F.F. Bosworth
Critical Research and Commentary
on His Life and Ministry
Fred Francis Bosworth (1877-1958), the author of Christ the Healer, was an important leader in the Pentecostal movement in the United States. He played a significant role in the movement during the early 1900s. He also was a key figure in the Divine Healing movement during the 1940s and 1950s. In addition to becoming a famous healing evangelist, he was a prolific author and radio pioneer. He planted churches and held city-wide evangelistic crusades throughout the United States and other countries. His influence on many church groups, especially those in the Pentecostal and Charismatic tradition, remains strong.
Over the years a number of popular writings have been published about Bosworth and his healing ministry. However, only a few sources have provided critical research on his life and his teachings.
Now for the first time, detailed critical research on Bosworth’s entire life history is available. It is presented here through articles, books, unpublished papers, and other resources.
F.F. Bosworth (1877-1958)
Author, Christ the Healer
F.F. Bosworth: An Overview of His Life and Ministry (Preprint)
Papers
“F.F. Bosworth: An Analysis of His Ministry Development Using Social Cognitive Career Theory,” Verbum et Ecclesia; Vol 32, No 1 (April 2011). See article here.
”F.F. Bosworth in South Africa: A Historical Analysis of His Later Ministry and Healing Methodology,” Africa Journal of Pentecostal Studies (December 2007), 76-91. See article here.
“F.F. Bosworth and the Role of Women in His Life and Ministry,” The Journal of the European Pentecostal Theological Association (Vol. XXVII, No. 1, 2007), 25-38. See article here.
“Persecuted for Christ: A Defining Moment in the Life of F.F. Bosworth,” Refleks: Med Karismatisk Kristendom I Fokus (5-1-2006), 89-97. See article here.
“F.F. Bosworth: A Profile in Divine Healing Ministry,” Refleks: Med Karismatisk Kristendom I Fokus (4-2-2006), 71-82. See article here.
Book
F.F. Bosworth: The Man Behind "Christ the Healer." Cambridge: Cambridge Scholars Publishing, 2009.
"This book is about the life and ministry of Bosworth (1877-1958), a Pentecostal pioneer, musician, famous healing evangelist, and the author of Christ the Healer. He reportedly led over a million people to Christ and was considered by scholars and ministers alike to be one of the most successful healing evangelists of his era.
"His writings on divine healing influenced many church leaders of his day, as well many who claim healing ministries today. While many people are familiar with his book, Christ the Healer, few know much about the man behind the book.
"F.F. Bosworth is the first book to offer a critical analysis of Bosworth's life and ministry from the beginning to the end. The purpose of this work is to explore his life and ministry in order to identify and analyze some of the factors that contributed to his success as a famous healing evangelist."
Note: This book, F.F. Bosworth: The Man Behind Christ the Healer, can be purchased here with a 25% discount. Use the discount code (ALL CAPS): BOSWORTH25.
Notes on F.F. Bosworth
"Plagiarism or Just Eerily Similar: A Brief Look at the Writings of F.F. Bosworth and Kenneth E. Hagin." Available here.
"The Ministry of F.F. Bosworth: How He Compares to Other Famous Healing Evangelists of His Time." Available here.
"Why F. F. Bosworth and His Family Moved to Fitzgerald, Ga." Available here.
"Chronology Timeline: Fred Francis Bosworth." Available here.
Other Writings on F.F. Bosworth: A Partial Bibliography. Available here.
Note from Bob Bosworth
"Massive Stroke"
During the early stages of my research on F. F. Bosworth, I reached out to his son, Robert V. Bosworth, for assistance. At the time, his son was living in South Africa, where he and his wife, Stella, ministered through World Outreach Inc. When I contacted Robert Bosworth via email, he replied by saying he would not be able to help me because of a serious illness. His email can be read here. (Photo: Robert and Stella Bosworth, along with their daughters, Linda and Debbie)
Conference Presentation
“Experience as a Catalyst for Healing Ministry: Historical Evidence and Implications From the Life of F.F. Bosworth.” Presented at the 36th Annual Meeting of the Society for Pentecostal Studies in Cleveland, Tenn. Published in SPS Conference Proceedings. March 2007. Available here.
"A Response" by Kimberly Ervin Alexander, Ph.D., presented at the 36th Annual Meeting of the Society for Pentecostal Studies in Cleveland, Tenn. Available here and here. Dr. Alexander is Associate Professor of the History of Christianity at Regent University. She is the author of Pentecostal Healing: Models of Theology and Practice (Blandford Forum, Dorset: Deo, 2006). Visit her faculty page here.
Thesis/Dissertation
F.F. Bosworth: A Historical Analysis of the Influential Factors in His Life and Ministry
University of Pretoria, South Africa, 2010
First published in 1924, Christ the Healer is considered a classic on the subject of divine healing. It remains a popular handbook in churches and Bible schools. The book is a collection of sermons by F.F. Bosworth. In addition to divine healing, it presents a series of messages on miracles, faith and prayer. It also offers a defense for the ministry of divine healing today.
F.F. Bosworth began publishing Exploits of Faith in 1927 as the official magazine of his ministry. The publication featured his sermons, news, and reports about his evangelistic meetings. It promoted his books and carried letters from his readers. Information on his radio programs also was included.
F.F. Bosworth History on Academic Websites
Quick and Easy Ways to Download, Print, and Follow Current Research on the Author of 'Christ the Healer'
By Roscoe Barnes III, PhD
Author, F.F. Bosworth: The Man Behind "Christ the Healer"
Copyright (c) 2018
Biography
Roscoe Barnes III, Ph.D., is an authority on the life of F. F. Bosworth, a once famous healing evangelist and author of Christ the Healer. His research on Bosworth was documented in his doctoral thesis, F.F. Bosworth: A Historical Analysis of the Influential Factors in His Life and Ministry (University of Pretoria).
Barnes is an independent scholar of Church History, specializing in Pentecostalism, Biography, Evangelism, and Divine Healing (see https://independent.academia.edu/RoscoeBarnesIII). He is the author of 12 books, including, F.F. Bosworth: The Man Behind "Christ the Healer" (Cambridge Scholars Publishing, 2009). He also is an award-winning journalist and is widely published in newspapers and magazines.
Barnes' work is cited in a number of books and papers, including An Essential Guide to Baptism in the Holy Spirit by R. Phillips (Charisma House, 2011); Divine Healing: The Formative Years: 1830-1880: Theological Roots in the Transatlantic World by James Robinson (Pickwick Publications, 2011); and God's Generals: The Healing Evangelists by Roberts Liardon (Whitaker House, 2011), among others.
Barnes earned his Ph.D. in Church History and Polity at the University of Pretoria, South Africa. He holds a Master of Arts in Religion from the Lutheran Theological Seminary in Gettysburg, Pa.; and a Bachelor of Science in Biblical Studies from East Coast Bible College in Charlotte, N.C.
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