From the Beginning to the End: John Wesley’s Doctrine of Creation
Article by Mark K. Olson
The Golden Chain
To appreciate Wesley’s theology of creation we must pause and take a closer look at his ontology of creation. From his reading of works, like John Ray’s The Wisdom of God Manifested in the Works of Creation and Charles Bonnet’s Contemplation de la Nature, Wesley embraced the popular idea that all creation is structured according to a hierarchical system reminiscing of a great chain. Simpler and more elemental beings are located at the bottom and more complex beings at the top. A basic chart of the chain looks like this:
God
Angels
Humans
Animals
Vegetation
Minerals
This “golden chain,” as Wesley calls it, profoundly shaped his understanding of creation and the new creation.
