Power and Right - Divine Dominion and Moral Economy in John Owen

In this compelling work, Baylor uses the theology of John Owen to addresses critics of Reformed theology. Modern people often understand themselves, not as natural subjects, but as free and self-possessed sovereigns. Christian responses to this have rightly sought to re-assert the creature''s dependence upon God, often focusing criticism on modernity''s possessive moral logic, and its disenchanted view of the world. However, Protestant theology is often caught in the crossfire with arguments that the disenchantment of the modern world is driven by a Protestant vision of God''s rule as absolute and arbitrary. Against these critics, this rigorous work shows that Reformed theology has the resources to address these criticisms and offer a compelling account of God''s right. Baylor draws on seventeenth century Reformed theologian, John Owen, sketching his richly textured vision of the creature''s relation to God. He demonstrates how theological judgments about God''s power and right are attentive to and conditioned by the various forms of the creature''s dependence upon God. In this way, Baylor offers a rebuttal to contemporary critics of the Reformed tradition, and a retrieval of its theology of divine dominion.

About the author

Timothy R. Baylor is Associate Professor of Religion at Calvin University, USA.

Product details

• Authors: Timothy Robert Baylor
• Publisher: T. & T. Clark Ltd.
• Languages: English
• Product format: Hardback
• Release: 19.02.2026
• EAN: 9780567714121
• ISBN: 978-0-567-71412-1
• No. of pages: 224
• Series: T&T Clark Explorations in Reformed Theology; T&T Clark Studies in Reformed Theology
• Subjects: Humanities, art, music > Religion/theology > Christianity; Non-fiction book > Philosophy, religion > Miscellaneous; RELIGION / Christian Theology / Systematic, RELIGION / Christianity / Calvinist, Religious & spiritual leaders, Theology, Religious and spiritual figures, Aspects Of Religion (Non-Christian), Religious doctrines, For graduate / post-graduate and equivalents, Calvinist, Reformed & Presbyterian Churches, Calvinist, Reformed and Presbyterian Churches