Thomas Erskine
Encyclopedia
Thomas Erskine of Linlathen (October 13, 1788 – March 20, 1870) was a Scottish advocate
and lay theologian
in the early part of the 19th century. With his friend the Reverend John McLeod Campbell
he attempted a revision of Calvinism
.
, near Dunfermline
. The colonel's son was John Erskine of Carnock
whose second son, David, was a writer to the signet, and purchased the estate of Linlathen, near Dundee
; by the death without surviving issue of his elder brothers, it came into the possession of Thomas Erskine in 1816.
After to his father's death when he was very young, Erskine was left largely to the care of his maternal grandmother, Mrs. Graham of Airth Castle
, a Stirling of Ardoch
, Episcopalian
and a strong Jacobite
. Erskine was educated at the Edinburgh High School, a school in Durham
, and the University of Edinburgh
, and was admitted a member of the Faculty of Advocates
in 1810. He took a place in the literary society of Edinburgh.
Inheriting by the death of his brother James the estate of Linlathen, Erskine retired from the bar, and gave himself up to the study of questions of theology. He travelled and made friends including Thomas Carlyle
, Arthur Penrhyn Stanley
, Alexander Ewing
, F. D. Maurice, Lucien-Anatole Prévost-Paradol
, Alexandre Vinet
, Adolphe Monod
, and Madame de Broglie. He initially wrote extensively on contemporary religious controversies.
In 1831 the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland
deposed John McLeod Campbell, minister of Row, for preaching the doctrine of universal atonement
. Erskine strongly supported Campbell, and went further in doctrine.
When Erskine died at home in 1870, his last words were: "Lord Jesus!"
These books all passed through several editions. Erskine also authored The Brazen Serpent (1831), and then wrote The Doctrine of Election, a lengthy treatise on the theological doctrine of predestination and interaction with Paul's Letter to the Romans, which appeared in 1837. This was the final work during his lifetime.
A posthumously published work was The Spiritual Order and Other Papers (1871). Two volumes of his letters, edited by William Hanna, appeared in 1877.
, self-taught in theology. He emphasized the loving side of God's nature, supported the universal atonement
of Christ, and was critical of the typical federal theology of the Scottish Calvinism of his time.
The work The Doctrine of Election has a purpose and theme that may be summed up as follows:
As Erskine studied the Bible text he became convinced that it "presented a history of wondrous love in order to excite gratitude, of a high and holy worth, to attract veneration and esteem. It presented a view of danger, to produce alarm; of refuge to confer peace and joy; and of eternal glory, to animate hope." A quote shows some of his thinking:
"regard[ed] [Erskine's] ideas as the best contribution to dogmatics which British theology has produced in the present century." He influenced especially Frederick Denison Maurice, Alexander John Scott and George MacDonald
.
Advocate
An advocate is a term for a professional lawyer used in several different legal systems. These include Scotland, South Africa, India, Scandinavian jurisdictions, Israel, and the British Crown dependencies of Jersey, Guernsey and the Isle of Man...
and lay theologian
Lay theologian
A lay theologian is a theologian who is not an ordained clergyman.Among lay theologians are the following:* George Abbot * Thomas J. J. Altizer* Joseph T. Bayly* Edward Musgrave Blaiklock* Nicholas Cabasilas* Chung Hyun Kyung...
in the early part of the 19th century. With his friend the Reverend John McLeod Campbell
John McLeod Campbell
John McLeod Campbell was a nineteenth century Scottish minister who has also been called Scotland's most creative Reformed theologian of the same century...
he attempted a revision of Calvinism
Calvinism
Calvinism is a Protestant theological system and an approach to the Christian life...
.
Life
He was the youngest son of David and Ann Erskine. His great-grandfather was Colonel John Erskine of CarnockCarnock
Carnock is a village located in Fife, Scotland, approximately northwest of Dunfermline and 1 mile east of Oakley, Fife. The village is said to be named for St. Cearnock, a disciple of St. Ninian...
, near Dunfermline
Dunfermline
Dunfermline is a town and former Royal Burgh in Fife, Scotland, on high ground from the northern shore of the Firth of Forth. According to a 2008 estimate, Dunfermline has a population of 46,430, making it the second-biggest settlement in Fife. Part of the town's name comes from the Gaelic word...
. The colonel's son was John Erskine of Carnock
John Erskine of Carnock
John Erskine of Carnock was a Scottish jurist and professor of Scottish law at the University of Edinburgh...
whose second son, David, was a writer to the signet, and purchased the estate of Linlathen, near Dundee
Dundee
Dundee is the fourth-largest city in Scotland and the 39th most populous settlement in the United Kingdom. It lies within the eastern central Lowlands on the north bank of the Firth of Tay, which feeds into the North Sea...
; by the death without surviving issue of his elder brothers, it came into the possession of Thomas Erskine in 1816.
