A Short Life Of Jonathan Edwards (2008) - Plot & Excerpts
Jonathan Edwards is best known, perhaps, for his somewhat frightening sermon -- Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God -- but this is only part of his legacy. Considered by scholars of American religion one of America's most influential theologians and philosophers, he helped form an evolving Puritanism during the middle part of the 18th century. Though he died prior to the Revolution he was a contemporary of Benjamin Franklin and George Whitfield. While a fully loyal British citizen, he was one of the principle theological influencers of the Great Awakening that ultimately helped undermine loyalty to the crown.While extremely influential on the broader stage, he found it difficult to pastor his own congregation. In part this was due to his desire to see a permanent awakening in his congregation, where lives exhibited the transformation he expected. In addition, he sought to role back some of his Grandfather's reforms that loosened membership expectations. Although at first on good relations with younger members, he began to lose them as he aged and became more hardened in his views. He dies relatively young -- mid 50s -- soon after taking up the post of President of Princeton, a post he took on after his son-in-law Aaron Burr, Sr. died. Yes, Edwards was the grandfather of the infamous Aaron Burr who shot Alexander Hamilton. In addition he was a fountainhead of what became the New Divinity Movement exemplified by Samuel Hopkins and his own son Jonathan Edwards, Jr. Having written an expansive biography of Edwards for Yale University press, George Marsden offers us a much shorter account that is both readable and accessible. Highly recommended! A great listen on audio book. Frankly, I think just hearing any book read by Grover Gardner is a plus for the book before even considering the content! (Can you tell I like listening to him read audio books?) This is a short biography compared to Marsden's other lengthy treatment (of which I have not read). By Marsden's own statement this is not an abridgment of it though. He opens the book by comparing and contrasting Benjamin Franklin and Jonathan Edwards in a very helpful way. This comparison and contrast continues through out the book at points. This is not a devotional biography though there is spiritual encouragement from the example and writings of Edwards in it. The last chapter is the most explicit about the teaching and impact of Edwards. I admire Marsden's objectivity regarding Edwards. He was a man who had his warts and who was progressively being sanctified within the confines of his own times. It is a biography that is expansive in terms of the context of Edwards' life. That I think is a major strength of it because one does not get lost in the weeds. But I must say, it does leave you wanting to read more. This is a good introductory biography that will make you thirsty to read lengthier treatments.
What do You think about A Short Life Of Jonathan Edwards (2008)?
A very nice and brief biography of Edwards with a comparision to his contemporary Benjamin Franklin.
—Scarlet
Very good - adds to the story his larger bio of Edwards tells.
—calmitchill
Piqued my interested in learning more about Edwards
—Utkrist
