Edwards the Exegete: Biblical Interpretation and Anglo-Protestant Culture on the Edge of the Enlightenment

by Douglas A Sweeney

Scholars have long recognized that Jonathan Edwards loved the Bible, but preoccupation with his roles in Western "public" life and letters has eclipsed the significance of his biblical exegesis. In Edwards the Exegete, Douglas A. Sweeney fills this lacuna, exploring Edwards' exegesis and its significance for Christian thought and intellectual history. As Sweeney shows, throughout Edwards' life the lion's share of his time was spent wrestling with the words of holy writ. After reconstructing Edwards' lost exegetical world and describing his place within it, Sweeney summarizes his four main approaches to the Bible-canonical, Christological, redemptive-historical, and pedagogical-and analyzes his work on selected biblical themes that illustrate these four approaches, focusing on material emblematic of Edwards' larger interests as a scholar. Sweeney compares Edwards' work to that of his most frequent interlocutors and places it in the context of the history of exegesis, challenging commonly held notions about the state of Christianity in the age of the Enlightenment. Edwards the Exegete offers a novel guide to the theologian's exegetical work, clearing a path that other specialists are sure to follow. Sweeney's significant reassessment of Edwards' place in the Enlightenment makes a major contribution to Edwards studies, eighteenth-century studies, the history of exegesis, the theological interpretation of Scripture, and homiletics.

Genres: Theology

407 pages, Kindle Edition

First published November 1, 2015

Reviews

[Josh · Rating 4 out of 5]

Quite an achievement: Sweeney's book represents a massive amount of research and expertise on Edwards (the endnotes are over half the length of the book), and yet still manages to be clear and readable. His main contention? You cannot understand Edwards unless you view him most fundamentally as an exegete of Scripture. All other lenses on America's theologian/philosopher must be subordinated to this one: a man who gave himself thoroughly to the study of Scripture as the canonical, Christo-centric, redemptive historical, and doctrinal word of God.

[Dr. David Steele · Rating 4 out of 5]

Illuminating and inspiring. A great read.

[Tom · Rating 5 out of 5]

So good I didn't want to finish it. But a book I will return to. Sweeney does a masterful job of navigating JE's exegetical method and the application to the Bible and its key themes and doctrines. Along the way, he demonstrates compellingly that Edwards was, above all, and exegete for the good of the church, God's people. For this, I give great thanks to the Lord. For any fan of Edwards, this book will be a joy to read.

Lastly, a special thanks to my dear wife who bought this for me as a Christmas gift as I'd have struggled to buy it for myself given the cost.

[David Luke · Rating 5 out of 5]

Brilliant academic study of Edwards. Whilst the study is excellent the endnotes are a real treasure trove for anyone researching Edwards. Sweeney is probably one of the top two Edwards scholars in the world. He really understands Edwards and this book demonstrates that to the full.