The Trinitarian Devotion of John Owen
The Trinitarian Devotion of John Owen explores the life, ministry, and theological vision of the seventeenth-century Puritan pastor and scholar John Owen, with particular attention to his understanding of the believer’s communion with the triune God.
Dr. Sinclair B. Ferguson traces Owen’s life from his early education and pastoral ministry through his service as chaplain to Oliver Cromwell, his appointment as vice-chancellor of the University of Oxford, and his later years of faithful ministry under persecution. Against this biographical backdrop, Ferguson examines the Trinitarian theology that shaped Owen’s thought and devotion, drawing especially on Owen’s classic work Of Communion with God the Father, Son and Holy Ghost.
The book unfolds Owen’s conviction that the Christian life is grounded in distinct yet inseparable communion with each person of the Trinity: the Father’s love, the Son’s grace, and the Holy Spirit’s fellowship. Ferguson explores how Owen understood justification through the righteousness of Christ, the believer’s adoption into the Father’s family, and the Spirit’s indwelling work of sanctification and assurance. Throughout, the book presents Owen’s theology not as abstract speculation but as a framework for personal devotion and pastoral care.
Key Themes
- The believer’s distinct communion with the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit
- Justification and the imputed righteousness of Christ
- The Holy Spirit’s indwelling presence and work of sanctification
- The pastoral and devotional implications of Trinitarian theology
Featured Quotes
“We were made to know and love God in all His glory. To our shame, we have turned our backs on such an honor.”
“We cannot spread our sin further than He can spread His grace.”