But under the influence of Neander, he was gradually breaking away from "Puritanic Presbyterianism", and, in 1840, having resigned his chair in Allegheny, he was appointed professor of theology in the (German Reformed) Theological Seminary at Mercersburg, and thus passed from the Presbyterian Church into the German Reformed Church. He soon became prominent: first by his contributions to its organ, the Messenger; then by The Anxious Bench—A Tract for the Times (1843), attacking the vicious excesses of revivalistic methods; and by his defence of the inauguration address, The Principle of Protestantism, delivered by his colleague Philip Schaff, which aroused a storm of protest by its suggestion that Pauline Protestantism was not the last word in the development of the church but that a Johannine Christianity was to be its out-growth, and by its recognition of Petrine Romanism as a stage in ecclesiastical development. To Dr. Schaff's 122 theses of The Principle of Protestantism Nevin added his own theory of the mystical union between Christ and believers, and both Schaff and Nevin were accused of a "Romanizing tendency".[2][3]
Nevin characterized his critics as pseudo-Protestants, urged (with Dr. Charles Hodge, and against the Presbyterian General Assembly) the validity of Roman Catholic baptism, and defended the doctrine of the "spiritual real presence" of Christ in the Lord's Supper, notably in The Mystical Presence: a Vindication of the Reformed or Calvinistic Doctrine of the Holy Eucharist (1846); to this Charles Hodge replied from the point of view of rationalistic puritanism in the Princeton Review of 1848.[2]
In 1849, the Mercersburg Review was founded as the organ of Nevin and the "Mercersburg Theology"; and to it he contributed from 1849 to 1883. In 1851, he resigned from the Mercersburg Seminary in order that its running expenses might be lightened; and from 1841 to 1853 he was president of Marshall College at Mercersburg. With Dr. Schaff and others, he was on the committee which prepared the liturgy of the German Reformed Church, which appeared in provisional form in 1857 and as An Order of Worship in 1866. In 1861–1866, he was instructor of history at Franklin and Marshall College (into which Marshall College had been merged), of which he was president in 1866–1876. He died in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, on June 6, 1886.[2]
The Mystical Presence: a Vindication of the Reformed or Calvinistic Doctrine of the Holy Eucharist (1846)
History and Genius of the Heidelberg Catechism (1847)
A Summary of Biblical Antiquities; For the Use of Schools, Bible-Classes and Families (1849)
Human Freedom and a Plea for Philosophy: Two Essays (1850)
Man's True Destiny (1853)
Life and Character of Frederick Augustus Rauch (1859)
The Liturgical Question: with Reference To The Provisional Liturgy of the German Reformed Church (1862)
A Treatise on the Mercersburg Theology; or, Mercersburg and Modern Theology (1866)
Vindication of the Revised Liturgy, Historical and Theological (1867)
References
Notes
^These works have been republished in modern editions by CrossReach Publications
Citations
^Rubinstein, Charlotte Streifer (1990). American women sculptors : a history of women working in three dimensions. Boston, MA: G.K. Hall. p. 87. ISBN0-8161-8732-0. OCLC 20756128.
Chisholm, Hugh, ed. (1911). "Nevin, John Williamson" . Encyclopædia Britannica. Vol. 19 (11th ed.). Cambridge University Press. p. 458.
Dorn, Christopher (n.d.), Acquiring Liturgical Literacy: The Ongoing Challenge in the Reformed Church in America
Further reading
Appel, Theodore (1889), The Life and Work of John Williamson Nevin, Philadelphia. containing Nevin's more important articles.
Borneman, Adam S (2011), Church, Sacrament, and American Democracy: The Social and Political Dimensions of John Williamson Nevin's Theology of Incarnation, Eugene, OR: Wipf & Stock.
Hart, DG (2005), John Williamson Nevin: High Church Calvinist, Phillipsburg: P&R.
Kremer, A. R. (1890), A Biographical Sketch of John Williamson Nevin
Nevin, John W (1991), Hein, David (ed.), "The Letters to William R. Whittingham, High Church Episcopal bishop of Maryland", Anglican and Episcopal History, 60: 197–211.
Schneck, B.S. (1874), Mercersburg Theology Inconsistent with Protestant and Reformed Doctrine, Philadelphia: JB Lippincott & Co. A contemporaneous critique of Nevin's theology written by the editor of The Reformed Church Magazine.
John Williamson Nevin Collection (13 vols.). Faithlife.
