Of the Mortification of Sin in Believers

The Mortification of Sin in Believers is a theological work published in 1656 by English Puritan minister John Owen. This treatise examines the process by which Christians can battle sin and pursue holiness. Owen provides a methodical analysis of sin's effects on believers and outlines practical steps for resisting temptation. He draws extensively from scripture, particularly Romans 8:13, to build his case for the necessity of actively fighting against sin. The text progresses through definitions, warnings, and prescriptions related to mortification - the practice of putting sin to death in one's life. Owen addresses both the roles of human effort and divine grace in this process. This work stands as a foundational text in Protestant spiritual formation, presenting a theology that bridges doctrine and daily practice. The themes of spiritual warfare, sanctification, and the believer's responsibility remain relevant to contemporary religious discourse.

Readers describe this book as challenging but impactful. Many note that Owen's dense writing style requires multiple readings to grasp the concepts. Readers appreciate: - Practical, actionable steps for addressing sin - Deep theological insights backed by scripture - Thorough examination of human nature - Clear methods for self-examination Common criticisms: - Archaic language is difficult to parse - Long, complex sentence structures - Repetitive in places - Some find the tone too severe Ratings: Goodreads: 4.4/5 (2,800+ ratings) Amazon: 4.7/5 (400+ ratings) Sample reader comments: "Had to read each page 2-3 times but worth the effort" - Goodreads "Changed how I view my daily battle with sin" - Amazon "The old English makes this a real slog" - Goodreads "Most convicting book I've read outside Scripture" - Amazon Many readers recommend starting with a modernized version or study guide before attempting the original text.

The Rare Jewel of Christian Contentment by Jeremiah Burroughs The book examines the nature of sin through the lens of discontentment and presents biblical methods for cultivating spiritual peace.

The Pursuit of Holiness by Jerry Bridges This text provides systematic instruction on the practice of personal sanctification and the biblical path to godliness.

The Doctrine of Repentance by Thomas Watson The work presents a comprehensive examination of biblical repentance and its role in the believer's daily battle against sin.

The Enemy Within by Kris Lundgaard This book applies Owen's teachings on indwelling sin to contemporary Christian life through practical application.

Overcoming Sin and Temptation by John Owen and Kelly M. Kapic This modernized compilation of Owen's works on sanctification provides updated language while maintaining the original theological depth.

🔹 John Owen wrote this influential work in 1656 at age 40, during a time when he served as Vice-Chancellor of Oxford University and was a key advisor to Oliver Cromwell. 🔹 The book originated as a series of sermons Owen preached to university students at Oxford, addressing their specific spiritual struggles and temptations. 🔹 Owen's phrase "Be killing sin or it will be killing you" from this book has become one of the most quoted statements in Christian literature about dealing with sin. 🔹 Despite being written in the 17th century, the book has never gone out of print and has been translated into over 40 languages, including recent versions in Mandarin and Korean. 🔹 C.S. Lewis, despite generally disliking Puritan writers, specifically praised this book as "a spiritual treasure" and recommended it to his students at Oxford centuries after Owen wrote it.