Thomas Goodwin (1600–1679) was not merely a Puritan divinity or a learned commentator; he was a pastor-theologian whose pulpit exposition of Scripture shaped generations of preachers and private devotion alike. If you’re a pastor, a theology student, or a reader hungry for devotional depth, Goodwin rewards patient reading with theological rigour, pastoral tenderness, and sermon-shaping insight.
Why read Goodwin?
- Paul-centered exegesis: Goodwin’s lifelong engagement with Paul above all his exposition of Ephesians makes him one of the finest interpreters of Pauline theology. His sermons unpack doctrines like union with Christ, sealing by the Spirit, and Christ dwelling in believers with pastoral warmth and theological clarity.
- Scripture-first method: Even when writing systematic or polemical works, Goodwin begins with a Bible text and “studies it down.” His theology is rooted in close exegesis rather than abstraction, which makes his doctrine eminently preachable.
- Pastoral practicality: Goodwin’s writing combines loftiness and accessibility. He is deeply learned—citing church fathers, scholastics, Reformers, and contemporaries—yet his style remains conversational, pastoral, and confessional. He speaks to conscience, experience, and heart as much as to intellect.
- Theological breadth with spiritual depth: Across his twelve-volume corpus you’ll find treatises on the Mediatorship of Christ, the Holy Spirit, election, conscience, regeneration, and church government, but also intensely personal pastoral works like The Heart of Christ in Heaven towards Sinners on Earth and Growth in Grace. He writes for humbled hearts as much as for sharpened minds.
- Homiletical riches: Goodwin’s sermons are long and layered, but richly rewarding. He models how to feed an intelligent congregation: candid about textual difficulties, generous with historical theology, and eager to involve the listener in the interpretive journey.
Highlights worth reading first
- Ephesians (sermons): A masterclass in Pauline exposition. Read the sermons on “sealed with the Holy Spirit” and “Christ dwelling in our hearts by faith.”
- “Patience and Her Perfect Work”: A consoling sermon born from personal loss (his burned library), invaluable for pastoral care in suffering.
- The Heart of Christ in Heaven towards Sinners on Earth (volume 4): Richly pastoral Christology that comforts and exalts.
- Growth in Grace and The Three Select Cases (especially “A Child of Light Walking in Darkness”): Practical resources for ministers and counselees wrestling with assurance, growth, and temptation.
- On Conscience (volume 6): A subtle, robust treatment that belongs alongside Butler and Chalmers for any preacher preaching on conscience and moral responsibility.
How Goodwin reads and teaches
- He reads widely and wisely: Fathers, scholastics, Reformers, and contemporaries all appear in his work, but always under Scripture’s authority.
- He mixes learned debate with pastoral humility: Even when polemical (e.g., on church government), his tone is reasoned, moderate, and fair-minded.
- He blends intellect and affection: Goodwin’s theology is philosophical and systematic at times, but never dry—doctrine is always meant to serve devotion and ministry.
Practical tips for using Goodwin in ministry
- Don’t try to read everything at once. Start with a single homiletical treat (Ephesians sermons or Growth in Grace) and use it as a sermon-studies companion.
- Use him for sermon depth, not as your only voice. Let Goodwin deepen your doctrine and enlarge your imagination about Scripture; combine his insights with crisp contemporary delivery.
- Mine his charts of thought for illustrations and pastoral applications he is rich in memorable metaphors and practical formulations (e.g., “Eye not the promises, but the Promiser”).
- Consult him on pastoral cases: the Three Select Cases ( ‘A Child of Light Walking in Darkness,’ ‘The Return of Prayers,’ and ‘The Trial of a Christian’s Growth’ from Volume 3 of his Collected works) remain superb models of case-divinity precise, sympathetic, and biblically rooted.
Goodwin is not merely an historian’s curiosity or a dusty classic. He is a working theologian for pastors: one who trains the mind in biblical truth and the heart in pastoral compassion. If you want to preach Paul with theological depth and tender pastoral power, put Thomas Goodwin on your desk and let him sit there long enough to change your preaching and your soul.