Biography:
John Wesley (
/ˈwɛsli, ˈwɛzli/;
[1] 28 June [
O.S. 17 June] 1703 – 2 March 1791) was an
Anglican cleric and
Christian theologian who, with his brother
Charles Wesley and fellow cleric
George Whitefield, is credited with the foundation of the
evangelical movement known as
Methodism. His work and writings also played a leading role in the development of the
Holiness movement and
Pentecostalism.
[2][3]
A key step in the development of Wesley's ministry was, like Whitefield, to travel and
preach outdoors. In contrast to Whitefield's
Calvinism, however, Wesley embraced the
Arminian doctrines that dominated the
Church of England at the time. Moving across Great Britain, North America and Ireland, he helped to form and organise small Christian groups that developed intensive and personal accountability,
discipleship and religious instruction. Most importantly, he appointed itinerant, unordained
evangelists to travel and preach as he did and to care for these groups of people. Under Wesley's direction, Methodists became leaders in many social issues of the day, including
prison reform and
abolitionism.
Although he was not a
systematic theologian, Wesley argued for the notion of
Christian perfection and against Calvinism – and, in particular, against its doctrine of
predestination. He held that, in this life, Christians could achieve a state where the
love of God "reigned supreme in their hearts", giving them
outward holiness. His evangelicalism, firmly grounded in
sacramental theology, maintained that
means of grace were the manner by which God
sanctifies and transforms the believer, encouraging people to experience
Jesus Christ personally.
Throughout his life, Wesley remained within the
established Anglican church, insisting that the Methodist movement lay well within its tradition.
[4] Although sometimes maverick in his interpretation and use of church policy, he became widely respected and, by the end of his life, had been described as "the best loved man in England".
[5]