Justification by Faith Alone

by Jonathan Edwards

Book by Edwards, Jonathan

Genres: Theology, Christian, Christianity

Hardcover

First published June 1, 2003

About the author

Librarian 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.

Reviews

[Gary · Rating 5 out of 5]

That this book was created from two sermons of Jonathan Edwards is remarkable in that I know of no typical mainline church today whose congregation could attend to, understand, and desire to continue to listen to such sermons. The depth of his message is overwhelming. I must admit that the middle of the book was simply over my head but the explanation of justification by faith alone was made abundantly clear to me. Of special value was Edward's explanation of the book of James' insistence on works as proof of justification. And that truly is how it must be stated. My works do not justify me before a holy God but simply give evidence that He has justified me by Christ's works on the cross and by keeping the Law in my stead. Oh, what a glorious book because of the Word of God on which it stands so sublimely!

[Darnell Wesh · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is justification by faith alone and just that ALONE - which I was happy to see. What I mean is that there is no delving into other related doctrines(i.e. irresistible grace,etc.). Edwards states common arguments that heretics make against justification by faith alone then refutes them, first by logic, and then by scripture. He does a very thorough work and you will leave the book with a greater knowledge of the intricacies of this doctrine and the ability to dialog with those who oppose it.

[Matt Crawford · Rating 5 out of 5]

It is all of grace that is the righteousness of Christ and not of ourselves that we are righteous in God’s eyes. Edwards views this alien righteousness and makes the reader confront the worthlessness of thier efforts. It is necessary because in the days of Jesus and Paul and Edwards stay and in our own day, people are denying blatant doctrine. Edwards goes to length to remind us. That righteousness is not a reward for individual faith. And proof comes in the effective sin, and our works are nothing but filthy rags. It is against the free grace movement and against all exultation of self he does handle the Paul and James debate, but that’s not the main thrust. The main thrust is an appeal to Christ rather than self.

[Knut Kåre · Rating 4 out of 5]

Tough read, with sentences of German length...

It is a classic. I come from a Lutheran tradition and there is much overlap. The main difference is that Lutheran theology, especially when treating justification, tends to address particularly those who struggle spiritually and experience "Anfechtung". Edwards writes as an intellectual and philosopher. It was interesting and good, but lacking the warmth and compassion for the struggling soul that I've learnt to appreciate.

[Connor Hensley · Rating 5 out of 5]

First time reading Edwards, I underestimated how dense this was going to be. Nonetheless, an essential exposition of the doctrine of justification by faith alone, and one that I will have to come back to.

[Josh J · Rating 4 out of 5]

Excellent use of scripture and reason to explain the Magisterial Protestant view of Justification.

[Coyle · Rating 4 out of 5]

Not an easy or fun read, but well worth the effort. Edwards gives his usual full treatment to the question of how we are made right with God.

[Amber Standridge · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent discussion of the relationship between Romans and James in each book's use/treatment of justification - actual v. evidentiary.

[Benjamin Jackson · Rating 5 out of 5]

For anyone out there who still think your works have anything to do with your salvation, or that you are somehow keeping your justification by being a "good boy" please pick up a copy of this book.