John Wesley's Social Ethics

by Marquardt, Manfred; Steely, John E.; Gunter, W. Stephen

• ISBN13: 9780687204946
• ISBN10: 0687204941
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 1992-02-01
• Publisher: Abingdon Pr

Summary

This volume, first published in German in 1976, still stands as the most definitive, comprehensive treatment of John Wesley's social ethics. John Wesley's Social Ethics offers a balanced treatment that dispels notions that Wesley can easily be categorized as only an evangelist or only a social reformer. It demonstrates that Wesley's theological and spiritual concerns were catalytic in his social program. It encourages a rethinking of the importance of theology for social ethics in the Methodist tradition.

Author Biography

Manfred Marquardt is Professor of Systematic Theology at the Theologische Seminar der Evangelische-Methodistischen Kirche, Reutlingen, Germany

Table of Contents

Translator's Preface	p. 9
Foreword to the English Edition	p. 11
Foreword to the Original German Edition	p. 13
Introduction	p. 15
The Major Areas of Wesley's Social Praxis	p. 17
The Social Work of the Early Oxford Methodists	p. 19
The Misery of the Lower Classes	p. 19
Christian Philanthropy	p. 21
The Social Activity of the Early Oxford Methodists	p. 23
Wesley's and the Methodist Societies' Aid to the Poor	p. 27
Practical Measures for Aid to the Poor	p. 27
The Altered Attitude Toward the Poor	p. 30
The Methodist Societies as Fields of Social Probation	p. 33
John Wesley's Contribution to Economic Ethics	p. 35
The Economic Responsibility of the Individual	p. 35
Methodism and the Capitalist Spirit	p. 41
The Economic Responsibility of Society	p. 43
The Educational and Training Work of Wesley and His Colleagues	p. 49
English Schools in the Eighteenth Century	p. 49
Methodist Schools and Sunday Schools	p. 51
Adult Education in Methodism	p. 55
Education and Training in the Context of Wesley's Theological Ethic	p. 60
John Wesley's Battle Against Slavery	p. 67
Slavery and the Slave Trade in Eighteenth-Century England and Its Colonies	p. 67
The Churches' Attitude Toward Slavery	p. 68
The Beginning of the Battle Against Slavery	p. 70
John Wesley's Attitude Toward Slavery	p. 70
Concern for Prisoners and Prison Reform	p. 77
The English Penal System in the Eighteenth Century	p. 77
Wesley's Aid to Prisoners	p. 81
The Principles of Wesley's Social Ethics	p. 87
Presuppositions of Wesley's Social Ethics	p. 89
Prevenient Grace	p. 89
Renewing Grace	p. 95
Standards for Social Ethics	p. 103
Love of God and Neighbor	p. 103
The Divine Commandments	p. 110
Examples	p. 113
Personal Insights	p. 116
Aims of Wesley's Social Ethics	p. 119
The Renewal of the Individual	p. 119
The Renewal of Society	p. 123
Concluding Observations	p. 133
The Weaknesses of Wesley's Social Ethics	p. 133
The Strengths of Wesley's Social Ethics	p. 135
Abbreviations	p. 139
Notes	p. 141
Bibliography	p. 191
Index	p. 201
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