JONATHAN EDWARDS
A Guided Tour of His Life and Thought
Jonathan Edwards has had a lasting impact on the church in North America, and beyond. In Jonathan Edwards, Stephen J. Nichols summarized the major themes in Edwards’s thought and provides readers with an overview of Edwards’s life, writings on revival and church life, works of theology and philosophy, and sermons. This biographical approach is a good place to begin to learn about this remarkable Christian.
In recalling what Mark Noll said of Jonathon Edwards, John Piper writes:
… “Edwards’s piety continued on in the revivalist tradition, his theology continued on in academic Calvinism, but there were no successors to his God-entranced world-view.…” The sweet marriage of reason and affection, of thought and feeling, of head and heart, study and worship that took place in the life of Jonathan Edwards has been rare since his day and still is rare.
Jonathan Edwards, a leader in the Great Awakening during the eighteenth century, still has much to teach the church. Stephen J. Nichols, therefore, offers Jonathan Edwards “as an introduction, a gateway into the vast and rewarding life, thought, and writings of Jonathan Edwards.” He does not merely give a chronological ordering of the events of his life but rather intends it for anyone who wants to read Edwards but who needs a little help.
Tim Challies describes the structure of the book as follows:
…It is divided into four sections. The first section, comprising two chapters is dedicated to a short overview of his life, from his upbringing in a Christian home to his untimely death from a failed smallpox inoculation. The following three parts, each comprised of three or four chapters, examine his writings and sermons. Part two examines his writings on revival and church life, part three his writings on theology and philosophy, and part four several of his sermons. Each is presented in the appropriate historical context and is examined in light of the impact it had in his day and in its ongoing relevance to the church today.
Jonathan Edwards undoubtedly has had a lasting impact on the church in North America, and beyond. In Jonathan Edwards, Nichols summarizes the major themes in Edwards’s thought and provides readers with an overview of Edwards’s life, writings on revival and church life, works of theology and philosophy, and sermons. This biographical introduction to his thought and writings is a good place to begin.
Take advantage of this book to learn more about this diligent man of God.