Edwards Amasa Park
Encyclopedia
Edwards Amasa Park was an American
Congregational
theologian
.
He was the son of Calvin Park (1774-1847) (a Congregational minister who was a professor from 1804 to 1825 at Brown University
, and pastor at Stoughton, Massachusetts
from 1826 to 1840). Edwards Amasa Park graduated at Brown University in 1826, was a teacher at Braintree
for two years, and in 1831 graduated from Andover Theological Seminary. He was co-pastor (with R. S. Storrs
) of the orthodox Congregational church of Braintree in 1831-1833; professor of mental and moral philosophy at Amherst
in 1835; and Bartlet professor of sacred rhetoric
(1836-1847), and Abbot professor of Christian theology (1847-1881) at Andover
. He died at Andover on the 4th of June 1900.
An ardent admirer of Jonathan Edwards, whose great-granddaughter he married, Park was one of the most notable American theologians and orators. He was the most prominent leader of the new school of New England Theology
. He left his theological impress on the Bibliotheca Sacra
, which he and Bela B. Edwards
took over in 1844 from Edward Robinson
, who had founded it in 1843, and of which Park was assistant editor until 1851 and editor-in-chief from 1851 to 1884.
As a general statement of the position of orthodox Congregationalism
he drew up and annotated the Associate Creed of Andover Theological Seminary (1883), and the anonymously published Worcester Creed of 1884 was his popularized and simplified statement. He edited in 1890 The Atonement, a collection of essays by various hands, prefaced by his study of the Rise of the Edwardean Theory of the Atonement.
Dr. Park's sermon, The Theology of the Intellect and that of the Feelings, delivered in 1850 before the convention of the Congregational ministers of Massachusetts, and published in the Bibliotheca Sacra
of July 1850, was the cause of a long and bitter controversy, metaphysical
rather than doctrinal, with Charles Hodge
. Some of Park's sermons were published in 1885, under the title Discourses on Some Theological Doctrines as Related to the Religious Character. With Austin Phelps
and Lowell Mason
he prepared The Sabbath Hymn Book (1858).
He published memoirs of Samuel Hopkins, Nathanael Emmons
, and others. See Professor Park and His Pupils (Boston, 1899), a memorial of his 90th birthday, with articles by R.S. Storrs, G.R.W. Scott, Joseph Cook, G. Frederick Wright, and others.
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United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
Congregational
Congregational church
Congregational churches are Protestant Christian churches practicing Congregationalist church governance, in which each congregation independently and autonomously runs its own affairs....
theologian
Theology
Theology is the systematic and rational study of religion and its influences and of the nature of religious truths, or the learned profession acquired by completing specialized training in religious studies, usually at a university or school of divinity or seminary.-Definition:Augustine of Hippo...
.
He was the son of Calvin Park (1774-1847) (a Congregational minister who was a professor from 1804 to 1825 at Brown University
Brown University
Brown University is a private, Ivy League university located in Providence, Rhode Island, United States. Founded in 1764 prior to American independence from the British Empire as the College in the English Colony of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations early in the reign of King George III ,...
, and pastor at Stoughton, Massachusetts
Stoughton, Massachusetts
Stoughton is a town in Norfolk County, Massachusetts, United States. The population was 26,962 at the 2010 census. The town is located approximately from Boston, from Providence, and from Cape Cod.-History:...
from 1826 to 1840). Edwards Amasa Park graduated at Brown University in 1826, was a teacher at Braintree
Braintree, Massachusetts
The Town of Braintree is a suburban city in Norfolk County, Massachusetts, United States. Although officially known as a town, Braintree adopted a municipal charter, effective 2008, with a mayor-council form of government and is considered a city under Massachusetts law. The population was 35,744...
for two years, and in 1831 graduated from Andover Theological Seminary. He was co-pastor (with R. S. Storrs
Richard Salter Storrs
Richard Salter Storrs was an American Congregational clergyman.-Biography:Storrs was born in Braintree, Massachusetts...
) of the orthodox Congregational church of Braintree in 1831-1833; professor of mental and moral philosophy at Amherst
Amherst, Massachusetts
Amherst is a town in Hampshire County, Massachusetts, United States in the Connecticut River valley. As of the 2010 census, the population was 37,819, making it the largest community in Hampshire County . The town is home to Amherst College, Hampshire College, and the University of Massachusetts...
in 1835; and Bartlet professor of sacred rhetoric
Rhetoric
Rhetoric is the art of discourse, an art that aims to improve the facility of speakers or writers who attempt to inform, persuade, or motivate particular audiences in specific situations. As a subject of formal study and a productive civic practice, rhetoric has played a central role in the Western...
