Amazing Love! How Can It Be: Studies on Hymns by Charles Wesley
Ebook
The present collection of essays examines specific texts by Charles Wesley in multiple dimensions (theological, poetical, historical, biographical, etc.), demonstrating both the profound nature of the hymns and their continued relevance for Christians today. The discussions are organized by theological/liturgical topics, and each essay treats us to the hymn in its complete original form (noting significant variants as necessary), explains the historical context of its composition, provides a theological interpretation, and relates it to the life and faith of the believer. In the pages of this book, the reader will find both information and inspiration. Scholars of hymnody and of Charles Wesley will appreciate the depth of inquiry in the chapters. Just as importantly, laypersons and hymn lovers (as well as scholars) will find much spiritual benefit from the study of hymns they know and love, as well as texts with which they may be less familiar. This exploration of these profound hymns will surely lead to a deeper understanding of the "amazing love" responsible for changing the course of Charles Wesley's life, who in turn changed the course of Christian worship. With contributions from: Steve Weaver Jonathan A. Powers Patrick A. Eby Christopher P. McFadden C. Michael Hawn Josh Dear Joe Harrod Paul W. Chilcote Roger D. Duke Michael A.G. Haykin Margaret Garrett Jim Scott Orrick
“This is a place where hymnologists and church historians
congregate for fruitful spiritual reflection. And . . . these
essays reflectively walk the reader, step by step, down the
Christian way from conversion to and through holy living.”
—John R. Tyson, Professor of Church History, Director of Methodist
Studies, Colgate Rochester Crozer Divinity School
“Amazing Love! How Can It Be is a well-written and
informative book—but more than that. With keen insights of history,
this collection of studies on the hymns by Charles Wesley is
heart-warming, spiritually edifying, and God-glorifying. The themes
explored, such as conversion, spiritual struggle, Christ’s
incarnation and resurrection, sanctification, and prayer of
evangelism, serve the church, musicians, and the academy in new and
refreshing ways.”
—Adriaan C. Neele, Professor of Historical Theology, Director of
the Doctoral Program, Puritan Reformed Theological Seminary
“This book represents a significant addition to the scholarly
literature on Wesley’s hymns. It places twelve hymns in historical
context, referring to other religious and literary texts
(especially the Bible), events in Wesley’s life, Wesley’s
correspondence and journal entries, eighteenth-century hymnbooks,
and modern scholarship.”
—Joseph Herl, Professor of Music, Concordia University,
Nebraska
“One of the best ways of studying the hymns of Charles Wesley is
through a detailed commentary on individual hymns. This book will
be a very useful contribution to an understanding of his art and
his theology.”
—J. R. Watson, Emeritus Professor of English, University of Durham;
co-editor of The Canterbury Dictionary of Hymnology
- Title: Amazing Love! How Can It Be: Studies on Hymns by Charles Wesley
- Authors: Chris Fenner, Brian G. Najapfour, David W. Music
- Publisher: Resource Publications
- Print Publication Date: 2020
- Logos Release Date: 2020
- Language: English
- Resources: 1
- Format: Digital › Ebook
- ISBNs: 9781725264779, 9781725264755, 9781725264762, 1725264773, 1725264757, 1725264765
- Resource ID: LLS:9781725264779
- Resource Type: Monograph
- Metadata Last Updated: 2022-09-29T20:21:53Z
Chris Fenner is digital archivist at the Southern Baptist
Theological Seminary and is associate minister of music at Green
Street Baptist Church, Louisville, KY. He has degrees in music
education, worship studies, and library science. Chris has
contributed articles to The Hymn: A Journal of Congregational
Song, has produced new editions of The Psalms, Hymns, and
Spiritual Songs of Isaac Watts and Our Own Hymn-Book by
Charles Spurgeon, and is managing editor of
HymnologyArchive.com.
Brian G. Najapfour holds a ThM degree in historical theology from
Puritan Reformed Theological Seminary, Grand Rapids, MI. He has
been a minister of the gospel since 2001 and has served both in the
Philippines and the United States. He is the author of numerous
books, including Amazing Grace, the first part of the series
called “Stories behind Favorite Hymns for Ages 3 to 6.” He and his
wife Sarah have four children.