Richard Hooker and Reformed Theology: A Study of Reason, Will, and Grace (Oxford Theological Monographs)

## Abstract For many years, Richard Hooker (1554–1600) has traditionally been seen as the first systematic defender of Anglicanism, setting out in Elizabeth I’s reign the English Church’s position as a via media between Roman Catholicism and Reformed Protestantism. In the last twenty years, however, the old consensus has crumbled and revisionists have argued with increasing strength that Hooker should be viewed as a thoroughly Reformed theologian – a defender of the Elizabethan Reformed consensus against radicals like the puritans. Dr Voak takes issue with this interpretation, arguing that although Hooker started out in the Reformed mainstream, in his later writings he became highly critical of a wide range of fundamentally Reformed positions. Taking as his starting point philosophical principles underlying Hooker’s theology, such as the freedom of the will and the concomitant resistibility of grace, Dr Voak moves on to consider Hooker’s views on such matters as original sin and human nature, justification and sanctification, the doctrine of merit and the religious authority of scripture, reason, and tradition. The book ends with an examination of Hooker’s manuscripts written shortly before his death, in which he defends his theology from the charge that it is contrary to the Thirty-Nine Articles. Throughout, Hooker’s writings are carefully placed in the context of contemporary Reformed theology, and Dr Voak accounts for how Hooker was able to advance criticism of this religious tradition in Elizabethan England under the cloak of an attack on puritanism. Hooker emerges as a conservative who paradoxically came to occupy a remarkably individual, innovative position at a time of transition in the English Church. "For many years Richard Hooker (1554-1600) has traditionally been seen as the first systematic defender of Anglicanism, setting out in Elizabeth I's reign the English Church's position as a via media between Roman Catholicism and Reformed Protestantism. In the last twenty years, however, the old consensus has crumbled and revisionists have argued with increasing strength that Hooker should be viewed as a thoroughly Reformed theologian - a defender of the Elizabethan Reformed consensus against radicals like the puritans. Dr. Voak takes issue with this interpretation, arguing that although Hooker started out in the Reformed mainstream, in his later writings he became highly critical of a wide range of fundamentally Reformed positions." "Taking as his starting point philosophical principles underlying Hooker's theology, such as the freedom of the will and the concomitant resistibility of grace, Dr. Voak moves on to consider Hooker's views on such matters as original sin and human nature, justification and sanctification, the doctrine of merit and the religious authority of scripture, reason, and tradition. The book ends with an examination of Hooker's manuscripts written shortly before his death, in which he defends his theology from the charge that it is contrary to the Thirty-Nine Articles." "Throughout, Hooker's writings are carefully placed in the context of contemporary Reformed theology, and Dr. Voak accounts for how Hooker was able to advance criticism of this religious tradition in Elizabethan England, under the cloak of an attack on puritanism. Hooker emerges as a conservative who paradoxically came to occupy a remarkably individual, innovative position, at a time of transition in the English Church."--BOOK JACKET Richard Hooker (1554-1600) has traditionally been seen as the first systematic defender of an Anglican via media between Rome and Geneva. Revisionists have argued recently, however, that Hooker was in fact a thoroughly Reformed theologian. Dr Voak takes issue with this interpretation, arguing that Hooker over time became highly critical of numerous Reformed positions. Beginning with philosophical principles underlying Hooker's theology (e.g. free will, resistibility of grace), the book then considers issues such as original sin, justification and sanctification, merit and the religious authority of scripture, reason, and tradition. Finally, Hooker's late manuscripts are examined, in which he defends himself from the charge of heresy.

richard Hooker (1554-1600) Is One Of The Greatest Theologians Of The Church Of England. In The Light Of Fierce Recent Debate, This Book Argues Vigorously Against The New Orthodoxy That Hooker Was A Reformed Or Calvinist Theologian. In So Doing It Considers Such Central Religious Questions As Human Freedom, Original Sin, Whether People Can Deserve Salvation, And The Nature Of Religious Authority.

Richard Hooker (1554-1600) is one of the greatest theologians of the Church of England. In the light of fierce recent debate, this book argues against the new orthodoxy that Hooker was a Reformed or Calvinist theologian. It considers such central religious questions as human freedom and original sin