The Christology of Joseph John Gurney (1788-1847)

Harris, Paul Gerald William (2024). The Christology of Joseph John Gurney (1788-1847). University of Birmingham. Ph.D.

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Abstract

This study is a systematic examination of the Christology of the Quaker, Joseph John Gurney (1788-1847). It draws upon a large corpus of material from his published writings and reports of his public addresses. Special attention has also been given to assessing Gurney’s beliefs in relation to early Quaker theology, his contemporaries and the wider Christian Church.

Outcomes of this research show that Gurney held a sophisticated theology based upon biblical scholarship, reason and a deep personal faith. Findings confirm several aspects of previous research including the importance which he placed upon the authority of the Bible and Christ’s atonement. However, it is argued that the nuance of Gurney’s beliefs has meant that elements of his theology have not always been sufficiently well evaluated. Consequently whilst Gurney’s views represent a re-alignment within Quaker theology towards a greater degree of Christian orthodoxy and a willingness to challenge aspects of Quaker tradition, they are also more rooted in early Quakerism than has often been acknowledged in the past. This is seen for example, in Gurney’s belief that the Scriptures cannot be secondary in authority to immediate inward revelation because the Holy Spirit is the source of both and also in his understanding that whilst justification and sanctification should be differentiated from each other they are nonetheless both necessary for redemption. For Gurney, the authority of the Scriptures is not an end in itself but a declaration of what he considers they convey; namely, God’s final revelation in Jesus Christ. Christology is therefore at the heart of his beliefs.

The thesis highlights that Gurney’s theology was shaped by the use of Trinitarian and Chalcedonian based principles, albeit that these specific terms were not used by him. These reflect his particular emphasis in affirming belief in Christ’s divinity, and in the divine and human natures of the incarnate Son and the exalted Christ. It is argued that belief in the divinity of Christ was a defining feature of Gurney’s Christology and one which permeated his understanding of the Christian faith. Furthermore, this research has identified several other aspects of his beliefs and practice which constitute an original contribution to scholarship. These include Gurney’s understanding of Christ, the Son of God in relation to eternal Sonship; his approach to scriptural exegesis and hermeneutics; the use of biblical prophecies as evidence of the messiahship and divinity of Jesus Christ; his views about the Sabbath; and the practical application of belief with regards to Christian discipleship and spirituality.

Whilst Gurney’s theology coincides in good measure with Evangelical and Orthodox Quaker doctrines, it is argued that these terms are too generic and do not completely match his beliefs nor encapsulate the breadth of his religious outlook. Instead, on the basis of a detailed appraisal of Gurney’s own definition and beliefs about Quakerism, the term New Testament Quaker has been coined as a way to convey his theology. This is characterised by his advocacy that a core set of beliefs is held in common by all Christians, that the distinctiveness of Quakerism is rooted in the agency of the Holy Spirit, and that the foundational authority of the Scriptures and their interpretation is pneumatically led. It also embraces his vision that Quakerism seeks to reconnect to the early Christian Church and be void of any church polity which distracts from its aim of being a form of Primitive Christianity which has as its central nexus point a belief and faith in the person of Jesus Christ.

Type of Work:

Thesis (Doctorates > Ph.D.)

Award Type:

Doctorates > Ph.D.

Supervisor(s):