John Owen’s defence of the Doctrine of the Perseverance of the Saints

Benedict Bird offers a detailed examination of one John Owen’s works which has not so far been the subject of a detailed published analysis. “The Doctrine of the Saints’ Perseverance” (ital.) (1654) was described by Owen’s nineteenth century biographer as “undeniably…the most masterly vindication of the [doctrine] in the English tongue.” One reason why it has not received the attention that it deserved was because it needed to be read in conjunction with the similarly long and difficult work by John Goodwin, “Redemption Redeemed” (ital.) (1651) in reply to which Owen was writing.Owen was writing in reply to an Arminian who argued that either God must compel believers to persevere and in so doing become the author of their sin, or allow them freedom to apostatize. This, says Owen, is a false dichotomy. He brings together his biblical explanation of human free-will, and profound understanding of the inward working of the Spirit, to show how God infallibly keeps them to the end.Bird provides a full length historical and theological examination of both works, in which these major figures go head-to-head over a vital and pastorally important doctrine that is much debated and disputed by Christians whose theologies range from Reformed, to Arminian, to Lutheran, to Roman Catholic.