Matthew Henry's View on Reviving Primitive Christianity
Matthew Henry, a prominent Nonconformist commentator, frequently emphasized the importance of adhering to the foundational truths and practices of early Christianity, often contrasting them with what he perceived as deviations in his own time. His commentaries reveal a consistent call for a return to what he considered "primitive Christianity."
Henry believed that the gospel did not originate from any single church or group, but rather came to them, implying a universal standard that should not be confined or altered by local preferences [1]. He rebuked the Corinthians for their "extravagant pride and self-conceit" in managing their spiritual gifts, suggesting they acted as if Christianity originated with them or was exclusively theirs [1]. This highlights his view that the essence of Christianity is not subject to human innovation but is rooted in its original revelation.
He saw opposition to Christ and Christianity as a recurring theme, noting how the Pharisees and Sadducees, despite their internal disagreements, united in opposing Christ because his teachings challenged their respective errors and traditions [2]. This historical observation underscores his belief that genuine Christianity often faces resistance from those who cling to human traditions over divine truth.
For Henry, the core of primitive Christianity included fundamental doctrines such as the resurrection of the dead, which some Corinthians denied, either by allegorizing it or rejecting it on rationalistic grounds [5]. He stressed that true faith involves a personal, internal witness to Jesus Christ, where an individual has "deeply seen his sin, and guilt, and misery, and his abundant need of such a Saviour" [4]. This internal conviction, coupled with the belief that Jesus is the Christ, signifies being "born of God" [7].
Furthermore, Henry advocated for practical expressions of faith, such as "holy love" among believers, which he considered a "new command" essential for the vitality of religion [3]. He also charged Christians to pray for all people, especially those in authority, seeing this as a general duty without prescribing specific forms of prayer [6]. His concern was that believers maintain the "bond of sacred love" and not allow their hearts to become "alienated from him" or the truth of the gospel [3, 8]. Henry's writings consistently point back to the original teachings and practices of the apostles as the benchmark for authentic Christian life and doctrine.
Sources
- 1 Corinthians (Nonconformist/Puritan) “Matthew Henry on 1 Corinthians 14:36: In these verses the apostle closes his argument, 1. With a just rebuke of the Corinthians for their extravagant pride and self-conceit: they so managed with their spiritual gifts as no church did like them; they behaved in a manner by themselves, and would not easily endure control nor regulation. Now, says the apostle, to beat down this arrogant humour, "Came the gospel out from you? Or came it to you only? Co1 14:36. Did Christianity come our of Corinth? was its original among you? Or, if not, is it now limited and confined to you? are you the only churc”
- Matthew (Nonconformist/Puritan) “Matthew Henry on Matthew 16:1: We have here Christ's discourse with the Pharisees and Sadducees, men at variance among themselves, as appears Act 23:7, Act 23:8, and yet unanimous in their opposition to Christ; because his doctrine did equally overthrow the errors and heresies of the Sadducees, who denied the existence of spirits and a future state; and the pride, tyranny, and hypocrisy of the Pharisees, who were the great imposters of the traditions of the elders. Christ and Christianity meet with opposition on all hands. Observe, I. Their demand, and the design of it. 1. The demand was of a ”
- 1 John (Nonconformist/Puritan) “Matthew Henry on 1 John 2:12: This new command of holy love, with the incentives thereto, may possibly be directed to the several ranks of disciples that are here accosted. The several graduates in the Christian university, the catholic church, must be sure to preserve the bond of sacred love. Or, there being an important dehortation and dissuasion to follow, without the observance of which vital religion in the love of God and love of the brethren cannot subsist, the apostle may justly seem to preface it with a solemn address to the several forms or orders in the school of Christ: let the inf”
- 1 John (Nonconformist/Puritan) “Matthew Henry on 1 John 5:10: In those words we may observe, I. The privilege and stability of the real Christian: He that believeth on the Son of God, hath been prevailed with unfeignedly to cleave to him for salvation, hath the witness in himself, Jo1 5:10. He hath not only the outward evidence that others have, but he hath in his own heart a testimony for Jesus Christ. He can allege what Christ and the truth of Christ have done for his soul and what he has seen and found in him. As, 1. He has deeply seen his sin, and guilt, and misery, and his abundant need of such a Saviour. 2. He has seen”
- 1 Corinthians (Nonconformist/Puritan) “Matthew Henry on 1 Corinthians 15:1: It is the apostle's business in this chapter to assert and establish the doctrine of the resurrection of the dead, which some of the Corinthians flatly denied, Co1 15:12. Whether they turned this doctrine into allegory, as did Hymeneus and Philetus, by saying it was already past (Ti2 2:17, Ti2 2:18), and several of the ancient heretics, by making it mean no more than a changing of their course of life; or whether they rejected it as absurd, upon principles of reason and science; it seems they denied it in the proper sense. And they disowned a future state o”
- 1 Timothy (Nonconformist/Puritan) “Matthew Henry on 1 Timothy 2:1: Here is, I. A charge given to Christians to pray for all men in general, and particularly for all in authority. Timothy must take care that this be done. Paul does not send him any prescribed form of prayer, as we have reason to think he would if he had intended that ministers should be tied to that way of praying; but, in general, that they should make supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks: supplications for the averting of evil, prayers for the obtaining of good, intercessions for others, and thanksgivings for mercies already received. Pa”
- 1 John (Nonconformist/Puritan) “Matthew Henry on 1 John 5:1: I. The apostle having, in the conclusion of the last chapter, as was there observed, urged Christian love upon those two accounts, as suitable to Christian profession and as suitable to the divine command, here adds a third: Such love is suitable, and indeed demanded, by their eminent relation; our Christian brethren or fellow-believers are nearly related to God; they are his children: Whosoever believeth that Jesus is the Christ is born of God, Jo1 5:1. Here the Christian brother is, 1. Described by his faith; he that believeth that Jesus is the Christ - that he i”
- Galatians (Nonconformist/Puritan) “Matthew Henry on Galatians 4:12: That these Christians might be the more ashamed of their defection from the truth of the gospel which Paul had preached to them, he here reminds them of the great affection they formerly had for him and his ministry, and puts them upon considering how very unsuitable their present behaviour was to what they then professed. And here we may observe, I. How affectionately he addresses himself to them. He styles them brethren, though he knew their hearts were in a great measure alienated from him. He desires that all resentments might be laid aside, and that they w”