Publications

EDITOR’S NOTE: Three hundred years ago, the father of modern evangelicalism was born in Gloucester, England. George Whitefield (1714-1770) is widely regarded as a powerful preacher and the greatest evangelist in modern times. His ministry consisted of innovative methods to reach the masses and tireless travels to spread the gospel. In 1835, two prominent English…

Three hundred years after his birth, George Whitefield is regaining prominence for his role in the Great Awakening and American revivalism. Towers editor S. Craig Sanders asks historian Thomas S. Kidd about Whitefield’s influence and Kidd’s new biography, George Whitefield: America’s Spiritual Founding Father. 1. What most intrigued you about George Whitefield to write this…

Although the name George Whitefield is not readily associated with Christian hymnody, he left his own mark on one of the most famous Christmas carols, penned by his friend and contemporary, Charles Wesley. The Wesleys had an enduring friendship and connection with Whitefield, beginning with their Oxford “Holy Club,” followed by separate missionary journeys to…

The Second Letter to the Corinthians Mark A. Seifrid Other than Jesus himself, there is perhaps no more important figure in Christian history than the Apostle Paul. As the one given as a “light for the Gentiles, that you may bring salvation to the ends of the earth” (Acts 13:47), Paul embodies a unique role…

Edwards on the Christian Life: Alive to the Beauty of God  Dane C. Ortlund Review by Colton Guffey In Edwards on the Christian Life: Alive to the Beauty of God, Dane C. Ortlund reflects on how Jonathan Edwards understood the Christian life in hopes that the reader may grow more aware of the beauty of…

EDITOR’S NOTE: Below, Mark Seifrid, Mildred and Ernest Hogan Professor of New Testament Interpretation, discusses his new commentary, The Second Letter to the Corinthians, with Towers writer Andrew J.W. Smith. AJWS: Second Corinthians tends not to garner the same popular attention among evangelicals as Romans, Ephesians, or even 1 Corinthians. What makes 2 Corinthians important…

As Boyce College’s enrollment increases, Dave DeKlavon’s family continues to grow. In the eyes of the world, DeKlavon is childless. However, the associate dean knows there is more to the story. “Sometimes the hardships of life have their own benefits. My wife and I weren’t able to have any children, so we like to joke…

This year marks the 300th anniversary of George Whitefield’s birth. Whitefield is important for a number of reasons, all of which deserve our attention as evangelical Christians. As a man committed to the preaching of God’s sovereign grace and the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ, there is probably no better example of an individual…

The Christian Life in the Thought of George Whitefield ((Earlier versions of portions of this article appeared as “Defenders of the faith: George Whitefield and the nature of Christian perfection”, Evangelical Times 32:10 (1998): 23; “Evangelical piety: grounded in justification by faith alone”, Evangelical Times 34:1 (2000): 14; “Christ, our wisdom and our righteousness”, Evangelical…

Who is the Greatest Preacher? The Life and Legacy of George Whitefield If asked who is or was the greatest preacher since the time of the apostles it is likely that most people would choose someone from the last hundred years, perhaps Billy Graham or Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones. Those with a greater sense of history…

George Whitefield’s Doctrine of Christ Introduction George Whitefield (1714-1770) is generally known as a renowned preacher and one of the leading revivalists in eighteenth-century En­gland. ((On Whitefield’s life see Stuart C. Henry, George Whitefield: Wayfaring Witness (Nashville: Abingdon Press, 1957).)) However, it is a mistake to evaluate him solely on the basis of these two…

George Whitefield—The Anglican Evangelist It is wonderful this year to be celebrating the 300th birthday of the great English evangelist, George Whitefield. Whitefield is remembered as a great evangelical. By those who (somewhat mistakenly) consider evangelical religion to have begun only in the 1730s, he is hailed as a founding father of evangelicalism. ((I refer…

Writing to George Whitefield: A Letter from Anne Dutton on Sinless Perfection George Whitefield was a consummate “networker.” By the warmth of his personality and his penchant for friendship, he was able to not only traverse the Atlantic to yoke together like-minded evangelicals but also cross the great divide of denominations. In Great Britain and…

George Whitefield Sermon: “The Indwelling of the Spirit the Common Privilege of All Believers” ((From George Whitefield, Sermons on Important Subjects (London: Thomas Tegg, 1833), 430–440.)) George Whitefield first preached this sermon on John 7:37–39 at St. Mary the Virgin, the parish church of Bexley, Kent, on Pentecost Sunday, 1739. It was later published at…

George Whitefield Sermon: “Christ, the Believer’s Wisdom, Righteousness, Sanctification and Redemption” George Whitefield was not only a remarkable communicator, but he and his preaching were also solidly grounded in biblical theology, as this sermon clearly reveals. “Christ, the Believer’s Wisdom, Righteousness, Sanctification and Redemption” reflects Whitefield’s deep indebtedness to the theological certainties trumpeted forth at…