Jonathan Edwards (1703–1758) has long been regarded as the greatest theologian America has ever produced. He is considered a “Mount Rushmore” figure in the history of Christianity. Due to the availability of his works and new biographies, Edwards is more popular now than even in his own day. One such biography, first published in 1987, was written by Iain Murray entitled, Jonathan Edwards: A New Biography.[1] Based on Murray’s volume, this article will provide a biographical snapshot encapsulating the main highlights of Edwards’ life.
Born on October 5, 1703, into the ministerial family of Timothy Edwards and Esther Stoddard, Jonathan Edwards was the only son of the family (9). His father played an influential role in Edwards’ educational development, teaching him the importance of writing and doing all work with a pen in hand (14). In 1716, Edwards joined the Collegiate School of Connecticut, which would be changed to Yale College by his graduation in 1720. In September of that year, Edwards graduated at the top of his class with a Bachelor of Arts degree (33). He would stay at New Haven to gain the Master of Arts degree.
Between his two degrees, Edwards was converted in 1721, while reading the words of 1 Timothy 1:17. Edwards recounts the moment:
As I read the words, there came into my soul, and was as it were diffused through it, a sense of the glory of the Divine Being…I thought with myself, how excellent a Being that was, and how happy I should be, if I might enjoy that God, and be rapt up in him in heaven, and be as it were swallowed up in him forever! I kept saying, and as it were singing over these words of scripture to myself; and went to pray to God that I might enjoy him, and prayed in a manner quite different from what I used to do; with a new sort of affection (35).
Following his conversion and graduation from Yale College, Edwards began a regular preaching ministry in New York in 1722. From all accounts, his ministry in New York was a time of glorious sanctification and joy in God. Commenting on this period, Edwards wrote, “I had the greatest delight in the holy Scriptures, of any book whatsoever. Oftentimes in reading it every word seemed to touch my heart” (41). Elsewhere, Edwards wrote of 1722 in these terms:
My longings after God and holiness, were much increased…I felt a burning desire to be in everything a complete Christian; and conformed to the blessed image of Christ; and that I might live, in all things, according to the pure, sweet and blessed rules of the gospel (51).
Though his time in New York was not without difficulties, it was treasured by Edwards as a wonderful season of seeing and savoring the excellencies of Christ. Indeed, for Edwards, knowing and enjoying God was the chief end of man and the greatest blessing of heaven: “To go to heaven, fully to enjoy God, is infinitely better than the most pleasant accommodations here” (143).
Between 1722 and 1723, Edwards wrote his seventy “Resolutions.” He was only 19 years old. These resolutions give insight into his prevailing aim to glorify God in heart, mind, and life. Here are a few of his commitments:
Resolved, to live with all my might, while I do live. Resolved, That I will live just so as I can think I shall wish I had done, supposing I live to old age. Resolved, To endeavor, to my utmost, so to act, as I can think I should do, if I had already seen the happiness of heaven and hell torments (43).
These resolutions guided Edwards to live and die without regret.
In 1724, Edwards returned to Yale College as a tutor before joining his grandfather, Solomon Stoddard, as assistant pastor of the church in Northampton. Upon Edwards’ arrival, Stoddard had ministered in Northampton for fifty-seven years (81). Less than a year after his move to Northampton, Edwards married Sarah Pierreport (1727). Solomon Stoddard would die in 1728, which thrust Edwards forward as the pastor of Northampton. The seeds of Edwards’ eventual dismissal was already planted as he took over for his grandfather. Stoddard believed that the Lord’s Supper door should be as open as possible. Murray states, “It is probable that his primary concern was to help individuals who lacked assurance” (271). Stoddard himself articulated that the ordinance “has a proper tendency in its own nature to convert men” (273). Years into his pastorate, Edwards came to a different conclusion than his grandfather and most ministers at that time. By 1744, Edwards determined that “If any person should offer to come into the church without a profession of godliness, I must decline being active in his admission” (275).
In the seventh year of Edwards’ pastorate, there was a period of unique spiritual awakening that he records in his Faithful Narrative of the Surprising Work of God (115).
Throughout his life, Edwards would choose to spend great lengths of time in writing and defending biblical tenets of true spiritual awakening. In fact, two of the most important books by Edwards were The Religious Affections and The Distinguishing Marks of a Work of the Spirit of God, both of which were written to address the topic of spiritual awakening. Edwards was accompanied by “The Grand Itinerant,” George Whitfield. Both men were pillars of the Great Awakening that struck the colonies of America in the 1730s and into the 1740s. Their friendship began with a letter in 1739 before Whitfield made a trip to Northampton in 1740. Another historic friendship arose between Edwards and David Brainerd. In 1747 as Brainerd’s life was almost over, he stayed with Edwards and eventually died in his home. By the Lord’s providence, Edwards most published book would be The Life and Diary of David Brainerd (303).
During Edwards’ life, it was noted by Samuel Hopkins, who lived with Edwards for a time, that “He commonly spent thirteen hours, every day, in his study” (137). Hopkins was one of the first biographers of Edwards, publishing Life of Edwards in 1765 (xxvii). It must be said that this amount of time in his study was not always closed off. Many accounts speak of Edwards’ accessibility. What is to be taken at face value with the quote above concerning Edwards in his study is that he had an amazing work ethic. His discipline gave way to some of the best thinking and writing America has ever seen.
The most difficult stretch of Edwards’ life came during the Lord’s Supper Controversy in Northampton. Also occurring during that time was a discipline case over young men and a handbook for midwives, as well as contention over Edwards’ salary (276–277). The trifold set of obstacles sent his pastorate in Northampton on thin ice. By the halfway point of 1750, Edwards was voted out as pastor over the Lord’s Supper. His farewell sermon was delivered on July 1, 1750, on 2 Corinthians 1:14 (327). The months that followed were strenuous in many ways, but especially financially. Edwards possessed the largest salary of any minister in New England, which at times still did not meet all the family needs (354).
An opportunity to minister to Indians in Stockbridge arose in 1751 (368). There were less than twenty families in Stockbridge. This season would result in enormous blessing to others through Edwards’ writings, like Freedom of the Will. He had far fewer daily distractions in Stockbridge.
Edwards’ productivity made the decision to take over as President of Princeton very difficult. In 1757, Aaron Burr, Edwards’ son in law and President of the College of New Jersey, passed away. Days after his death, his successor was chosen, Edwards (434–435). A council meeting in January of 1758 led Edwards to feel it was his duty to accept the call to Princeton. However, just a month into his presidency, an inoculation against smallpox led to Edwards death at 54 on March 22, 1758 (441).
Jonathan Edwards was a man and minister who loved God in all of his sovereignty, freedom, and glory. For those who desire to see God high and lifted up, an avenue toward that end would be to climb the latter with the great Jonathan Edwards.
[1] Iain H. Murray, Jonathan Edwards: A New Biography (Edinburgh: Banner of Truth, 1987). All parenthetical citations come from this volume.
Light and Heat 