Wesley, Aquinas, and Christian Perfection

Colón-Emeric brings together figures from disparate traditions, examines their thought fairly and judiciously, and offers comparisons that are truly illumining.

~Joseph Wawrykow, Associate Professor of Theology, Medieval Institute, University of Notre Dame

For the last half century, Wesley studies scholars and Wesleyan theologians have been laboring to convince the world (and perhaps themselves) that Wesley is a theologian worthy of study. By contrast, Colon-Emeric’s easy-going style and tone suggest that he takes this for granted. In this sense, Wesley, Aquinas, and Christian Perfection signals a new day in Wesleyan theology. It is simply no longer the case that Wesleyan theologians have to demonstrate that Wesley deserves consideration in the first place. Rather, they can bring him directly into conversation with other theologians as someone capable of standing on his own two feet and holding his own.

~Jason E. Vickers, Associate Professor of Theology and Wesleyan Studies, United Theological Seminary

Edgardo Colón-Emeric has written a critically important work on Wesley that rightly shows him to be a theologian ensconced in the catholic tradition rather than the tired and well-worn interpretation turning him into a modern thinker preoccupied with epistemology. He shows us Wesley with proper proportion through a compelling examination of the doctrine of perfection and its ecclesial significance in Wesley and Aquinas. He offers the brilliant metaphor that Wesley's theology represents a "house" fit within Aquinas' "cathedral." His work is beautifully written, logically developed, and the conclusions are convincing. It is a must read.

~D. Stephen Long, Professor of Systematic Theology, Marquette University

This carefully crafted and original work will help Protestants to understand Aquinas, and Catholics John Wesley, better, and thus both to approach one another 'by drawing attention to the primacy of prayer and the ministry of the saints (p 183).'

~Paul Ellingworth, Journal of Theological Studies

This study will not only be useful for the technical analysis it gives to a significant aspect of Methodist and Catholic witness to the common tradition, but it will also provide a stimulus for further studies verifying the agreement claimed in the Joint Declaration and potentially enriching the sharing of a spiritual life to which both Wesley and Aquinas were committed in their own time and historical contexts.

~Jeffrey Gros, F.S.C, Memphis Theological Seminary, Journal of Ecumenical Studies