from Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God by Jonathan Edwards Feature Menu Introducing the Sermon Literary Focus: Figures of Speech

from Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God by Jonathan Edwards O Sinner! Consider the fearful danger you are in: It is a great furnace of wrath, a wide and bottomless pit, full of the fire of wrath . . .

from Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God by Jonathan Edwards Introducing the sermon This is Edwards’s most famous sermon, delivered in 1741. Edwards, like English philosopher John Locke (1632-1704), believed that everything we know comes from experience understanding and feeling are two distinct kinds of knowledge

from Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God by Jonathan Edwards In this fire-and-brimstone sermon, Edwards uses the metaphor of fire to link his listeners’ experience of fire to the idea of burning in the fires of Hell because of their sins. How do you think Edwards would change his sermon if he were preaching today? [End of Section]

from Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God Literary Focus: Figures of Speech Figures of speech are words or phrases that compare one thing to another, unlike thing. Edwards uses figures of speech to compare God’s wrath to ordinary, everyday things that his listeners could relate to and understand.

from Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God Literary Focus: Figures of Speech Edwards uses personification to focus his audience’s attention. Hell has a mouth and hands. God has hands.

from Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God Literary Focus: Figures of Speech Edwards uses the metaphor of God as an archer. The flight of an arrow is compared to the swiftness of God’s justice. [End of Section]

from Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God Background The “natural men” Edwards was trying to awaken were those in the congregation who knew about the Gospel, that is, the biblical accounts of Jesus’ ministry, death, and resurrection had never made a personal commitment to Jesus were complacent in their religious tradition [End of Section]

Quickwrite

from Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God Quickwrite Make the Connection Many people would agree that fear is one of the most powerful motivators of human behavior. Fear of injury makes us buckle our seat belts. Fear of failure makes us study or work harder. Edwards and other pastors used harsh warnings in their sermons to make “sinners” understand the precariousness of their situation by actually feeling the fear and horror of their sinful state. Do you think fear is a great motivator? Write about what motivates you and whether you would use fear to motivate someone else. [End of Section]

Vocabulary

from Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God Vocabulary Previewing the Vocabulary provoked v. used as adj.: angered appease v.: calm; satisfy constitution n.: physical condition contrivance n.: scheme; plan inconceivable adj.: unimaginable; beyond understanding omnipotent adj.: all-powerful

from Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God Vocabulary Previewing the Vocabulary abhors v.: scorns; hates abominable adj.: disgusting; loathsome ascribed v.: regarded as coming from a certain cause induce v.: persuade; force; cause

from Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God Vocabulary Vocabulary Activity: Synonyms Match the synonyms in the left-hand column with the Vocabulary words in the right. enraged ___ unimaginable ___ attributed ___ satisfy ___ all-powerful ___ persuade ___ e a. omnipotent b. induce c. inconceivable d. appease e. provoked f. ascribed c f d a b [End of Section]

Meet the Writer

from Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God Meet the Writer Jonathan Edwards (1703–1758) was not merely a stern, zealous preacher. He was a brilliant, thoughtful, and complicated man. Science, reason, and observation of the physical world confirmed Edwards’s deeply spiritual vision of a universe filled with the presence of God. More About the Writer [End of Section]