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Justification by Faith

John Owen

John Owen (1616-1683) was an important theologian, minister, and advocate of the congregational form of church government in England. Educated at Oxford, he was a confessed Puritan, seeking reform in the established Church as a parish minister (1643-51). At first a presbyterian, he became an "Independent" congregationalist, or "Nonconformist", and rose in influence with the parliamentary rebellion of Cromwell, being appointed vice-chancellor of Oxford. After 1660, he continued to write and lead in support of nonconformity with the English Church as a congregational minister in London.

A reaffirmation and defense of the great Reformation doctrine.

This treatise, published in 1677, is a significant reaffirmation of the key Protestant doctrine – justification by faith, through grace. In particular, Owen refutes the Catholic Counter-Reformation theologian Bellarmine and the anti-Trinitarian Socinus, while at the same time demonstrating the evangelical and apostolic core of the teaching. He begins with a series of "General Considerations" followed by a careful exposition in twenty chapters.

Church History

Puritan