Leonard Woods
Encyclopedia
Leonard Woods was an American
theologian. He was widely known for upholding orthodox Calvinism
over Unitarianism
.
In 1796, Woods graduated from Harvard, and was soon ordained pastor in 1798 of the Congregational Church
at West Newbury, MA. He was the first professor of Andover Theological Seminary and between 1808 and 1846, occupied the seminary's chair of Christian
theology. He helped establish several societies including the American Tract Society
, the American Education Society, the Temperance Society, and the American Board of Commissioners for Foreign Missions
.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
theologian. He was widely known for upholding orthodox Calvinism
Calvinism
Calvinism is a Protestant theological system and an approach to the Christian life...
over Unitarianism
Unitarianism
Unitarianism is a Christian theological movement, named for its understanding of God as one person, in direct contrast to Trinitarianism which defines God as three persons coexisting consubstantially as one in being....
.
In 1796, Woods graduated from Harvard, and was soon ordained pastor in 1798 of the Congregational Church
Congregational church
Congregational churches are Protestant Christian churches practicing Congregationalist church governance, in which each congregation independently and autonomously runs its own affairs....
at West Newbury, MA. He was the first professor of Andover Theological Seminary and between 1808 and 1846, occupied the seminary's chair of Christian
Christian
A Christian is a person who adheres to Christianity, an Abrahamic, monotheistic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus of Nazareth as recorded in the Canonical gospels and the letters of the New Testament...
theology. He helped establish several societies including the American Tract Society
American Tract Society
The American Tract Society is a nonprofit, nonsectarian but evangelical organization founded on May 11, 1825 in New York City for the purpose of publishing and disseminating Christian literature. ATS traces its lineage back through the New York Tract Society and the New England Tract Society to...
, the American Education Society, the Temperance Society, and the American Board of Commissioners for Foreign Missions
American Board of Commissioners for Foreign Missions
The American Board of Commissioners for Foreign Missions was the first American Christian foreign mission agency. It was proposed in 1810 by recent graduates of Williams College and officially chartered in 1812. In 1961 it merged with other societies to form the United Church Board for World...
.
Works
His six primary works are:- Lectures on the Inspiration of the Scriptures (1829)
- Memoirs of American Missionaries (1833)
- Examination of the Doctrine of Perfection (1841)
- Lectures on Church Government (1843)
- Lectures on Swedenborgianism (1848)
- History of Andover Seminary completed by his son, Leonard Woods, Jr. (1848)