Spiritual Formation: A Concise Introduction and Guide

107 Pages·2022·1.213 MB·English

by  Corneliu C. Simuț

Spiritual Formation
A Concise Introduction
and Guide
Corneliu C. Simuț
Spiritual Formation
Corneliu C. Simuț
Spiritual Formation
A Concise Introduction and Guide
Corneliu C. Simuț
Aurel Vlaicu University
Arad, Romania
ISBN 978-3-030-97446-6 ISBN 978-3-030-97447-3 (eBook)
https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-97447-3
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To my father,
Gheorghe Simuț (1949–2017),
who taught me always to obey the Lord Jesus
F
oreword
This book is a theological jewel, written by a mature, well-versed scholar
and devoted Christian, on the oxygen of faith in the veins of our fellow-
ship in the body of Christ.
It is written in clear, vibrant English—well-phrased sentences and acces-
sible vocabulary. This makes the book attractive not only to Christians of
all confessions, congregants, students, and scholars alike, but also to peo-
ple of other religious convictions or even no religion at all who share an
interest in spirituality.
By choosing twelve ‘disciples’, professor Simuț deals with the following
theologians on a timeline: Origen, Evagrius, Augustine, à Kempis, Luther,
Calvin, Owen, Pascal, Wesley, Edwards, Spurgeon, and Packer. Each theo-
logian’s work is considered in the light of three questions: ‘Who is this
person, and why is he important?’, then ‘What does he say about spiritual
formation?’, and last ‘What can we learn from him?’ An abstract precedes
each chapter, and a bibliography concludes it. After each chapter, the
extensive list of consulted works is impressive and includes both primary
and secondary sources, classical and contemporary.
These twelve chapters are framed with an Introduction (‘A Concise
Survey of Spiritual Formation’) and a Conclusion (‘Spiritual Formation as
Transformative Reality’), reflecting the author’s views in clear language
and sound theology.
The author consciously presents the array of theologians neutrally and
refrains from value statements or critique. The mere act of selection is, of
course, already a presupposition, but it is done in such a manner that it
transcends a particular Christian tradition.
vii
viii FOREWORD
As the title shows, it deals with spiritual formation, which is perhaps a
term not so familiar to many Christians. The relationship of salvation
between God and humans is so rich and multifaceted that no single word
or concept can express it adequately. It is like the many sides of a diamond:
one’s view on this rich relationship depends on the angle and the light.
There is no such thing as a sequence of salvation as if one could be regen-
erated but not converted. It is all or nothing.
However, certain concepts of this relationship of salvation in Scripture
are philologically in the indicative sense, and others are in the imperative
sense. God always takes the initiative, and humans must respond.
Sanctification thus comes as a command to us: ‘Be holy for I am Holy’—
an appeal that is made to us at least nine times in the Bible.
In the last chapter, Corneliu Simuț shows his understanding of spiritual
formation, i.e., transformative reality. Although the different theologians
discussed did not use the term ‘spiritual formation’ as such, the exposition
of their theologies is presented practically. One could even say that spiri-
tual formation is the daily manual of being a Christian, i.e., applied sancti-
fication. The author’s awareness of the whole of humanity and creation is
to be commended. Sanctification is not limited to the reborn Christians’
inner life but embraces God’s handiwork in total.
Reading, meditation, prayer, and contemplation were the fourfold task
of medieval monks. This led to spiritual discernment which is only possible
through a vital relationship with God which captivates our entire being
preparing us to meet God ‘face to face’, as plainly demonstrated by this
introductory guide to spiritual formation which I highly recommend
without hesitation or equivocation.
Former Dean: Faculty of Theology and Religion Johan Buitendag
University of Pretoria,
Pretoria, South Africa
A
cknowledgements
A handful of friends deserve my deepest gratitude for helping me com-
plete this project, and I would like to take this chance to thank each of
them: Benjamin K. Forrest from Liberty University for giving me the idea
for this book by pushing me to write about spiritual formation; Michael
A. G. Haykin from Southern Baptist Theological Seminary and Toronto
Baptist Seminary for providing me with a proper context to investigate
spiritual formation; Johan Buitendag from the University of Pretoria for
his unconditional support over the past decade which was essential for a
whole range of academic initiatives, including this one; Ian Stackhouse
from Millmead Guildford Baptist Church for his ongoing interest in the
practical aspects of spiritual formation, as well as Elliott Crozat from
Purdue University and Ábrahám Kovács from Debrecen Reformed
Theological University for their useful extremely useful comments about
various aspects of this book. Above all, however, I am profoundly thankful
to my father, Gheorghe Simuț, who sadly is no longer with us, for always
reminding me to ‘obey the Lord Jesus’, as he used to say while he saw me
out whenever I left the house.
ix
c
ontents
1 Introduction: A Concise Survey of Spiritual Formation 1
2 ‘Renewal in Its Various Stages of Progress’: Spiritual
Formation as Divine Journey in Origen Adamantius 7
3 ‘Our Struggle Is for the Contemplation of the Holy
Trinity’: Spiritual Formation as Divine Contemplation in
Evagrius Ponticus 13
4 ‘God, Soul, and Flesh’: Spiritual Formation as Divine
Embodiment in Aurelius Augustine 19
5 ‘Endure Hard Labor for Christ’: Spiritual Formation as
Christological Imitation in Thomas à Kempis 27
6 ‘The Word That Brings the Voice’: Spiritual Formation as
Christological Speaking in Martin Luther 35
7 ‘Christ Had to Become Ours’: Spiritual Formation as
Christological Living in John Calvin 43
8 ‘Universal Obedience Is Essential’: Spiritual Formation as
Constant Mortification in John Owen 49
xi
xii CONTENTS
9 ‘Let Me Never Be Separated from Him’: Spiritual
Formation as Total Submission in Blaise Pascal 55
10 ‘All the Talents He Has’: Spiritual Formation as Christian
Perfection in John Wesley 63
11 ‘They Will Reign in Love’: Spiritual Formation as
Sanctified Affections in Jonathan Edwards 71
12 ‘The Book Has Warmed My Heart’: Spiritual Formation
as Bible Reading in Charles Spurgeon 77
13 ‘We Catechize Because We Must’: Spiritual Formation as
Evangelistic Catechesis in James Packer 83
14 Conclusion: Spiritual Formation as Transformative Reality 91
Index 99