Tending to Love—“the Plant of Paradise”: Andrew Fuller on Love and Its Role in Local Church Revival

Abstract

ABSTRACT

TENDING TO LOVE—“THE PLANT OF PARADISE”:

ANDREW FULLER ON LOVE AND ITS ROLE

IN LOCAL CHURCH REVIVAL

Jeremy Yuen Ming Yong, D.Min.

The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, 2015

Faculty Supervisor: Dr. Michael A. G. Haykin

This thesis introduces Andrew Fuller as a theologian of love by presenting his theology of love, and discussing why Fuller assigned love the leading role in local-church revitalization. Chapter 1 addresses the need for greater study on Andrew Fuller, the churchman. Reviewing the relevant literature reveals little has been written on the issue, and even less, on Fuller’s theology of Christian love.

Chapter 2 considers the cause of the Particular Baptist’s spiritual decline (Fuller’s denomination), and examines Fuller’s solution out of it—the retrieval of Christian love.

Chapter 3 lays out Fuller’s theology of Christian love, its types, and its importance as as governor over the Christian’s faculties.

Chapter 4 explains how pastors are to lead in love’s retrieval, by dispensing the very love of Christ, loving the church for Christ’s sake.

Chapter 5 offers modern day solutions as today’s churches aim to be the church benevolent and charitable.