<abstract xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">In Romans 4:13, Paul characterizes God's promise to Abraham as the inheritance of the world. This promise, Paul argues, extends to Abraham's descendants, not according to the flesh, but to all who believe in the one who raised Jesus from the dead (Rom 4:25). What does it mean for believers to be heirs of God's promise to ‘inherit the world’? This article considers God's promise in light of the apostle's confidence in the reconciliation of the whole world and the renewal of creation, and also in the context of the hymns and sermons of Charles and John Wesley. The promise to inherit the world indicates that God has not abandoned God's creation, but is actively engaged in redeeming it. This article was originally presented as a paper at the 2018 Oxford Institute of Methodist Theological Studies.</abstract>

‘Finish Then Thy New Creation’: God's Promise to Inherit the World

<abstract xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">This article explores the connection between social holiness and social justice. It accepts the view of Andrew C Thompson that ‘social holiness’ in Methodist history has a distinctive meaning which was not linked to, and quite different from, the notion of social justice. However, it argues that encountering grace was not restricted to the gathering of Christians in Wesley's theology or practice and that missional engagement opens another channel or means of grace. Acts of mercy are themselves expressions of and encounters with holiness, so that holiness will lead us to justice and justice to holiness. Social holiness and social justice are, thus, part of a divine ecology where one follows the other in the rhythm of discipleship.</abstract>

Social Holiness and Social Justice

<abstract xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">John Wesley considered the slave trade to be a national disgrace. However, while the American Methodist Church had initially made bold declarations concerning the evils of slavery, the practical application of this principled opposition was seriously compromised, obstructed by the leviathan of the plantation economy prominent in this period of American history. This paper surveys a variety of Methodist responses to slavery and race, exploring the dialectical germination of ideas like holiness, liberty and equality within the realities of the Antebellum context.</abstract>

John Wesley and Methodist Responses to Slavery in America

<abstract xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">This article addresses the relationship between experience and belief, focusing on the role of science in the debate between secular Humanism and Christianity. It suggests that the possibility of appropriating experience to belief – taking action to bring experience into line with belief – distinguishes spiritual belief from systematic belief (in which the object is independent of beliefs about it); but that the boundary between these two forms of belief is itself a matter of (metaphysical) belief. Understanding science and religion, Humanism and Christianity in relationship to systematic and spiritual belief-structures helps to bring clarity to the debate.</abstract>

Assimilation, Accommodation and Appropriation: Three attitudes to truth in science and religion

AHEAD OF PRINT

Volume 9 (2024): Issue 1 (April 2024)

Volume 8 (2023): Issue 3 (December 2023)

Volume 8 (2023): Issue 2 (August 2023)

Volume 8 (2023): Issue 1 (April 2023)

Volume 7 (2021): Issue 2 (December 2021)

Volume 7 (2021): Issue 1 (January 2021)

Volume 6 (2020): Issue 1 (January 2020)

Volume 5 (2019): Issue 1 (January 2019)

Volume 4 (2018): Issue 1 (January 2018)

Volume 3 (2017): Issue 2 (June 2017)

Volume 3 (2017): Issue 1 (January 2017)

Volume 2 (2016): Issue 3 (December 2016)

Volume 2 (2016): Issue 2 (June 2016)

Volume 2 (2016): Issue 1 (January 2016)

Volume 1 (2015): Issue 2 (June 2015)

Volume 1 (2015): Issue 1 (January 2015)

Holiness

 Holiness is an international journal of Wesleyan theology, published by Wesley House, Cambridge. The journal is dedicated to resourcing and extending the learning of the global Wesleyan/Methodist family, with a particular emphasis on decolonising theological scholarship. Holiness is an open access theological publication, providing an online platform for established and emerging scholars and practitioners in the Wesleyan/Methodist tradition from around the world. The journal publishes peer-reviewed articles in the fields of practical, contextual, biblical, and systematic theology.   Holiness: An International Journal of Wesleyan Theology is an open access platform that aims to resource the global Wesleyan/Methodist family for the transformation of church and world.  Holiness seeks to be    deliberately conversant with the Wesleyan/Methodist theological tradition  globally competent and decolonising in ethos  critically reflective on contemporary contexts  appropriately attentive to the praxis of holiness  creatively expressive of the tradition, while developing it through original research   The journal is read by practitioners and scholars around the world, and assumes a master’s level interest in theology. Readers are likely to be Methodist or Wesleyan in sympathy, but, of course, may also include those critical of the Wesleyan tradition.  The journal is ‘decolonising’ in ethos, in recognition that no particular ecclesial, theological or academic context is the judge and arbiter of all experience. Contributions from the global South as well as the global North are brought together in each issue of Holiness as one aspect of the journal’s commitment to this decolonising task.  Rooted in the Wesleyan tradition, Holiness is especially interested in the lived experience of Christian faith in different contexts around the world, and seeks to contribute to the development of a variety of contextually appropriate, theologically informed practices of holiness.  Articles published by Holiness present original research or offer exemplary reflection on issues in biblical, contextual, pastoral, practical and systematic theology. Some articles provide surveys of academic or practical fields of theological research, while others explore, extend and apply the Wesleyan tradition in particular contexts. Some articles bring insights and methods from other disciplines into conversation with Wesleyan theology and the practice of ministry in the global Methodist family, while others offer devotional exploration of Wesleyan themes. All articles are peer-reviewed and the journal as a whole seeks to contribute to the ongoing scholarly life of the Wesleyan/Methodist family.  Archiving  Sciendo archives the contents of this journal in Portico - digital long-term preservation service of scholarly books, journals and collections.  Plagiarism Policy  The editorial board is participating in a growing community of Similarity Check System's users in order to ensure that the content published is original and trustworthy. Similarity Check is a medium that allows for comprehensive manuscripts screening, aimed to eliminate plagiarism and provide a high standard and quality peer-review process. 