Plans for Holy War: How the Spiritual Soldier Fights, Conquers, and Triumphs

In one of the most expansive treatments of spiritual warfare, Puritan John Arrowsmith paints Christianity as the battle between the seed of the woman and the serpent. Beginning with Genesis 3:15, Arrowsmith explores themes of military duty, battle against the evil one, and the Christian’s victory and triumph in the Scriptures and classical writings. Arrowsmith’s work stands out among writings on spiritual warfare for its depth of research, its insistence that our warfare is chiefly theological, and its attempt to blend polemical and pastoral theology. He regarded his written efforts as “emissaries of evangelical piety, guardians and avengers of orthodoxy, interpreters of some of God’s oracles, and protective deities in many difficulties.” Carefully translated by David C. Noe with an extensive introduction by Chad B. Van Dixhoorn, this edition of Plans for Holy War presents modern readers with an exceptional and unique guide to spiritual warfare.

Publisher: Reformation Heritage Books
Type: Hardback
ISBN: 9798886860887

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John Arrowsmith (1602–1659) was a distinguished pastor-theologian. He ministered at St. Nicholas’s Church in King’s Lynn and at St. Martin Pomary in London, and in the 1640s served as a leading member of the Westminster Assembly. He distinguished himself at the University of Cambridge by serving as master of St. John’s College, master of Trinity College, Regius Professor of Divinity, and as vice-chancellor of the University.

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“It is hard to describe this book without using superlatives. First, you have the monumental work done by David Noe in translating the work. Then you have the lengthy and insightful biography and analysis by Chad Van Dixhoorn introducing the work. And then you have the work itself, written by the seventeenth-century pastor-scholar and Westminster divine John Arrowsmith. All three facets of this volume represent a remarkable achievement. Most of all, Arrowsmith's exploration of spiritual warfare in the life of the Christian is noteworthy: equal parts creative, daunting, intellectual, inspirational, challenging, and comforting. The publication of Arrowsmith's magnum opus in English should interest pastors, scholars, and serious Christians who desire to engage in the holy war that really matters.” Kevin DeYoung, senior pastor, Christ Covenant Church, Matthews, North Carolina; associate professor of systematic theology, Reformed Theological Seminary (Charlotte)