He is known for his opposition to the First Great Awakening and his contributions to the development of Unitarianism and Liberal Protestantism, particularly his insistence on rational religion and defense of universal salvation.

[3] Chauncy was a charter member of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences (1780) and was granted an honorary Doctor of Divinity degree from the University of Edinburgh.

He was recognized by the Massachusetts Historical Society (when his portrait was hung there) as "eminent for his talents, learning, and lover of liberty, civil and religious.

[7] Sometime in the 1750s, Chauncy underwent a thorough scriptural study of Romans and Genesis, coming to the conclusion that all of humanity was destined for eternal salvation.

There were likely two incidents that prompted his publication: 1) Baptist minister Isaac Backus recently published a text decrying the spread of universal salvation across the New England countryside with the itinerancy of universalist ministers John Murray and Elhanan Winchester, and the ever opportunistic Chauncy wanted an opportunity to publicly correct his theological opponent, and 2) the spread of universal salvation required Chauncy to clarify how his own views differed from those promulgated by Murray and Winchester.

Given it was difficult to publish in Boston due to the American Revolution, Chauncy pursued a shorter publication titled "Salvation of All Men" which his peers lambasted.

While initially controversial, his three works were generally received by Boston's clerical and political elite, including diplomat John Adams.