October 1988 by Dr William Greathouse of the Church of the Nazarenes.
So much has been published on John Wesley’s doctrine of Christian Perfection (including Dr Sangster’s doctoral thesis ‘The Path to Perfection’ written in London during the years of World War II) that it must surely be the case that Wesley’s views were at least ambiguous or, at best, far from crystal clear.
This paper is a short and worthy addition to the voluminous literature already available.
Dr Greathouse’s conclusion is that Wesley contended that perfection for Christians was an attitude, a commitment, an aim, a goal, a target. It was an aim so all-embracing that sin was effectively pushed away by the soul’s over-riding commitment to be filled with the love of God and the love for God
Evidence of wide reading and research is indicated by the plethora of references – 5 pages !
Well worth the time and attention needed to read and absorb the author’s scholarship.