John Owen and Christology: Recommended reading (Matthew Barrett)

In a previous post, “The Excellency of Christ and the Christian Life,” I reflected on John Owen’s unceasing gaze upon the glory of Christ. As promised, in this follow up post I would like to recommend to you several of Owen’s works so that you can read Owen for yourself, allowing him to open your eyes to the glory of the Son of God.

First, read volume 1 of the Banner of Truth edition, The Glory of Christ. Within this volume you will find several of Owen’s best works on Christology, including:

On the Person of Christ

Meditations and Discourses on the Glory of Christ

Meditations and Discourses on the Glory of Christ applied to Sinners and Saints

Two Short Catechisms

If this large tome is intimidating, you may want to begin with the abridged version in the Puritan Paperback series, The Glory of Christ. You will also discover that Christian Focus has published an attractive edition of The Glory of Christ. Sinclair Ferguson commends this volume, saying: “Take time to read this book. Savour each page. Appreciate the depths of what Owen says. Allow yourself to be analysed, searched, exposed, deconstructed, edified, enlightened, engraced, and refocused on the glory of Jesus Christ.”

Second, I would also commend to you Owen’s classic work, On Communion with God. You can find it in volume 2 of the Banner of Truth edition. Or, for an excellent contemporary edition, read Communion with the Triune God, edited by Kelly Kapic and Justin Taylor, with a foreword by Kevin Vanhoozer. Also of note is the edition published by Christian Focus, introduced by Sinclair Ferguson. There is an abridged version in the Puritan Paperbacks series as well.

While this treatise focuses on the Trinity at large, Owen has a tremendous section on what it means to know, love, and have fellowship with Christ, the second person of the Trinity. Dr. D M Lloyd-Jones wrote of this work: “It is a most heart-warming treatise which drives one to seek the face of ‘God in three Persons’ and to enjoy the rich fare of His ‘banqueting house.’ For those seeking assurance of their salvation it is a particularly valuable cordial. I pray that God will bless it to many such.”

In the future, I will recommend a number of works from Owen on the work of Christ, as well as secondary works that will help you understand Owen’s theology and Puritan context.

Matthew Barrett (PhD, The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary) is Assistant Professor of Christian Studies at California Baptist University (OPS), as well as the founder and executive editor of Credo Magazine. He is the author of The Grace of Godliness: An Introduction to Doctrine and Piety in the Canons of Dort, Salvation by Grace: The Case for Effectual Calling and Regeneration, as well as the coeditor of Four Views on the Historical Adam (Counterpoints: Bible and Theology), and Whomever He Wills: A Surprising Display of Sovereign Mercy. He is the author of several other forthcoming books, which you can read about at matthewmbarrett.com.