248. David Rathel on Andrew Fuller

In this episode, we welcome Dr. David Mark Rathel to discuss his book Andrew Fuller and the Search for a Faith Worthy of All Acceptation: Exploring Fuller’s Soteriology in Its Historical Context. Who was Andrew Fuller (1754-1815), and why does he matter? One of the most important and impactful English Particular Baptist Ministers and Theologians, Fuller’s influence is often linked to The Baptist Missionary Society – as well as works such as Gospel Worthy of All Acceptation. Seen as responding to hyper-Calvinism in his time, Dr. Rathel takes us into the complex question of what indeed was the hyper-Calvinism of his time – as well as it’s historical origins and development. Originating with a matrix of English Puritanism, we are introduced to figures such as Tobias Crisp and Joseph Hussey as we see extreme anxiety over assurance of salvation lead to fundamental changes in the pactum salutis (covenant of redemption), Christology, as well as the limits of gospel proclamation. Over time, this anxiety shifts from issues of eternity into issues of “Adamic Inability” – yet consistently centered on concerns over gospel assurance and free grace. The cumulative weight of understanding the polemical and historical context of Fuller’s time contributes significantly to our clarity of why and how Fuller argues against the hyper-Calvinism of his time, while relying upon those who even held to some of the positions of the hyper-Calvinists of an earlier period of time. Yet, through all of the details of this impressive historical investigation comes many relevant questions for us today, including the place of assurance in our understanding – as well as whether or not preaching the necessity of all to exercise faith in Christ is to be guilty of legalism. What is the place of history in our understanding of both the history of redemption, as well as our own lives, when it comes to the salvation of God? We then end by asking Dr. Rathel about the true legacy of Andrew Fuller, and what that should mean for us today.

Book: Andrew Fuller and the Search for a Faith Worthy of All Acceptation: Exploring Fuller’s Soteriology in Its Historical Context

Gospel Worthy of All Acceptation by Andrew Fuller

Other resources by Dr. Rathel:

- Baptists and the Emerging Church Movement: A Baptistic Assessment of Four Themes of Emerging Church Ecclesiology

- Lecture on Divine Simplicity

Other resources:

Reading Andrew Fuller; Rooted in the Word by Michael Haykin

“Student Cracks theologian’s baffling religious code” (BBC)