The Rise of Evangelicalism: The Age of Edwards, Whitefield and the Wesleys (A History of Evangelicalism)

Winner of a Christianity Today 2005 Book Award! The word evangelical is widely used and widely misunderstood. Where did evangelicals come from? What motivated them? How did their influence become so widespread throughout the world during the eighteenth century? In this paper edition of this inaugural book in a series that charts the course of English-speaking evangelicalism over the last 300 years, Mark Noll offers a multinational narrative of the origin, development and rapid diffusion of evangelical movements in their first two generations. Theology, hymnody, gender, warfare, politics and science are all taken into consideration. But the focus is on the landmark individuals, events and organizations that shaped the story of the beginnings of this vibrant Christian movement. The revivals in Britain and North America in the mid-eighteenth century proved to be foundational in the development of the movement, its ethos, beliefs and subsequent direction. In these revivals, the core commitments of evangelicals were formed that continue to this day. In this volume you will find the fascinating story of their formation, their strengths and their weaknesses, but always their dynamism. "This volume provides a coherent; multi-national narrative of the origins, development and rapid diffusion of evangelical movements in their first two generations, from the 1730s to the 1790s. The primary focus is on Britain and North America, historical links to Europe and then connections to Africa, Australia and beyond are also important. Much of the discussion is devoted to landmark individuals, events and organizations, and contains many biographical sketches of the era's best-known leaders - Jonathan Edwards. John and Charles Wesley, George Whitefield, Selina, Countess of Huntingdon, John Newton, Hannah More - along with many lesser-known figures."--BOOK JACKET