Ecclesiology
The True Nature of a Gospel Church and Its Government
by John Owen
Synopsis
Originally published in 1689, this treatise represents John Owen's mature thought on the nature and government of the church. Owen argues that the local congregation is the primary expression of the church visible, governed by a plurality of elders who exercise both teaching and ruling functions. He examines the biblical evidence for church officers, the nature of church membership, the administration of ordinances, and the boundaries of ecclesiastical authority. While writing from a Congregationalist perspective, Owen engages seriously with Presbyterian and Episcopalian alternatives, making this work valuable for understanding the spectrum of Reformed ecclesiology. The treatise remains essential reading for anyone studying Puritan church practice or the biblical foundations of church polity.
Who Should Read This?
Pastors, elders, and church leaders seeking biblical foundations for ecclesiology. Students of Puritan theology and the historical development of Protestant church government. Anyone wrestling with questions of church structure, elder qualifications, or congregational authority.