God of grace and God of glory : an account of the theology of Jonathan Edwards / Stephen R. Holmes.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Holmes, Stephen R.

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Edwards, Jonathan, 1703-1758.

Edwards, Jonathan.

Theology, Doctrinal--United States--History--18th century.

Theology, Doctrinal.

History.

United States.

Physical Description:

xiv, 289 pages ; 23 cm

Other Title:

God of grace & God of glory

Place of Publication:

Grand Rapids, Mich. : William B. Eerdmans Pub. Co., 2001.

Summary:

Jonathan Edwards is increasingly recognized as one of the church's most interesting and significant theologians, yet synthesizing his thought has proven difficult. This new study by Stephen Holmes finds a key to the whole of Edwards's theology in the concept of "glory."

Using as his starting point the thesis of a work Edwards left for publication when he died -- that God's fundamental decision that there should be something other than himself is based on a desire to promote the overflow of his own glory -- Holmes shows how Edwards's use of "glory" uncovers a decisive trinitarian dynamic and also clarifies his thought in such areas as creation, salvation, the church, and his notorious descriptions of hell.

Edwards's theology is expounded and generally celebrated, yet Holmes also identifies a major flaw in his thought: Edwards failed to make his discussion of perdition coherent with his overall theological vision. In a final chapter that moves beyond historical exposition to more systematic discussion, Holmes shows how this flaw nevertheless enables a deeper understanding both of Edwards's own thought and of the wider Reformed tradition.

Based on readings of all of Edwards's major works and making use of important unpublished materials, this book provides a comprehensive introduction to Edwards for non-specialists and, at the same time, makes an original contribution to Edwards scholarship.

Contents:

1 Jonathan Edwards, Theologian 1

2 A Vision of Glory: Edwards' Quest for God's Fundamental Purpose 31

3 The Glory of Creation 77

4 'God Glorified in the Work of Redemption' 125

5 The Community of God's Glory 169

6 God's Self-Glorification in the Damnation of Sinners 199

7 God of Grace and God of Glory 241.

Notes:

Revision of the author's thesis (doctoral--Spurgeon's College).

Includes bibliographical references (pages [273]-284) and index.

ISBN:

0802839142

OCLC:

46916583