The Wonderful Christology of Thomas Goodwin

 The Wonderful Christology of Thomas Goodwin


Thomas Goodwin (1600-1680 AD), was another of the truly great Puritan pastor/scholars of the 17th Century AD.  He was a brilliant exegete and theologian--but he was also an incredibly tender under-shepherd of Jesus, the Chief Shepherd of our souls (1 Pet. 5:4).

 

Goodwin's writing style, for me at least, is not the easiest to navigate; but once you can get used to his rhythm and flow he becomes more comprehendable.  (Not every Puritan writer is a Thomas Watson[!])  Goodwin's content is so savory, that it will be worth your while to take him on (at any cost).

 

In my limited (so far) reading of Goodwin, I have been most impressed by his Christology (doctrine of Christ).  In my opinion, Christology is not only super-important, it is also the key "link" between understanding life in this world as a regenerated churched Christian, vis-a-vis life in Christ in the world to come.  Whereas some great theologians (like even Augustine) will sometimes leave me wondering, "How am I to grasp the glories of Christ's atonement of me in this age, with reference to heaven?"--Goodwin does a marvelous job of answering this question.  And the answer is, "Jesus Christ Himself as He is the church's Great High Priest [even now], THOROUGHLY connected to us, and concerned about us."  [These are all my words, but they reflect Goodwin's lovely doctrine.]

 

Right now, I am gleaning these glories from Banner of Truth's publication of a short Goodwin treatise, entitled, The Heart of Christ.  Just to whet your appetite a bit, check out these words found on p. 54: "John [the Baptist] had the voice of a crier, he was a man of a severe spirit; but Christ came 'piping and dancing,' all melodious sweetness was in His ministry and spirit; and, in the course of His ministry, He went so tenderly to work, He was so heedful to broken souls, and had such regard to their discouragements, that it is said He would not 'break a bruised reed' . . . All this is to express the tenderness of His heart . . . to . . . raise up in Him such sweet affections towards sinners."

 

Goodwin labors to show us, Christ's church, especially from the Book of Hebrews, that our Messiah is very active in heaven for His people on earth; and that, in His human nature, He sympathizes with us and shares our griefs and sorrows (and joys).  Goodwin teaches that Jesus Christ, as God's Great High Priest, given for and to the elect church, has been endowed with an even greater measure of anointing by the Holy Spirit since His ascension into heaven, and His being crowned the Lord and King of all.

 

Goodwin pictures Jesus as being intimately concerned about every detail of our life here.  He (Goodwin) is careful to point out that Christ, even upon His spectacular glorification in heaven, does not (in anyway) stand "aloof" from us now, since He is now forever released from the bonds of death (and the sufferings of the sinful world).  Instead, on the contrary, Jesus is--if it may be said properly and without offense to His majesty--even *more* engaged with us sinner/saints *now*, than He (even) was, when He literally walked this sinful sod with us.

 

This kind of Christology is the "bridge" that perfectly "spans" our "already" being glorified in Christ, and our "not yet" being fully glorified in Christ.  Goodwin even goes to the extent of teaching us how the Holy Trinity knew that the bride (church) of Christ *would be* all glorious--and that, based just on this fact alone, Jesus tenderly cares for us sinners, who are also the saints of His body, His church.

 

Some more Goodwin quotation must be shared, before we close.  This one comes from pp. 74 & 75, of the same book [mentioned above]: "Thy misery can never exceed His [Christ's] mercy. . . . Therefore let neither [sin nor misery] discourage any from coming unto Christ for grace and mercy."

 

Rev. Mark J. Henninger

Treatise #108

16 June 2026

 

https://theologicaltreatisesinretirement.blogspot.com

https://henningerdevotions.blogspot.com

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