John Owen (theologian) facts for kids

Quick facts for kids John Owen
Born	1616 Stadhampton, Oxfordshire, England
Died	August 1683 (aged 66–67) Ealing, Middlesex
Occupation	Theologian, pastor, academic administrator
Notable work	Communion with God, The Mortification of Sin, The Divine Power of the Gospel, The Death of Death in the Death of Christ
Spouse(s)	Mary Rooke
Theological work
Era	17th century
Tradition or movement	Nonconformist Puritan Reformed Theology
Notable ideas	Individual and distinct worship of each of the persons of the Trinity as found in his book, Communion with God; his undisputed work on the extent and purpose of Christ's atonement in The Death of Death in the Death of Christ

John Owen (1616–24 August 1683) was an important English church leader, a theologian (someone who studies religion), and a university leader at the University of Oxford. He was known for being a Nonconformist, meaning he didn't follow the rules of the official Church of England.

He was also briefly a member of parliament for Oxford University. He served in the First Protectorate Parliament from 1654 to 1655.

Early Life and Education

John Owen was born in 1616 in Stadhampton, a village in Oxfordshire, England. His family had roots in Wales. He went to Queen's College, Oxford, where he earned his first degree in 1632 and a master's degree in 1635.

He grew up as a Puritan. Puritans were a group of Protestants who wanted to "purify" the Church of England from practices they thought were too much like the Roman Catholic Church. In 1637, new rules at Oxford made him leave. He then worked as a chaplain and tutor for noble families.

When the English Civil War began, Owen supported the Parliament against the King. Because of this, he lost his job and also lost the chance to inherit money from his uncle, who supported the King.

His first book, The Display of Arminianism (1642), strongly defended Calvinism. These were two different ways of thinking about how God saves people. This book helped him get a job as a minister in Fordham, Essex.

In 1644, Owen married Mary Rooke. They had 11 children, but sadly, ten of them died when they were very young. Their only daughter who survived to adulthood later died from consumption. After Mary died in 1675, Owen married Dorothy D'Oyley, who was a wealthy widow.

Career and Influence

In 1646, John Owen gave a sermon to the Long Parliament, which was the English Parliament at the time. In his sermon, he showed that he was moving away from the Presbyterianism church system towards the Congregational system. This system meant that each local church should govern itself.

He became a pastor in Coggeshall, Essex. In 1647, he wrote another important book called The Death of Death in the Death of Christ. This book led to many discussions with another famous theologian, Richard Baxter.

Owen became friends with Fairfax, a military leader. He also preached to Parliament the day after King Charles I was executed, but he did not directly mention the event.

Working with Oliver Cromwell

Another sermon Owen gave in 1649 impressed Oliver Cromwell, who was a very powerful leader in England. Cromwell took Owen with him to Ireland as his chaplain to help organize Trinity College, Dublin. In 1650, Owen also went with Cromwell on his military campaign in Scotland.

In 1651, Cromwell, who was the head of Oxford University, made Owen the dean of Christ Church Cathedral, Oxford. In 1652, Owen became the Vice-Chancellor of Oxford University. This meant he was in charge of running the university.

During his eight years at Oxford, Owen was a strict leader. He made sure things were done properly. He also wrote many books during this time, including Communion with God (1657) and On the Mortification of Sin in Believers (1656).

Political Involvement

Besides his work at the university and his writing, Owen was often involved in government affairs. In 1654, he was a member of parliament for Oxford University for a short time. He also helped decide what basic beliefs were needed for religious freedom.

Owen was a strong supporter of Oliver Cromwell. However, he wasn't afraid to disagree with Cromwell when he thought it was right. For example, he helped write a petition against Cromwell becoming king.

When Oliver Cromwell died in 1658, his son Richard Cromwell took over. Owen lost his position as Vice-Chancellor of Oxford University. In 1658, Owen helped create the Savoy Declaration, which was an important statement of beliefs for Congregational churches.

After the monarchy was restored in 1660, Owen lost his deanery at Christ Church. He moved back to Stadham and continued to write. Even though he was a Nonconformist, many important people respected his intelligence.

Facing Challenges

In 1661, a book called Fiat Lux was published, which praised Roman Catholicism and criticized Protestant churches. At the request of Clarendon, a leading statesman, Owen wrote a response in 1662 called Animadversions. This book was very successful. Owen was offered a high position in the Church of England if he would conform, but he refused unless all who disagreed with the Church of England were given freedom.

In 1663, churches in Boston, Massachusetts, invited Owen to be their minister, but he declined. Laws like the Conventicle Act and Five Mile Act made it difficult for Nonconformists to preach. So, in 1666, after the Great Fire of London, Owen started a congregation in London. Many of its members were former officers from Cromwell's army.

Owen continued to write many books, including a large work on the Epistle to the Hebrews and Practical Exposition upon Psalm 130 (1668). He also wrote a letter to Congregationalists in New England in 1669, telling them not to persecute others.

When the Conventicle Acts were brought back in 1670, Owen helped write a protest paper for the House of Lords. Around this time, Harvard College and some Dutch universities invited him to be their president, but he turned them down.

When King Charles II allowed more religious freedom in 1672, Owen wrote a thank you message. Owen was also one of the first preachers at new weekly lectures held by Independents and Presbyterians. Both King Charles II and his brother King James II showed him support. Charles II even gave him money to help Nonconformists who were suffering under the strict laws. Owen was able to help get John Bunyan, a famous writer, released from prison.

