John Owen
Biography of John Owen
Full Name and Common Aliases
John Owen, often referred to simply as Owen, was a prominent figure in the 17th century. He is sometimes known as "The Prince of Puritans" due to his significant influence in Puritan theology and his leadership within the English church.
Birth and Death Dates
John Owen was born in 1616 and passed away on August 24, 1683. His life spanned a period of great religious and political upheaval in England, which deeply influenced his work and legacy.
Nationality and Profession(s)
John Owen was an English theologian, pastor, and academic administrator. He was a leading Puritan minister and a prolific writer whose works have had a lasting impact on Reformed theology.
Early Life and Background
John Owen was born in Stadhampton, Oxfordshire, England, into a devout Puritan family. His father, Henry Owen, was a minister, which provided John with a strong religious foundation from an early age. Owen was a precocious child, and by the age of 12, he was enrolled at Queen's College, Oxford. He completed his Bachelor of Arts degree in 1632 and his Master of Arts degree in 1635. His early education was marked by a rigorous study of classical languages and literature, which would later inform his theological writings.
Major Accomplishments
John Owen's career was marked by significant accomplishments both in academia and in the church. He served as the Vice-Chancellor of the University of Oxford from 1652 to 1657, a period during which he implemented reforms that emphasized Puritan values and academic rigor. Owen was also a key figure in the English Civil War, serving as a chaplain to Oliver Cromwell and accompanying him on military campaigns in Ireland and Scotland.
Owen's theological contributions were substantial. He was a staunch defender of Reformed orthodoxy and engaged in numerous theological debates of his time. His works on the doctrine of the Trinity, the atonement, and the nature of the church were particularly influential.
Notable Works or Actions
John Owen was a prolific writer, and his literary output includes some of the most important theological works of the 17th century. Among his notable works are "The Death of Death in the Death of Christ," a treatise on the atonement, and "Of Communion with God," which explores the believer's relationship with the Trinity. His "Discourse on the Holy Spirit" is another seminal work that has been widely studied and referenced.
Owen was also involved in the Savoy Conference of 1661, which sought to revise the Church of England's liturgy and governance. Although the conference did not achieve its goals, Owen's participation underscored his commitment to church reform and his influence in ecclesiastical matters.
Impact and Legacy
John Owen's impact on theology and the church is profound and enduring. His writings have been a source of inspiration and guidance for generations of theologians, pastors, and laypeople. Owen's emphasis on the sovereignty of God, the centrality of Christ's atonement, and the work of the Holy Spirit has shaped Reformed theology and continues to resonate in contemporary theological discussions.
Owen's legacy is also evident in his role as an educator and reformer. His tenure at Oxford set a precedent for academic excellence and religious devotion that influenced subsequent generations of scholars and clergy.
Why They Are Widely Quoted or Remembered
John Owen is widely quoted and remembered for his deep theological insights and his ability to articulate complex doctrines with clarity and precision. His works are considered classics of Puritan literature and are frequently cited in discussions of Reformed theology. Owen's writings on the nature of sin, grace, and redemption have provided comfort and challenge to believers seeking to understand their faith more deeply.
Owen's life and work exemplify the Puritan ideal of a life devoted to the glory of God and the pursuit of holiness. His commitment to theological truth and his pastoral heart have made him a beloved figure in the history of the church. As a result, his quotes continue to inspire and provoke thought among those who seek to live out their faith with integrity and passion.
Quotes by John Owen
John Owen's insights on:
Do you mortify? Do you make it your daily work? Be always at it whilst you live; cease not a day from this work; be killing sin or it will be killing you.
All other ways of mortification are vain, all helps leave us helpless, it must be done by the Spirit.
He can make the dry parched ground of my soul to become a pool and my thirsty barren heart as springs of water. Yes he can make this habitation of dragons this heart which is so full of abominable lusts and fiery temptations to be a place of bounty and fruitfulness unto Himself.
Suppose a man to be a true believer, and yet finds in himself a powerful indwelling sin, leading him captive to the law of it, consuming his heart with trouble, perplexing his thoughts, weakening his soul as to duties of communion with God, disquieting him as to peace, and perhaps defiling his conscience, and exposing him to hardening through the deceitfulness of sin, – what.
The stronghold of the contemplation of Christ’s glory affords the soul rest, for it will be made evident that our troubles grow on the root of an over-valuation of temporal things. The mind is its own greatest troubler.
Mortification is the soul’s vigorous opposition to self, wherein sincerity is most evident.
We do not have the ability in ourselves to accomplish the least of God’s tasks. This is a law of grace. When we recognize it is impossible for us to perform a duty in our own strength, we will discover the secret of its accomplishment. But alas, this is a secret we often fail to discover.
Selfishness is the making a man’s self his own centre, the beginning and end of all he doeth.
If I have observed anything by experience, it is this: a man may take the measure of his growth and decay in grace according to his thoughts and meditations upon the person of Christ, and the glory of Christ’s Kingdom, and of His love.