Meet The Puritans

A Warning from Owen to Students

Posted on 17. Sep, 2009 by Mark Jones.

The nature of engaging in theological discourse and reflection was an important topic for the Puritans.  John Owen, in Theologoumena (“Biblical Theology”), suggests that students of theology should be aware that in their reading and meditation, “the all-holy God is, in a special manner, close to him as he works” (699).  God speaks to us in his Word no less directly than if he spoke audibly from heaven.  As a result, we should be overcome with humility and conduct our studies with appropriate reverence.  The same exhortation might prove valuable for those who write and comment on blogs.

Owen continues: “Wherever fear and caution have not infused the student’s heart, God is despised.  His pleasure is only to dwell in hearts which tremble at His Word.  Light or frivolous perusal of the Scriptures is a sickness of soul which leads on to the death of atheism” (699). [...]

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