A New Creation in Christ: A Historical- Theological Investigation into Walter Marshall’s Theology of Sanctification in Union with Christ in the Context of the Seventeenth-Century Antinomian and Neonomian Controversy Item Type Thesis or dissertation Authors Christ, Timothy M. Citation Christ, T. M. (2016). A New Creation in Christ: A Historical- Theological Investigation into Walter Marshall’s Theology of Sanctification in Union with Christ in the Context of the Seventeenth-Century Antinomian and Neonomian Controversy. (Doctoral dissertation). University of Chester, United Kingdom. Publisher University of Chester Download date 29/09/2021 09:33:21 Item License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/ Link to Item http://hdl.handle.net/10034/620373 A New Creation in Christ: A Historical-Theological Investigation into Walter Marshall’s Theology of Sanctification in Union with Christ in the Context of the Seventeenth-Century Antinomian and Neonomian Controversy T. Michael Christ Thesis submitted in accordance with the requirements of the University of Chester for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy 2 Preface I was first introduced to Reformed soteriology when I enrolled in Westminster Theological Seminary’s ThM program in the spring of 2006. It was an intimidating experience, to say the least, but one also filled with wonder and delight. For there I learned that union with Christ was not simply one aspect of salvation but its central structure, and that to be saved was not merely to receive a benefit from Christ but to have Christ. A major part of my growth came through encountering Walter Marshall. As was often the case, a class lecture by Lane Tipton drifted toward the pastoral work of caring for souls. He suggested that we read the Marshall’s The Gospel Mystery of Sanctification. Tipton’s comment would have probably been forgotten—of reading the many books that Tipton recommends there is no end—except for two things. The discussion resonated deep within me. I knew I needed to keep thinking about these things for my own spiritual formation. Then, after lunch one day, I visited the campus bookstore. It was a favorite location of mine because…well…they had free coffee. I assumed that the coffee was for folks actually using the bookstore, so while enjoying my cup of joe, I perused all the books that I had neither time to read nor money to buy. And there I stumbled upon The Gospel Mystery of Sanctification. My next memory of Marshall’s book involves sitting on my living room rug, newborn son in my arms, struggling through the Puritan pastor’s clunky prose. Although I had to wrestle with the text, the book awakened something in me. Marshall understood my experience perfectly. He understood, as Luther did, that we all have a tendency toward both legalism and licentiousness and that our default is to try to overcome one by running to the other. But Marshall—better than Luther, I believe—offered a way out. It came not through some system of theology or practice but through union with the person of Christ. None of that was I able to explain to anyone at the time—although I tried. Yet I 3 knew Marshall presented something I had never heard before but needed to understand. I returned to Marshall for various reasons during my first pastorate, such as to help a friend work through a struggle with pornography and to explain to a woman how to have comfort in Christ, even as she struggled against her sin. Then I moved to Central Asia, where my life took some unexpected turns. Marshall showed me how to ground my own identity in Christ. My personal aim in undertaking this project was simple: I wanted to understand better the theology of sanctification that had helped me grow. I also hoped that this project would be useful for the church. Marshall is often quoted in discourses on sanctification. Yet very little effort has been given to understanding what his theology actually is. What did John Murray see in Gospel Mystery that made him say it was the most important work on sanctification ever written? I wanted to find out. This work would not have been completed without the assistance of others. My advisors were immensely helpful. Robert Letham guided me along the way through his mastery of seventeenth-century theology. Natalie Brand’s love for the doctrine of union with Christ helped me understand its broad range of application. Overall, all the staff at the Union School of Theology was superb. To understand Marshall’s context, I also turned locally to University of Maryland professor Sabrina Baron, who graciously allowed me to sit in on her classes and answered all my questions about the antinomians. I approached Chad Van Dixhoorn for help understanding the Westminster Assembly. He kindly gave me hours of his time. He also introduced me to searchable text EEBO, which was a game-changer for my method of research. Chad helped me find two letters written by Marshall to Richard Cromwell. Jonathan Master and William VanDoodewaard helped me understand the issues surrounding assurance in the seventeenth century and provided quality feedback on my arguments. Fellow pastors Shane Walker, Steve Unthank, and Jaim Gamm all read Gospel Mystery with me. Shane and Steve read my manuscript and offered helpful suggestions. Grace Reeves also proofread the thesis, catching many typos. My friend Julie Winters meticulously proofread the final copy. 4 Pat Salzman and Bob Kelly each transcribed portions of Marshall’s handwritten letters so that I could more easily read them. The research for this thesis was conducted at three libraries, the Library of Congress, the Folger Shakespeare Library, and the McKeldin Library of the University of Maryland. The librarians at Folger always impressed me with their eagerness to help. My friend and fellow church member, Kevin Hammett, assisted me at McKeldin. His excitement about my research was always encouraging. My church, Greenbelt Baptist, has been supportive throughout the process. Their allowance of two sabbaticals gave me opportunity to revise and complete my work. But more importantly, they provided a context for me to observe Marshall’s theology worked out practice. By God’s grace, they are being sanctified. I’m thankful to be their pastor. Most of all, I want to thank my wife, Rebecca. Not only did she read the entire thesis twice—and some parts even more—but also through her care, love, and support, she modeled the sanctified life. Rebecca, I couldn’t have done it without you. As I write this, that son I mentioned above is now ten, and I’m holding my newborn daughter. Three other children scurry about. Teaching them theology has been an unexpected blessing. From “theology breakfasts” together at Capitol Hill Baptist Church to conversations about sermons, learning about sanctification has been a family project. In my children’s eyes Walter Marshall stands as a seminal figure in British history; they placed him on our homeschool family timeline along with William the Conqueror and Oliver Cromwell. My children may or may not read Gospel Mystery. But I pray its truth will grip their hearts. This thesis is dedicated to them. 5 Contents CHAPTER 1: INTRODUCTION....................................................................................8 THE NATURE AND SCOPE OF THIS WORK........................................................................8 THESIS............................................................................................................................14 THE MAN WALTER MARSHALL AND HIS BOOK............................................................15 LITERATURE REVIEW.....................................................................................................19 General Historiography............................................................................................19 Secondary Literature on Marshall............................................................................31 OUTLINE OF STUDY........................................................................................................32 CHAPTER II: DIACHRONIC CONTEXT: THE EARLY REFORMATION AND CATHOLIC THEOLOGIES OF SANCTIFICATION WITH SPECIAL EMPHASIS ON THEIR CONTRIBUTION TO ANTINOMIAN AND NEONOMIAN POSITIONS...........................................................................................34 INTRODUCTION...............................................................................................................34 MARTIN LUTHER............................................................................................................35 The Law and Faith....................................................................................................39 Two kings of Righteousness.......................................................................................40 Sanctification in Union with Christ...........................................................................43 Luther and Antinomianism........................................................................................47 Luther’s Response.....................................................................................................49 Conclusion.................................................................................................................50 THE COUNCIL OF TRENT................................................................................................51 Introduction...............................................................................................................51 Justification...............................................................................................................51