Samuel Hopkins (theologian)
Samuel Hopkins (September 17, 1721 – December 20, 1803) was an American Congregational theologian and pastor who is considered one of the most important figures in the development of New Divinity theology, a modification of Calvinism that arose in the wake of the First Great Awakening.
Hopkins was born in Waterbury, Connecticut and graduated from Yale College in 1741. He studied theology under Jonathan Edwards in Northampton, Massachusetts. After a short period as a schoolteacher, he was ordained as pastor of the Congregational Church in Great Barrington, Massachusetts in 1743, where he served until 1769. He then became pastor of the First Congregational Church in Newport, Rhode Island, a position he held until his death.
Hopkins’s theological system, often referred to as Hopkinsianism, emphasized several key doctrines:
- Disinterested Benevolence: This doctrine argued that true virtue consists in a disinterested love for being in general, rather than a self-interested pursuit of personal happiness. Hopkins believed that genuine conversion involved a willingness to be damned for the glory of God, if that were His will.
- Moral Depravity: Hopkins maintained a strong Calvinistic view of human depravity, arguing that all individuals are born with a corrupt nature that makes them incapable of doing good without divine grace.
- Governmental Theory of Atonement: This theory, while not original to Hopkins, was prominently featured in his theology. It posits that Christ's death was a demonstration of God's justice and a vindication of His law, rather than a payment of a debt owed to God by humanity.
- Decrees and Divine Sovereignty: Hopkins affirmed the Calvinistic doctrine of God's absolute sovereignty and the divine decrees, holding that God has foreordained all things that come to pass.
Hopkins was a strong advocate for the abolition of slavery. He preached against the institution and refused to commune with slaveholders. His views on slavery, combined with his other radical theological ideas, often made him a controversial figure.
His major works include Sin, thro’ Divine Interposition, an Advantage to the Universe (1759), An Inquiry Concerning the Future State of Those Who Die in Their Sins (1783), A System of Doctrines Contained in Divine Revelation (1793), and The Life and Character of Miss Susanna Anthony (1796).
Hopkins's theology had a significant impact on the development of American religious thought. His emphasis on disinterested benevolence and his strong stance against slavery influenced later generations of reformers and theologians. He is considered a key figure in the New Divinity movement and a significant contributor to American intellectual history.