Charles E. Cowman and Martin W. Knapp on the Doctrine of Holiness

This article aims at studying the relationship between Martin Knapp and Charles Cowman from the theological perspective. Martin Knapp deeply influences on the theological and spiritual formation of Charles Cowman. Surely, there is a difference in that Knapp s book reflects the social and ecclesiastical image of the American churches than Cowman s, and Cowman s book is clearer than Knapp s in that it focuses on holiness theology. Nevertheless, Knapp and Cowman had no doubts that their holiness theology was Wesley s teaching, and they were convinced that fourfold gospel was not much different from Wesley s teaching. In that sense, Knapp and Cowman had the pride that the mainline Methodist Church of their times, stained with American secular, authoritative, and liberal theology, was not Wesley s offspring, but that they were “true Wesleyan” closer to Wesley s will (out of text).