Thesis (Ph.D.)--Boston University / PLEASE NOTE: Boston University Libraries did not receive an Authorization To Manage form for this thesis or dissertation. It is therefore not openly accessible, though it may be available by request. If you are the author or principal advisor of this work and would like to request open access for it, please contact us at open-help@bu.edu. Thank you. / The problem of the dissertation is to discover what John Wesley meant by perfect love. Statements of both approbation and criticism regarding his doctrine are usually made from the vantage of various present-day interpretations. The goal of this study is to describe the type of perfection and love which was uppermost in Wesley's thought. The method used is motif analysis as it is developed by Anders Nygren in his book, Agape and Eros. Nygren's method and motifs (Agape, the New Testament motif; Eros, the Greek motif; Nomos, the Judaistic motif; and Caritas, Augustine's union of the Greek and New Testament motifs) are examined to determine their usefulness for research. While Nygren's description of Agape or New Testament love is not sufficiently complete, his description of the contrasting ways and systems of thought is sufficiently demonstrated to warrant the use of motif research . The method proved to be valuable in the examination of Wesley's thought [TRUNCATED] / 2031-01-01