Practical Divinity: Theology in the Wesleyan Tradition (Practical Divinity)

Rating:
Summary: A solid effort
Review: Langford's work is an impressive effort. It is the only attempt to do a "History of Methodist theology" and is, thus, a more substantial work than Chile's "Theological Transition in American Methodism."

Still, the work is only a starting point. At times, the theological figures he discusses are fairly arbitrarily put together and substantial points of difference are overlooked. Moreover, the work seems overly reliant on secondary sources. For example, the work, occasionally, exhibits incorrect information. Albert Taylor Bledsoe, for example, is referred to as Albert Turner Bledsoe. While this is an inconsequential mistake, it exhibits some of the over reliance on secondary sources that sometimes characterize the volume.

The next person to look at the history of Methodist theology would do well to examine the Methodist relationship with the theological traditions prominent in America. Also, the importance of figures such as Nathan Bangs, Wilbur Fisk, Daniel Whedon, Albert Taylor Bledsoe and the late 20th century Wesleyan Renaissance needs to be more thoroughly weighed.

Rating:
Summary: Langford and Grace
Review: Thomas A. Langford's "Practical Divinity" does an excellent job scanning the history of Methodist theology, among both British and American theologians. The greatest insights of the book, however, are gleaned from Langford's opening chapter, where he spells out with remarkable insight and clarity an over-arching Wesleyan understanding of grace. Dr. Langford's special gift was his ability to see how God's grace touches all of life and all of Christianity, and this short chapter illustrates that gift beautifully, making it worth the cost of the entire book.