John Witherspoon’s Forgotten “Lectures On History And Chronology”: Recognizing The Important Role Of History In The Development Of His Thought And Theology For Navigating Eighteenth-Century Late Protestant Scholasticism, Revivalism, And Enlightenment -- By: Robert S. Null
Journal: Westminster Theological Journal
Volume: WTJ 73:2 (Fall 2011)
Article: John Witherspoon’s Forgotten “Lectures On History And Chronology”: Recognizing The Important Role Of History In The Development Of His Thought And Theology For Navigating Eighteenth-Century Late Protestant Scholasticism, Revivalism, And Enlightenment
Author: Robert S. Null
John Witherspoon’s Forgotten “Lectures On History And Chronology”: Recognizing The Important Role Of History In The Development Of His Thought And Theology For Navigating Eighteenth-Century Late Protestant Scholasticism, Revivalism, And Enlightenment
Scholarly interest in the writings of John Witherspoon can be broken down into three major periods. The first is marked by collection and assimilation (1764-1835), the second by historical recognition (1835-1935), and the third by deeper critical study and analysis (1935–present). Witherspoon as propagator of Scottish common sense philosophy in America is one of the most common pursuits in scholarly literature. To support and develop this interest, a greater degree of attention has been given to Witherspoon’s lectures regarding moral philosophy and criticism (eloquence), relatively less to his lectures expounding divinity, and almost none to his lectures covering history and chronology. Due to this limited focus, Witherspoon’s work as a theologian has been neglected and his work as a historian has gone virtually unnoticed. A review of class notes of Princeton graduates from the time of James Madison (1769-1771) until a few years beyond Witherspoon’s death (1794) led to the discovery of four unstudied manuscripts of his lectures regarding history and chronology. Analysis of these manuscripts produced the first critical edition of his “Lectures on History and Chronology.” These forgotten lectures reveal an interest by Witherspoon to examine antiquity in the flowing context of redemptive history, simultaneously recognizing the importance of salvation history and the progress of general history maintained and guided by providence. Further examination of Witherspoon’s writings revealed the important role of history in his theological advancement. Witherspoon prioritized the historic and economic dynamic in the life of the Christian necessary to obtain real knowledge, emphasized the redemptive-historical character of salvation that achieves union with Christ, and downplayed exhaustive metaphysics in favor of the progressive and unfolding nature of God’s work in the world. The relationship of history to theology became foundational for Witherspoon not simply as an extension of late Protestant scholasticism, an expression of Christian piety, or an excessive reliance on, or aversion toward, a specific enlightenment philosophy. In his writings, theology itself was undergoing change, and specifically in Witherspoon’s case, toward integrating an important awareness of history. This awareness demonstrates the importance of history very early in the rise of Princeton theology.
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