Kenneth J. Collins Explained

Kenneth J. Collins
Nationality:American
Education:BA, M.Div., Th.M., Ph.D.
Alma Mater:State University of New York at Buffalo
Asbury Theological Seminary
Princeton Seminary
Drew University
Occupation:Professor
Known For:Wesleyan Theology
Professor of Historical Theology and Wesley Studies
Term:1995-present

Kenneth J. Collins (born 1952) is an American Wesleyan theologian and ordained minister in the Global Methodist Church. He is a professor of Historical Theology and Wesley Studies at Asbury Theological Seminary.[1] He is a leader in Wesley Studies, and his work The Theology of John Wesley: Holy Love and the Shape of Grace has been translated into Portuguese and Korean. He is the Director of the Wesleyan Studies Summer Seminar.[2]

He received the Smith/Wynkoop Book Award in March 2024 for his book, edited with Ryan Danker, The Next Methodism: Theological, Social, and Missional Foundations for Global Methodism, and the same award in March 2016 for his earlier book, The Works of John Wesley: Doctrinal and Controversial Treatises II. Vol. 13 (co-edited with Paul W. Chilcote). Both awards were bestowed by the Wesleyan Theological Society. Collins has lectured in England, Russia, South Korea, Japan, Australia, Estonia, Brazil and Costa Rica.

Education

Collins attended the State University of New York at Buffalo, receiving a Bachelor of Arts in 1974. He went on to earn a Master of Divinity (M.Div.) degree from Asbury Theological Seminary in 1979, and a Master of Theology from Princeton Seminary in 1980. In 1982 he received a Master of Philosophy from Drew University and achieved a Ph.D. in Theological and Religious Studies in 1984.[3]

Career

After receiving his doctorate, Collins began his career in 1984 as a College Chaplain and two years later was appointed Assistant Professor of Religion and Philosophy at Methodist College (now Methodist University) in Fayetteville, North Carolina. In 1995 he joined the faculty of Asbury Theological Seminary as a Professor of Historical Theology and Wesley Studies. In 2008 he received the Professor of the Year Award for Excellence in Teaching and Learning at this institution.

he serves on the board of the think-tank Institute on Religion and Democracy.[4]

Contributions to Wesleyan Theology

The publication in 2007 of The Theology of John Wesley: Holy Love and the Shape of Grace broke new ground in the field of Wesley studies and established Collins as one of the most reliable interpreters of the Theology of John Wesley, gaining him broad international recognition. Collins creatively argued that Wesley's theology could suitably be summarized in terms of the larger axial theme of "holiness and grace" with each of these elements representing an artful and carefully drawn balance, that is, holiness as "holy love” and grace as both "free and co-operant." This sophisticated recognition led to the key insight that Wesley's practical theology had a distinct fingerprint as evidenced in the contours of grace actualized in the warp and woof of disciplined Christian life.

Published works

Wesleyan Theology

American Evangelical Studies

Christian Spirituality

Ecumenical Studies

Biblical Studies

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Dr. Kenneth J. Collins . Asbury Theological Seminary.
  2. Web site: Wesleyan Studies . Asbury Theological Seminary.
  3. Web site: Dr. Kenneth J. Collins . The Institute on Religion and Democracy.
  4. Web site: BOARD OF DIRECTORS . The Institute on Religion and Democracy.
  5. Wigger . John H. . The Scripture Way of Salvation: The Heart of John Wesley's Theology. Kenneth J. Collins . The Journal of Religion . 79 . 144–145 . 10.1086/490364 . 1 January 1999.
  6. Alderman . Isaac M. . The Theology of John Wesley: Holy Love and the Shape of Grace – By Kenneth J. Collins . Reviews in Religion & Theology . 16 . 112–114 . en . 10.1111/j.1467-9418.2008.00414_4.x . 2009.
  7. Web site: Watson . Kevin M. . Review: The Theology of John Wesley, Kenneth J. Collins . Vital Piety . en . 19 November 2007.
  8. Web site: Book Review: The Sermons of John Wesley by Kenneth Collins and Jason Vickers .
  9. Web site: Neuhaus . Richard John . The Evangelical Moment . First Things . en.
  10. Gasaway . Brantley W. . Power, Politics and the Fragmentation of Evangelicalism: From the Scopes Trial to the Obama Administration . Journal of Church and State . 56 . 2 . 400–402 . en . 10.1093/jcs/csu022 . 1 June 2014.
  11. Web site: Green . Jay . A Historian Decries Evangelical Power Politics—on Both Left and Right . Christianity Today . en.
  12. Web site: Exploring christian spirituality . Journal of the Evangelical Theological Society . en.
  13. Web site: Wahlberg . Mats . Ecumenical Incorrectness . First Things . en.

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