BORN AGAIN

The Evangelical Theology of Conversion in John Wesley and George Whitefield

SEAN MCGEVER

STUDIES IN HISTORICAL AND SYSTEMATIC THEOLOGY

Born Again: The Evangelical Theology of Conversion in John Wesley and George Whitefield

Studies in Historical and Systematic Theology

Copyright 2020 Sean McGever

Lexham Press, 1313 Commercial St., Bellingham, WA 98225

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Print ISBN 9781683593300

Digital ISBN 9781683593317

Library of Congress Control Number 2019950873

Lexham Editorial: Todd Hains, Tom Parr, Danielle Thevenaz, Abigail Stocker

Cover Design: Bryan Hintz

Contents

Acknowledgments

1. Introduction

2. John Wesley’s Conversion Theology Motifs

3. John Wesley’s Conversion Theology Attendant Themes

4. George Whitefield’s Conversion Theology Motifs

5. George Whitefield’s Conversion Theology Attendant Themes

6. John Wesley and George Whitefield’s Theologies of Conversion Compared

7. Conversion as Inaugurated Teleology for Wesley and Whitefield

Bibliography

Subject Index

Scripture Index

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

I undertook this project to dive further into the depths of the gospel, which God used to change my life profoundly. When I first heard the gospel as a teenager, I knew nothing of Wesley and Whitefield—and I did not need to. I am glad to have now met them. I realize now that I was impacted as a teenager in a way that was shaped through their legacy and understanding of evangelical conversion.

I am indebted to my PhD supervisor, Professor Tom Greggs. Tom’s guidance, consistency, encouragement, and correction provided me exactly what I needed in each step of my journey—both academically and in a spirit of friendship. I am grateful to the divinity faculty of King’s College at the University of Aberdeen for their support, especially Professor Phil Ziegler and Professor Paul Nimmo. The continuing support from my friends at the University of Saint Andrews—Dr. Eric Stoddart, Dr. Andrew Torrance, and Dr. Andrew Marin—has been invaluable.

I would not have been able to undertake this task without the full support of my supervisors (and friends) from Young Life—in particular, Marty Caldwell, Larry Anderson, John Irwin, Rick Wilson, Chris Eaton, Jorge Lujan, Matt Hock, Chris McGuire, Ken Knipp, Pam Moore, Newt Crenshaw, as well as the Paradise Valley Young Life committee. The College of Theology at Grand Canyon University, including Dean Dr. Jason Hiles and Associate Dean Anna Faith Smith, have supported me thoroughly. I am grateful to Dr. Joel Houston, Dr. Ian Maddock, and Professor Randy Maddox for their expertise in all things Wesley and Whitefield and encouragement in many stages of my research, as well as the staff at the archives at the British Library and the Dr. Williams Evangelical Library in London. Todd Hains and Jesse Myers at Lexham ...