Later Life and Legacy

From 1674 until 1680, Owen continued his ministry and writing. Some of his later important works include On Apostasy (1676) and On the Holy Spirit (1677–1678).

In 1680, a clergyman named Edward Stillingfleet gave a sermon criticizing Nonconformists. Owen defended them in his book Brief Vindication. He continued writing until his death.

John Owen died on 24 August 1683, at Ealing. He was buried on 4 September 1683, in Bunhill Fields.

Works in print

As of 2007^[update], many of Owen's numerous works are still available today:

• Communion with God, Christian Heritage. ISBN: 1-84550-209-4.
• Works of John Owen (2000). On CD-ROM from Ages Software. ISBN: 5-550-03299-6. Of the Integrity and Purity of the Hebrew and Greek Text of the Scripture; with Considerations on the Prolegomena and Appendix to the Late "Biblia Polyglotta," in vol. IX, The Works of John Owen, ed. Gould, William H, & Quick, Charles W., Philadelphia, PA: Leighton Publications, (1865)
• Collected Works in 16 Volumes from the Banner of Truth Trust. ISBN: 0-85151-392-1.
• Commentary on Hebrews in 7 volumes from the Banner of Truth Trust. ISBN: 0-85151-619-X.
• The Mortification of Sin, Christian Heritage Publishers. ISBN: 1-85792-107-0.
• Biblical Theology: The History of Theology From Adam to Christ or The Nature, Origin, Development, and Study of Theological Truth, In Six Books, Soli Deo Gloria Ministries. ISBN: 1-877611-83-2.
• Sin & Temptation: The Challenge to Personal Godliness. An abridgement by James M. Houston for modern readers of two of Owen's works. ISBN: 1-55661-830-1.
• The Glory of Christ: His Office and His Grace. ISBN: 1-85792-474-6.
• John Owen on Temptation - The Nature and Power of it, The Danger of Entering it and the Means of Preventing the Danger, Diggory Press, ISBN: 978-1-84685-749-2
• The Death of Death in the Death of Christ, Diggory Press, ISBN: 978-1-84685-740-9
• The Divine Power of the Gospel, Diggory Press, ISBN: 978-1-84685-740-9
• A Dissertation on Divine Justice, Diggory Press, ISBN: 978-1-84685-785-0
• Gospel Grounds and Evidences of the Faith of God's Elect, Diggory Press, ISBN: 978-1-84685-757-7
• John Owen on The Holy Spirit - The Spirit and Regeneration (Book III of Pneumatologia), Diggory Press, ISBN: 978-1-84685-810-9
• John Owen on The Holy Spirit - The Spirit as a Comforter (Book VIII of Pneumatologia), Diggory Press, ISBN: 978-1-84685-750-8
• John Owen on The Holy Spirit - The Spirit and Prayer (Book VII of Pneumatologia), Diggory Press, ISBN: 978-1-84685-752-2
• John Owen on The Holy Spirit - The Spiritual Gifts (Book IX of Pneumatologia), Diggory Press, ISBN: 978-1-84685-751-5
• The Oxford Orations of Dr. John Owen. Ed. Peter Toon. Trans. [from the Latin] supervised by John Glucker. Callington (Cornwall): Gospel Communication. 1971. ISBN: 9780950125213 Online edition.
• A Brief Declaration and Vindication of the Doctrine of the Trinity, as also of the Person and Satisfaction of Christ (1699) - a refutation of Socinianism, in particular against the teaching of John Biddle.

Secondary works

Many popular and academic books about John Owen's ideas have been published recently. This shows that people are still interested in his thoughts and how they apply today. Here are some examples:

• D. Baarssen 'Owen in een Nederlandsch gewaat Enkele opmerkingen over de receptie van geschriften van John Owen (1616–1683) door Alexander Comrie (1706–1774)' in Documentatieblad Nadere Reformatie, 38 (2014) no. 1, pp. 27–45. ISSN 0165-4349.
• Martyn Cowan (2017). John Owen and the Civil War Apocalypse. ISBN: 978-1-138-08776-7.
• Lee Gatiss (2008). From Life's First Cry: John Owen on Infant Baptism and Infant Salvation. ISBN: 978-0-946307-70-8.
• Crawford Gribben (2016). John Owen and English Puritanism: Experiences of Defeat. ISBN: 0190860790
• Alan Spence (2007). Incarnation and Inspiration: John Owen and the Coherence of Christology.
• Kelly Kapic (2007). Communion with God: The Divine and the Human in the Theology of John Owen.
• Carl R. Trueman (2007). John Owen: Reformed Catholic, Renasissance Man. ISBN: 978-0754614708
• Robert W. Oliver, ed. (2002). John Owen: The Man and His Theology. ISBN: 0-87552-674-8.
• Steve Griffiths (2001). Redeem the Time: Sin in the Writings of John Owen. ISBN: 1-85792-655-2.
• Carl R. Trueman (1998). The Claims of Truth: John Owen's Trinitarian Theology. ISBN: 0-85364-798-4.
• J. I. Packer (1994). A Quest for Godliness: The Puritan Vision of the Christian Life. ISBN: 0-89107-819-3. Contains several chapters related to Owen, whom Packer says was one of the three great influences in his life.
• Sinclair B. Ferguson (1987). John Owen on the Christian Life. ISBN: 0-85151-503-7.
• Peter Toon (1971). God's Statesman: Life and Work of John Owen. ISBN: 0-85364-133-1.

Images for kids

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  John Owen in a frontispiece.