The Evangelistic Essential

by Philip Janowsky

No Synopsis Available.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1885305079
• ISBN13: 9781885305077
• Release Date: November 1994
• Publisher: Multnomah Books
• Weight: 0.70 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.7" x 5.4" x 8.5"

Customer Reviews

A brief but well-written defence of sola fide

Philip Janowsky's "The Evangelical Essential" is a small but important book. The "essential" referred to in the title, is the Pauline and Reformational doctrine of "justification by faith alone" or "sola fide." Janowsky looks at the history of the doctrine, and its importance to the Reformation and Wesleyan revivals, as well as the history of deviation from the doctrine (especially in the medieval church, Anabaptist movement, and the modern evangelical left). Janowsky stresses the importance of the Pauline writings as the basis for church doctrine. I recommend reading Tom Weaver's "The Gospel Solution" alongside of it.

THE ESSENTIAL OF ESSENTIALS

The subtitle of this book asks the essential question; What must I do to be saved? In other words, what is the core message of the New Covenant? Janowsky argues that without the Apostle Paul and his letters, the message of justification by faith is difficult to grasp by the synoptic gospels. In contrast, the gospel written last, John's gospel, emphasizes salvation by faith and believing in Jesus(note that the Sermon on the Mount is not even in John's gospel). Janowsky is making the argument that as time passed, the early church recognizes that the Judaizers are wrong and that Justification by faith is the essential message. The way the Holy Spirit was poured out on the uncircumcised Gentiles helped develop the apostles' theology. The author makes much of the council at Jerusalem (Acts 15) to make the point that the theology of Paul is the theology of the apostolic church. There is no dichotomy between Paul and the other Apostles. Roman Catholicism got off track when it's theology was influenced by monasticism's emphasis on the ethical teachings of Jesus(sell all you have, etc.), while devaluing Paul's epistles and theology of justification by faith. When Luther, a monk of monks achieves no soul satisfaction from a rigourous monasticism, he stumbles onto justification by faith as the lens wherby the New Covenant is understood. 200 years later, John Wesley, bewildered by his failure at missionary work in Georgia, goes to a Moravian meeting at Fetter Lane. Peter Bohler's message is the preface to Luther's commentary on Romans. The effect is that Wesley's heart is "strangely warmed". The clear message of the gospel was "fuzzy" once again and going back to Luther cleared the lens for Wesley. Now his heart ablaze, he was used by God to preach the good news during the Great Awakening. Janowsky is well-read and has done his homework. Unlike many religious writers, he has a firm grasp of Evangelicalism and it's roots. He throws off the idea that Paul's letters are prominent in Evangelicalism because of the popularity of dispensationalism. I would like to have seen the author touch on the relationship between justification and discipleship. What does a believer do with Jesus' teachings like the Sermon on the Mount? Janowsky, a United Methodist pastor has brought up an important question. What is our message? This book, though not to be the only source, will set your mind to thinking on this essential of essentials. By this, the church stands or falls!

Enjoyed it greatly!

This book challenges the presuppositions of Scripture interpretation. It caught me by surprise that a Methodist minister wrote this book, considering the lack of concern for scripture in the Methodist church today. Knowing Phil has come at a great blessing for me and reading his book has given me insight as to how I interpret Scripture.