Jonathan Edwards 1703 1758 Background Information n Important

Jonathan Edwards (1703 -1758)

Background Information n Important role in the shaping of The Great Awakening (1730 -1755) n Grandfather of Aaron Burr n Was the fifth of eleven children n He entered Yale College in 1716, at just under the age of thirteen. n He was a scholar-pastor his rule being thirteen hours of study a day.

The Great Awakening A series of several religious revivals n Began in the 1730’s n

George Whitefield One of the major ministers during this first revival (in addition to Edwards) was George Whitefield n One of the founders of Methodism. n

Structure and Delivery of a Puritan Sermon n 1. Epigraph-reading of a Biblical epigraph, explanation of its meaning and its Biblical context. n 2. Exposition- demonstration of scriptural evidence, reasoning, establishing the validity of the doctrine

Structure cont. n 3. Application-statement of how the doctrine applies to one’s personal, spiritual and family lives and to the immediate community. n 4. Epilogue-call to action, emotional appeal.

Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God (1741) n Sermon written by Edwards and preached on July 8, 1741 n “Their foot shall slide in due time. ” n Deuteronomy 32: 35 (5 th book of the Bible)

“Fire and Brimstone” tradition

Parallel between the Puritans and the Israelites (chosen by God to be God’s first followers) n “Vengeance of God on the wicked, unbelieving Israelites” n

Themes Imminence of destruction n Seeds of destruction are there, just momentarily stayed, restrained by God. n The danger of death and damnation that faces the unconverted n

Imagery n Figurative or descriptive language in a literary work used by the author to create a mental or sensory image in the reader.

An Angry God