Select Theological Writings of Adam Clarke

As a theologian, Adam Clarke reinforced the teachings of Methodist founder John Wesley. He taught that the Bible provides a complete interpretation of God’s nature and will. He considered Scripture itself a miracle of God’s grace that “takes away the veil of darkness and ignorance.” With such an understanding, Clarke was first and foremost a Biblical theologian, often uneasy with purely systematic approaches to theology.  This module contains two of his works.

Clavis Biblica (A Compendium of Scriptural Knowledge: Containing a General View of the Contents of the Old and New Testaments; the Principles of Christianity derived from them, and the Reasons on which they are founded: with Directions How To Read Most Profitably The Holy Bible):  Written by Clarke in 1820 to served as an instruction manual for two new believers, Clavis Biblica was not initially purposed to be published.  It was Clarke’s intention to embody and systematize instructions for these two new believers so that they could have a handy reference from which to learn.  By their insistence, Clarke developed the essay to be a useful tract for the foreign missions and a profitable manual at home.

Entire Sanctification: In this essay, Clarke defends John Wesley’s teaching of “Christian Perfection,” the belief that living free of voluntary sin is possible through a second work of God’s grace.  This idea became influential in the development of Methodism.

You may also be interested in Clarke’s Commentary on the Bible.