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The End for Which God Created the World
A Dissertation Concerning the End for Which God Created the World is a work by Christian theologian, reformer, author, and pastor Jonathan Edwards that was started in the mid-1750s but not finally published until after his death in 1765. This dissertation was published concurrently with The Nature of True Virtue. The two works have much in common, specifically the assertion that God's aim in creating the world was not human happiness but his own glory.
117 pages, Paperback
Published October 26, 2023
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About the author
Jonathan Edwards
1,604 books523 followersLibrarian Note: There is more than one author in the Goodreads database named Jonathan Edwards.
Jonathan Edwards was the most eminent American philosopher-theologian of his time, and a key figure in what has come to be called the First Great Awakening of the 1730s and 1740s.
The only son in a family of eleven children, he entered Yale in September, 1716 when he was not yet thirteen and graduated four years later (1720) as valedictorian. He received his Masters three years later. As a youth, Edwards was unable to accept the Calvinist sovereignty of God. However, in 1721 he came to what he called a "delightful conviction" though meditation on 1 Timothy 1:17. From that point on, Edwards delighted in the sovereignty of God. Edwards later recognized this as his conversion to Christ.
In 1727 he was ordained minister at Northampton and assistant to his maternal grandfather, Solomon Stoddard. He was a student minister, not a visiting pastor, his rule being thirteen hours of study a day. In the same year, he married Sarah Pierpont, then age seventeen, daughter of Yale founder James Pierpont (1659–1714). In total, Jonathan and Sarah had eleven children.
Stoddard died on February 11th, 1729, leaving to his grandson the difficult task of the sole ministerial charge of one of the largest and wealthiest congregations in the colony. Throughout his time in Northampton his preaching brought remarkable religious revivals.
Yet, tensions flamed as Edwards would not continue his grandfather's practice of open communion. Stoddard believed that communion was a "converting ordinance." Surrounding congregations had been convinced of this, and as Edwards became more convinced that this was harmful, his public disagreement with the idea caused his dismissal in 1750.
Edwards then moved to Stockbridge, Massachusetts, then a frontier settlement, where he ministered to a small congregation and served as missionary to the Housatonic Indians. There, having more time for study and writing, he completed his celebrated work, The Freedom of the Will (1754).
Edwards was elected president of the College of New Jersey (later Princeton University) in early 1758. He was a popular choice, for he had been a friend of the College since its inception. He died of fever at the age of fifty-four following experimental inoculation for smallpox and was buried in the President's Lot in the Princeton cemetery beside his son-in-law, Aaron Burr.
Jonathan Edwards was the most eminent American philosopher-theologian of his time, and a key figure in what has come to be called the First Great Awakening of the 1730s and 1740s.
The only son in a family of eleven children, he entered Yale in September, 1716 when he was not yet thirteen and graduated four years later (1720) as valedictorian. He received his Masters three years later. As a youth, Edwards was unable to accept the Calvinist sovereignty of God. However, in 1721 he came to what he called a "delightful conviction" though meditation on 1 Timothy 1:17. From that point on, Edwards delighted in the sovereignty of God. Edwards later recognized this as his conversion to Christ.
In 1727 he was ordained minister at Northampton and assistant to his maternal grandfather, Solomon Stoddard. He was a student minister, not a visiting pastor, his rule being thirteen hours of study a day. In the same year, he married Sarah Pierpont, then age seventeen, daughter of Yale founder James Pierpont (1659–1714). In total, Jonathan and Sarah had eleven children.
Stoddard died on February 11th, 1729, leaving to his grandson the difficult task of the sole ministerial charge of one of the largest and wealthiest congregations in the colony. Throughout his time in Northampton his preaching brought remarkable religious revivals.
Yet, tensions flamed as Edwards would not continue his grandfather's practice of open communion. Stoddard believed that communion was a "converting ordinance." Surrounding congregations had been convinced of this, and as Edwards became more convinced that this was harmful, his public disagreement with the idea caused his dismissal in 1750.
