Retrieving Catholicity in American Protestantism

“John Williamson Nevin thought deeply throughout the latter part of his career about the theological meaning of history and the theoretical foundations of historical writing. Michael J. Stell’s masterly editing enables us to see the changes and continuities in Nevin’s thinking about historical development. A critical but appreciative interpreter of German philosophical idealism, Nevin challenged the philosophical assumptions of the nineteenth-century denominational histories and called for a broader view of history within American churches. His challenge echoes even today.”


—E. Brooks Holifield, author of Theology in America: Christian Thought from the Age of the Puritans to the Civil War





“In this collection of essays, John Williamson Nevin advances a theory of historical development and insists upon the intimate connections between Roman Catholic precedent and contemporary Protestant practice. The volume is graced with a meticulous introduction by editor Michael J. Stell, who also provides concise prefaces to each individual section of the book. With Nevin’s insistence upon what really happened over against a self-serving lore, these essays contribute to ongoing debates about what is real and what is fake.”


—Theodore Louis Trost, professor in religious studies, The University of Alabama





“Michael J. Stell’s meticulously and judiciously edited volume illumines the uniqueness of John Williamson Nevin’s theology of history. These essays by Nevin show how he challenged prevailing nineteenth-century American assumptions about the disjunction of Protestantism and its Roman Catholic ancestry. Nevin’s writings subverted Protestant myths of a faithful remnant of true Christians that finally became overt and blossomed during the Reformation era. Critically using some of the methods of German historiography, Nevin paved the way for a more ecumenical appreciation of the evolving nature of Christian traditions.”


—Lee C. Barrett, professor of theology, Lancaster Theological Seminary





“As a theological and historical reality, the nature of the church necessarily provokes reflection on the theology of history itself, including the complex phenomenon of theological development. It may in fact be here where John Williamson Nevin’s lively and vigorous work is most timely for us today, for the recent revival of interest in Reformed catholicity—if it is to be effective in remedying the dangers of both historicism and biblicism—must advance a robust theology of Scripture in relation to the church. For this reason and others, the appearance of this latest collection of Nevin’s writings is not only most welcome but also a summons to press on in the exploration of questions that remain as fresh and important as ever.”


—Mark A. Garcia, associate professor of systematic theology, Westminster Theological Seminary