After to his father's death when he was very young, Erskine was left largely to the care of his maternal grandmother, Mrs. Graham of Airth Castle
Airth Castle
Airth Castle is a castle overlooking the village of Airth and the River Forth, in the Falkirk area of Scotland. The castle is currently operated as a hotel and spa....
, a Stirling of Ardoch
Ardoch
Ardoch Roman Fort is an archaeological site just outside the village of Braco in Perthshire, Scotland, about 7 miles south of Crieff. At Ardoch are the remains of a Roman fort and castra which included Ardoch Tower...
, Episcopalian
Scottish Episcopal Church
The Scottish Episcopal Church is a Christian church in Scotland, consisting of seven dioceses. Since the 17th century, it has had an identity distinct from the presbyterian Church of Scotland....
and a strong Jacobite
Jacobitism
Jacobitism was the political movement in Britain dedicated to the restoration of the Stuart kings to the thrones of England, Scotland, later the Kingdom of Great Britain, and the Kingdom of Ireland...
. Erskine was educated at the Edinburgh High School, a school in Durham
Durham
Durham is a city in north east England. It is within the County Durham local government district, and is the county town of the larger ceremonial county...
, and the University of Edinburgh
University of Edinburgh
The University of Edinburgh, founded in 1583, is a public research university located in Edinburgh, the capital of Scotland, and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The university is deeply embedded in the fabric of the city, with many of the buildings in the historic Old Town belonging to the university...
, and was admitted a member of the Faculty of Advocates
Faculty of Advocates
The Faculty of Advocates is an independent body of lawyers who have been admitted to practise as advocates before the courts of Scotland, especially the Court of Session and the High Court of Justiciary...
in 1810. He took a place in the literary society of Edinburgh.
Inheriting by the death of his brother James the estate of Linlathen, Erskine retired from the bar, and gave himself up to the study of questions of theology. He travelled and made friends including Thomas Carlyle
Thomas Carlyle
Thomas Carlyle was a Scottish satirical writer, essayist, historian and teacher during the Victorian era.He called economics "the dismal science", wrote articles for the Edinburgh Encyclopedia, and became a controversial social commentator.Coming from a strict Calvinist family, Carlyle was...
, Arthur Penrhyn Stanley
Arthur Penrhyn Stanley
Arthur Penrhyn Stanley was an English churchman, Dean of Westminster, known as Dean Stanley. His position was that of a Broad Churchman and he was the author of works on Church History.-Life and times:...
, Alexander Ewing
Alexander Ewing
Alexander Ewing was a Scottish church leader.He was born of an old Highland family in Aberdeen, Scotland. In October 1838 he was admitted to deacon's orders, and after his return from Italy he took charge of the episcopal congregation at Forres, and was ordained a presbyter in the autumn of 1841...
, F. D. Maurice, Lucien-Anatole Prévost-Paradol
Lucien-Anatole Prévost-Paradol
Lucien-Anatole Prévost-Paradol was a French journalist and essayist.Prevost-Paradol was born in Paris, France, the son of an irregular liaison between the opera singer Lucinde Paradol and the writer Léon Halévy...
, Alexandre Vinet
Alexandre Vinet
Alexandre Rodolphe Vinet , was a Swiss critic and theologian.-Life:He was born near Lausanne in Switzerland.Educated for the Protestant ministry, he was ordained in 1819, when already teacher of the French language and literature in the gymnasium at Basel; and throughout his life he was as much a...
, Adolphe Monod
Adolphe Monod
Adolphe-Louis-Frédéric-Théodore Monod , was a French Protestant churchman. His elder brother was Frédéric Monod....
, and Madame de Broglie. He initially wrote extensively on contemporary religious controversies.
In 1831 the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland
General Assembly of the Church of Scotland
The General Assembly of the Church of Scotland is the sovereign and highest court of the Church of Scotland, and is thus the Church's governing body[1] An Introduction to Practice and Procedure in the Church of Scotland, A Gordon McGillivray, 2nd Edition .-Church courts:As a Presbyterian church,...
deposed John McLeod Campbell, minister of Row, for preaching the doctrine of universal atonement
Universal atonement
Universal atonement may refer to two subtly but significantly different concepts:*unlimited atonement, the Christian doctrine that Jesus died for the sake of all people, making salvation available for all; the doctrine is generally associated with Jacobus Arminius.*universal reconciliation, the...
. Erskine strongly supported Campbell, and went further in doctrine.
When Erskine died at home in 1870, his last words were: "Lord Jesus!"
Works
He was known as the author of:- Remarks on the Internal Evidence for the Truth of Revealed Religion (1820);
- an Essay on Faith (1822); and
- Unconditional Freeness of the Gospel (1828).
These books all passed through several editions. Erskine also authored The Brazen Serpent (1831), and then wrote The Doctrine of Election, a lengthy treatise on the theological doctrine of predestination and interaction with Paul's Letter to the Romans, which appeared in 1837. This was the final work during his lifetime.
A posthumously published work was The Spiritual Order and Other Papers (1871). Two volumes of his letters, edited by William Hanna, appeared in 1877.