April 27, 2023
john, williamson, nevin, february, 1803, june, 1886, american, theologian, educationalist, born, cumberland, valley, near, shippensburg, franklin, county, pennsylvania, father, noted, sculptor, poet, blanche, nevin, contents, biography, works, references, note. John Williamson Nevin February 20 1803 June 6 1886 was an American theologian and educationalist He was born in the Cumberland Valley near Shippensburg Franklin County Pennsylvania He was the father of noted sculptor and poet Blanche Nevin 1 John Williamson Nevin Contents 1 Biography 2 Works 3 References 3 1 Notes 3 2 Citations 3 3 Sources 3 4 Further reading 4 External linksBiography EditHe was a nephew of Hugh Williamson of North Carolina and was of Scottish blood and Presbyterian training He graduated at Union College in 1821 studied theology at Princeton Theological Seminary in 1823 1828 being in 1826 28 in charge of the classes of Charles Hodge was licensed to preach by the Carlisle Presbytery in 1828 and in 1830 1840 was professor of Biblical literature in the newly founded Western Theological Seminary now Pittsburgh Theological Seminary of Allegheny Pennsylvania 2 But under the influence of Neander he was gradually breaking away from Puritanic Presbyterianism and in 1840 having resigned his chair in Allegheny he was appointed professor of theology in the German Reformed Theological Seminary at Mercersburg and thus passed from the Presbyterian Church into the German Reformed Church He soon became prominent first by his contributions to its organ the Messenger then by The Anxious Bench A Tract for the Times 1843 attacking the vicious excesses of revivalistic methods and by his defence of the inauguration address The Principle of Protestantism delivered by his colleague Philip Schaff which aroused a storm of protest by its suggestion that Pauline Protestantism was not the last word in the development of the church but that a Johannine Christianity was to be its out growth and by its recognition of Petrine Romanism as a stage in ecclesiastical development To Dr Schaff s 122 theses of The Principle of Protestantism Nevin added his own theory of the mystical union between Christ and believers and both Schaff and Nevin were accused of a Romanizing tendency 2 3 Nevin characterized his critics as pseudo Protestants urged with Dr Charles Hodge and against the Presbyterian General Assembly the validity of Roman Catholic baptism and defended the doctrine of the spiritual real presence of Christ in the Lord s Supper notably in The Mystical Presence a Vindication of the Reformed or Calvinistic Doctrine of the Holy Eucharist 1846 to this Charles Hodge replied from the point of view of rationalistic puritanism in the Princeton Review of 1848 2 In 1849 the Mercersburg Review was founded as the organ of Nevin and the Mercersburg Theology and to it he contributed from 1849 to 1883 In 1851 he resigned from the Mercersburg Seminary in order that its running expenses might be lightened and from 1841 to 1853 he was president of Marshall College at Mercersburg With Dr Schaff and others he was on the committee which prepared the liturgy of the German Reformed Church which appeared in provisional form in 1857 and as An Order of Worship in 1866 In 1861 1866 he was instructor of history at Franklin and Marshall College into which Marshall College had been merged of which he was president in 1866 1876 He died in Lancaster Pennsylvania on June 6 1886 2 Works EditPublished works a Address on Sacred Music 1827 The Scourge of God A Sermon 1832 The Anxious Bench A Tract for the Times 1843 The Mystical Presence a Vindication of the Reformed or Calvinistic Doctrine of the Holy Eucharist 1846 History and Genius of the Heidelberg Catechism 1847 A Summary of Biblical Antiquities For the Use of Schools Bible Classes and Families 1849 Human Freedom and a Plea for Philosophy Two Essays 1850 Man s True Destiny 1853 Life and Character of Frederick Augustus Rauch 1859 The Liturgical Question with Reference To The Provisional Liturgy of the German Reformed Church 1862 A Treatise on the Mercersburg Theology or Mercersburg and Modern Theology 1866 Vindication of the Revised Liturgy Historical and Theological 1867 References EditNotes Edit These works have been republished in modern editions by CrossReach Publications Citations Edit Rubinstein Charlotte Streifer 1990 American women sculptors a history of women working in three dimensions Boston MA G K Hall p 87 ISBN 0 8161 8732 0 OCLC 20756128 a b c d Chisholm 1911 Dorn n d p 10 Sources Edit Chisholm Hugh ed 1911 Nevin John Williamson Encyclopaedia Britannica Vol 19 11th ed Cambridge University Press p 458 Dorn Christopher n d Acquiring Liturgical Literacy The Ongoing Challenge in the Reformed Church in America Further reading Edit Appel Theodore 1889 The Life and Work of John Williamson Nevin Philadelphia containing Nevin s more important articles Borneman Adam S 2011 Church Sacrament and American Democracy The Social and Political Dimensions of John Williamson Nevin s Theology of Incarnation Eugene OR Wipf amp Stock Hart DG 2005 John Williamson Nevin High Church Calvinist Phillipsburg P amp R Kremer A R 1890 A Biographical Sketch of John Williamson Nevin Nevin John W 1991 Hein David ed The Letters to William R Whittingham High Church Episcopal bishop of Maryland Anglican and Episcopal History 60 197 211 Schneck B S 1874 Mercersburg Theology Inconsistent with Protestant and Reformed Doctrine Philadelphia JB Lippincott amp Co A contemporaneous critique of Nevin s theology written by the editor of The Reformed Church Magazine External links Edit Nevin John Williamson The American Cyclopaedia 1879 John Williamson Nevin Collection 13 vols Faithlife Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title John Williamson Nevin amp oldid 1149441485, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
