This conversation delves into Jonathan Edwards’s theological system, focusing on his vision for a comprehensive work on redemption history. It explores the structure of his theology, emphasizing the cyclical nature of providence, as well as the tri-level approach to articulating theology according to the “three worlds” of heaven, earth, and hell. The discussion highlights how Edwards’s unique approach to theology integrates various aspects of divine action and human history, providing a framework for understanding the interconnectedness of all theological concepts.
Chapters
00:00 Exploring Edwards’s Theological Vision
02:59 The Structure of Redemption History
05:53 The Cyclical Nature of Providence
09:13 Tri-Level Doctrine: Heaven, Earth, and Hell
The Jonathan Edwards Project
I started something I call “The Jonathan Edwards Project” years ago as an attempt to make the writings of Jonathan Edwards more accessible. Edwards is an important figure in all sorts of ways, but he is often misread or commandeered to agendas that are foreign to his thinking. To understand evangelical theology, it is important to know Edwards’s thinking, but also critique it when needed. Here is a developmental list of resources I’ve published and edited for that end.
101 - Charity and Its Fruits: Living in the Light of God’s Love, edited and introduced by Kyle Strobel (Crossway, 2012). This is the best place to start reading Edwards.
Jonathan Edwards: Spiritual Writings Classics of Western Spirituality Series edited with Ken Minkema and Adriaan Neele (Paulist Press, 2019). This is a collection of key texts on Edwards’s spirituality. This is a great volume for key selections from across Edwards’s writings.
201 - Formed for the Glory of God: Learning from the Spiritual Practices of Jonathan Edwards (IVP, 2013). This tries to capture the vision of early evangelical spirituality.
301 - I’m working on this right now, and I’m really excited about it. More to come.
401 - Jonathan Edwards: An Introduction to His Thoughtco-authored with Oliver Crisp (Eerdmans, 2018). This introduction to Edwards’s thought is used in graduate school courses on Edwards. It is an introduction, and so it does not assume knowledge of Edwards’s thought specifically, but it does assume an academic background.
501 - Jonathan Edwards’s Theology: A Reinterpretation (T&T Clark, 2013). This is a re-worked version of my dissertation on how to read Edwards’s theology. It serves as a methodological work on reading Edwards as a Reformed theologian.
Other works:
Reformed Dogmatics in Dialogue: The Theology of Karl Barth and Jonathan Edwards co-edited with Uche Anizor (Lexham Press, 2022).
Regeneration, Revival, & Creation: Religious Experience and the Purposes of God in the Thought of Jonathan Edwards with Chris Chun (Pickwick Publications, 2020).
The Ecumenical Edwards: Jonathan Edwards and the Theologians (Ashgate Publishing, 2015).