Views
Erskine was an EpiscopalianScottish Episcopal Church
The Scottish Episcopal Church is a Christian church in Scotland, consisting of seven dioceses. Since the 17th century, it has had an identity distinct from the presbyterian Church of Scotland....
, self-taught in theology. He emphasized the loving side of God's nature, supported the universal atonement
Universal reconciliation
In Christian theology, universal reconciliation is the doctrine that all sinful and alienated human souls—because of divine love and mercy—will ultimately be reconciled to God.Universal salvation may be related to the perception of a problem of Hell, standing opposed to ideas...
of Christ, and was critical of the typical federal theology of the Scottish Calvinism of his time.
The work The Doctrine of Election has a purpose and theme that may be summed up as follows:
The current form of Calvinistic doctrine goes against human experience and the real message of Scripture. The powers of good and evil, of God and the self, strive within every person's soul. A person's 'elective will' in one's own personality determines with which of the other two wills one chooses to side. This last will only chooses which of the two shall be dominant. Thus, God inwardly encourages us to choose the good, the true and the beautiful—we are not agents of our own good decision making, but rather we choose that which God has already chosen for us.
As Erskine studied the Bible text he became convinced that it "presented a history of wondrous love in order to excite gratitude, of a high and holy worth, to attract veneration and esteem. It presented a view of danger, to produce alarm; of refuge to confer peace and joy; and of eternal glory, to animate hope." A quote shows some of his thinking:
Christ, the gift of God's present forgiving love to every man and woman, is the door through which alone we can enter into our provision of hope. Until we know the love of our Father's heart to us, as manifested in Christ, the future must always be to us at best a dark and doubtful wilderness. But when we know that all that we have conceived of our Father's love, is as nothing to the reality—that he is indeed love itself—a love passing knowledge—a shoreless, boundless, bottomless ocean-fountain of love, of holy, sin-hating, sin-destroying love, which longs over us that we should be filled with itself—and be by it delivered from the power of evil—then, indeed, we are saved by hope, for we know that love must triumph and fulfill all its counsel.
Reputation
In his day and time he was influential on theologically forward thinking pastors and theologians. The German church historian Otto PfleidererOtto Pfleiderer
Otto Pfleiderer was a German Protestant theologian.-Biography:He was born at Stetten in Württemberg. From 1857 to 1861 he studied at the University of Tübingen under FC Baur, and afterwards in England and Scotland...
"regard[ed] [Erskine's] ideas as the best contribution to dogmatics which British theology has produced in the present century." He influenced especially Frederick Denison Maurice, Alexander John Scott and George MacDonald
George MacDonald
George MacDonald was a Scottish author, poet, and Christian minister.Known particularly for his poignant fairy tales and fantasy novels, George MacDonald inspired many authors, such as W. H. Auden, J. R. R. Tolkien, C. S. Lewis, E. Nesbit and Madeleine L'Engle. It was C.S...
.
Further reading
- Henry F. Henderson, Erskine of Linlathen: Selections and Biography, Oliphant Anderson and Ferrier, London, 1899;
- Trevor HartInstitute for Theology, Imagination & the ArtsThe Institute for Theology, Imagination and the Arts is an institute within St Mary's College, the School of Divinity at the University of St Andrews, Scotland, which 'aims to advance and enrich an active conversation between Christian theology and the arts - bringing rigorous theological thinking...
, The Teaching Father: An Introduction to the Theology of Thomas Erskine of Linlathen, St. Andrew Press, Edinburgh, 1993; - Nicholas R. Needham, Thomas Erskine of Linlathen: his life and theology, Rutherford House Books, Edinburgh, 1990;
- Donald F. Winslow, Thomas Erskine: Advocate for the Character of God, University Press of America, New York, 1993;
- Philip E. Devenish, Christianity and Conscience: The Revisionary Calvinism of Thomas Erskine of Linlathen, Unpublished Manuscript, 1997;
- Don Horrocks, Laws of the Spiritual Order: Innovation and Reconstruction in the Soteriology of Thomas Erskine of Linlathen, Paternoster Press, (Studies in Evangelical History and Thought), Waynesboro, Georgia, 2004.
- Thomas F. Torrance, Scottish Theology from John Knox to John McLeod Campbell, T. and T. Clark, Edinburgh, 1996.
- Markus Mühling, Die Zurechtbringungslehre Thomas Erskines of Linlathen, in: Markus Mühling, Versöhnendes Handeln – Handeln in Versöhnung. Gottes Opfer an die Menschen, Vandenhoeck & Ruprecht, Göttingen, 2004, 183–229.
- Markus Mühling, McLeod Campbell und Erskine of Linlathen im kritischen Vergleich, in: Markus Mühling, Versöhnendes Handeln – Handeln in Versöhnung. Gottes Opfer an die Menschen, Vandenhoeck & Ruprecht, Göttingen, 2004, 251–254.