Review the sermon "Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God" by Jonathan Edwards, and answer the following questions.
Part A
Considering the time period during which Edwards delivered the sermon, how might his audience have reacted to his words?
Part B
Throughout his sermon, Jonathan Edwards discusses people’s relationship with God. How does Edwards change or refine the idea of God and people’s relationship with God from the beginning to the end of the excerpt?
To review the sermon "Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God" by Jonathan Edwards and answer the questions, we can follow a step-by-step approach. Here's how you can do it:
Part A: Considering the time period during which Edwards delivered the sermon, how might his audience have reacted to his words?
1. Begin by gaining an understanding of the time period in which Jonathan Edwards delivered his sermon. He delivered it during the First Great Awakening, a religious revival that occurred in the early 18th century in the American colonies.
2. Research the characteristics of the First Great Awakening and the religious climate of the time. The movement was marked by fervent preaching, emotional sermons, and a focus on personal religious experience.
3. Consider the Puritan background of Edwards' audience. Puritans believed in the doctrine of predestination and stressed the concepts of sin and divine judgment. They held a strong belief in God's wrath and punishment for sin.
4. With this background knowledge, analyze the content and tone of Edwards' sermon. He uses vivid and graphic imagery to describe the horrors of hell and the punishment sinners will face. His goal was to evoke fear and repentance in his audience.
5. Given the religious fervor and fear of divine judgment during this time, it is likely that Edwards' audience would have reacted strongly to his words. They may have been deeply moved, filled with fear, and compelled to examine their own sinful nature.
Part B: Throughout his sermon, Jonathan Edwards discusses people's relationship with God. How does Edwards change or refine the idea of God and people's relationship with God from the beginning to the end of the excerpt?
1. Read the excerpt of the sermon carefully, paying attention to the specific language and arguments Edwards uses.
2. Begin by examining the opening paragraphs of the sermon. Edwards portrays God as an angry, wrathful deity whose justice demands punishment for sin. He emphasizes the precarious position of sinners hanging over the fiery pit of hell.
3. Analyze how Edwards progresses in his sermon. He gradually introduces the possibility of salvation and redemption through Christ. He appeals to his listeners to repent and turn to God.
4. Notice how Edwards uses rhetorical strategies to build tension and lead his audience through emotional highs and lows. He alternates between describing the terrifying consequences of sin and the potential for salvation through Christ's sacrifice.
5. In the conclusion of the sermon, Edwards shifts his focus to the mercy and grace of God. He offers hope and salvation to those who sincerely repent. Edwards emphasizes that it is within their power to reconcile with God and avoid damnation.
By following this process, you should be able to review the sermon "Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God" by Jonathan Edwards and answer both Part A and Part B effectively.