(1836-1847), and Abbot professor of Christian theology (1847-1881) at Andover
Andover, Massachusetts
Andover is a town in Essex County, Massachusetts, United States. It was incorporated in 1646 and as of the 2010 census, the population was 33,201...
. He died at Andover on the 4th of June 1900.
An ardent admirer of Jonathan Edwards, whose great-granddaughter he married, Park was one of the most notable American theologians and orators. He was the most prominent leader of the new school of New England Theology
New England theology
New England theology, in the technical sense of these words, designates a special school of theology which grew up among the Congregationalists of New England, originating in the year 1732, when Jonathan Edwards began his constructive theological work, culminating a little before the American Civil...
. He left his theological impress on the Bibliotheca Sacra
Bibliotheca Sacra
Bibliotheca Sacra is the theological journal published by Dallas Theological Seminary. First published in 1844, it is the oldest theological journal in the United States. It originally was published by Union Theological Seminary in 1843, moved to Andover Theological Seminary in 1844, to Oberlin...
, which he and Bela B. Edwards
Bela Bates Edwards
Bela Bates Edwards was an American man of letters born at Southampton, Massachusetts, on 4 July 1802. He graduated at Amherst College in 1824, was a tutor there from 1827 to 1828, graduated at Andover Theological Seminary in 1830, and was licensed to preach...
took over in 1844 from Edward Robinson
Edward Robinson (scholar)
Edward Robinson was an American biblical scholar, known as the “Father of Biblical Geography.” He has been referred to as the “founder of modern Palestinology.” -Biography:...
, who had founded it in 1843, and of which Park was assistant editor until 1851 and editor-in-chief from 1851 to 1884.
As a general statement of the position of orthodox Congregationalism
Congregational church
Congregational churches are Protestant Christian churches practicing Congregationalist church governance, in which each congregation independently and autonomously runs its own affairs....
he drew up and annotated the Associate Creed of Andover Theological Seminary (1883), and the anonymously published Worcester Creed of 1884 was his popularized and simplified statement. He edited in 1890 The Atonement, a collection of essays by various hands, prefaced by his study of the Rise of the Edwardean Theory of the Atonement.
Dr. Park's sermon, The Theology of the Intellect and that of the Feelings, delivered in 1850 before the convention of the Congregational ministers of Massachusetts, and published in the Bibliotheca Sacra
Bibliotheca Sacra
Bibliotheca Sacra is the theological journal published by Dallas Theological Seminary. First published in 1844, it is the oldest theological journal in the United States. It originally was published by Union Theological Seminary in 1843, moved to Andover Theological Seminary in 1844, to Oberlin...
of July 1850, was the cause of a long and bitter controversy, metaphysical
Metaphysics
Metaphysics is a branch of philosophy concerned with explaining the fundamental nature of being and the world, although the term is not easily defined. Traditionally, metaphysics attempts to answer two basic questions in the broadest possible terms:...
rather than doctrinal, with Charles Hodge
Charles Hodge
Charles Hodge was the principal of Princeton Theological Seminary between 1851 and 1878. A Presbyterian theologian, he was a leading exponent of historical Calvinism in America during the 19th century. He was deeply rooted in the Scottish philosophy of Common Sense Realism...
. Some of Park's sermons were published in 1885, under the title Discourses on Some Theological Doctrines as Related to the Religious Character. With Austin Phelps
Austin Phelps
Austin Phelps , was an American Congregational minister and educator. He was for 10 years President of the Andover Theological Seminary and his writings became standard textbooks for Christian theological education and remain in print today.- Biography :Austin Phelps was born in was born at West...
and Lowell Mason
Lowell Mason
Lowell Mason was a leading figure in American church music, the composer of over 1600 hymn tunes, many of which are often sung today. His most well-known tunes include Mary Had A Little Lamb and the arrangement of Joy to the World...
he prepared The Sabbath Hymn Book (1858).
He published memoirs of Samuel Hopkins, Nathanael Emmons
Nathanael Emmons
Nathanael Emmons , American theologian, was born at East Haddam, Connecticut.He graduated at Yale in 1767, studied theology under the Rev. John Smalley at Berlin, Connecticut, and was licensed to preach in 1769...
, and others. See Professor Park and His Pupils (Boston, 1899), a memorial of his 90th birthday, with articles by R.S. Storrs, G.R.W. Scott, Joseph Cook, G. Frederick Wright, and others.
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