Edwards then moved to Stockbridge, Massachusetts, then a frontier settlement, where he ministered to a small congregation and served as missionary to the Housatonic Indians. There, having more time for study and writing, he completed his celebrated work, The Freedom of the Will (1754).
Edwards was elected president of the College of New Jersey (later Princeton University) in early 1758. He was a popular choice, for he had been a friend of the College since its inception. He died of fever at the age of fifty-four following experimental inoculation for smallpox and was buried in the President's Lot in the Princeton cemetery beside his son-in-law, Aaron Burr.
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
November 15, 2024
Perhaps, I was aware that reading a 3rd book by Jonathan Edwards would be frustrating, but I was willing to take the chance. I was disappointed with a lot of this book, especially the first 50%. In the first half of the book he talked about all that could be discovered about God by reason. I disagree; the only things that comes from the carnal mind of man about God. leads to idolatry, to the creation of false gods. The knowledge of the true God comes only from His revelation of Himself in Scripture.
In the 2nd half of the book, he does share what the Bible show us about God and His purpose in creating the world. Even here, he gets distracted by side issues and at times seems to be off topic.
The book, at least the second half, is worth reading as it does show us much of what the Bible tells us about the purpose of God in creation.
In the 2nd half of the book, he does share what the Bible show us about God and His purpose in creating the world. Even here, he gets distracted by side issues and at times seems to be off topic.
The book, at least the second half, is worth reading as it does show us much of what the Bible tells us about the purpose of God in creation.
September 16, 2021
Had the pleasure of working through this great theological work in a class taught by Dr. Joe Rigney, who knows his stuff when it comes to Edwards. If we don’t know why God created in the first place, we’ll get all sorts of things wrong in consequence.
"God communicates himself to the understanding of the creature, in giving him the knowledge of His glory; and to the will of the creature, in giving Him holiness, consisting primarily in the love of God: and in giving the creature happiness, chiefly consisting in joy in God. These are the sum of that emanation of divine fullness called in Scripture, the glory of God."
"God communicates himself to the understanding of the creature, in giving him the knowledge of His glory; and to the will of the creature, in giving Him holiness, consisting primarily in the love of God: and in giving the creature happiness, chiefly consisting in joy in God. These are the sum of that emanation of divine fullness called in Scripture, the glory of God."
May 15, 2017
A cogent argument that God made the world primarily for His glory. This primary end does not exclude another goal: our happiness. Since we were made to worship Him, our obedience to His design brings us delight and Him glory.
As an old American choral piece puts it:
“Thine be the glory, man’s the boundless bliss!”
The writing style and argumentation is heavily philosophical – beware!
As an old American choral piece puts it:
“Thine be the glory, man’s the boundless bliss!”
The writing style and argumentation is heavily philosophical – beware!
October 11, 2023
A true classic from America's greatest theologian. In this short but deep work, Edwards lays out the truth that the end for which God created the world was for himself, his glory in particular. What a wonderful truth to meditate on.
January 18, 2024
The focus and purpose of this book is great, and very informative. Just got to be long winded at times and hard to read, but overall great. It was full of biblical arguments and explained God’s end beautifully.
January 6, 2025
This book could be argued to be one of the most definitive books for the centrality of God’s glory in the Reformed church. Through both careful reason and abundant biblical exegesis, Edwards systematically argues that God’s highest purpose in everything he does is his own glory, and that God’s pursuit of his own glory is the greatest news the Christian can receive. This book does not read like most contemporary books as Edwards is much more systematic in his arguments, but it is well worth the wrestling through his logical proofs to see the glorious reality of God’s pursuit of his own glory!
October 9, 2023
It's not easy to read because the style is that of the 18th Century. However, the theological richness of Edwards bores into the soul.
August 18, 2024
Solid, and insightful in surprising ways. Very important read.
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews