An Angry God Argument

Jonathan Edwards, a famous preacher in pre-colonial times, composed a sermon that was driven to alert and inject neo Puritanical fear into an eighteenth century congregation. This Bible based and serious audience sought after religious instruction and enlightenment. Through the sermon "Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God," Edwards offers a very harsh interpretation to humankind. Edwards utilizes various rhetorical techniques to evoke an emotional response in his audience and to persuade the members of his congregation that their wicked actions will awaken a very ruthless and merciless God.

In the sermon “Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God” by Jonathan Edwards, Edwards delivers an intense six hour speech in a very calm demeanor. The message he gives is so powerful that he is able to capture his audience's attention without showing any enthusiasm. Edwards uses powerful diction and pathos to scare his audience into becoming faithful puritans.

The 1700s was a time period of religious revival, people were now beginning to convert from Puritan beliefs to Christianity. This was called The Great Awakening, a great influence to this religious revival was Jonathan Edwards. Jonathan Edwards was a very passionate pastor who in his sermon “Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God” called out unrepentant people he believed had turned their backs against the word of God and had not yet accepted his son Christ or salvation, causing them to be condemned to the pits of hell. In order to express his concern for those who had no yet accepted salvation and were on their way to hell, Jonathan Edwards utilizes rhetorical devices in order to persuade those who neglect God into accepting him and his salvation so they won’t have to live for eternity in hell.

“Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God” is a sermon that was written by Jonathan Edwards “colonial New England minister and missionary who was later considered one of the most prominent and effective preachers and theologians in American history” (Encyclopedia of World Biography). During the period known as the Great Awakening. This period lasted from 1730 to 1755 when Puritanism was in a decline. Edwards came from a long line of Puritan ministers and theologians and he actually became most well-known and a respected leader of faith. Edwards aimed to correct the over-zealousness that had caused the famous Salem witch trials by

Jonathan Edwards's sermon, "Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God" is moving and powerful. His effectiveness as an eighteenth century New England religious leader is rooted in his expansive knowledge of the Bible and human nature, as well as a genuine desire to "awaken" and save as many souls as possible. This sermon, delivered in 1741, exhibits Edwards's skillful use of these tools to persuade his congregation to join him in his Christian beliefs.

In the era that Jonathan Edwards wrote his sermon, “Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God”, things were much simpler. There was no Internet, cable television, or even electricity. To hear news and ideas, they had to be delivered on paper or by word of mouth. New news would be old news by the time it reached whoever wanted it, and it also meant that the story could be changed and only heard in one point of view. “Sinners In the Hands of an Angry God” was written to “awaken” colonists to their sins. Because the sermon is written with point of view of one preacher, many people heard it and took it upon themselves to make it their opinion too. Armed with his highly persuasive sermon, Jonathan Edwards shaped generations of religious lecturing traditions.

For example, when preached to his own congregation in Northampton, “Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God” achieved “limited effect;” however, the same sermon preached in Enfield incited such “shrieks and cries” and “wail[ing]” that Edwards could “never finish[] the sermon.” Because Edwards frequently travelled and challenged authority, he was able to impact many by introducing them to new ideas and style. His preaching style, which differed slightly from many contemporary revivalists, was a passionate yet deliberate method of relating complex concepts to the common people. For instance, he used “fire and brimstone” language in “Sinners…,” stating that “the wrath of Almighty God [was] undoubtedly hanging over a great part of [his] congregation.” When giving these messages, however, “he made no attempt by the elegance of his style or the beauty of his pictures to gratify the taste and fascinate the imagination,” instead relying on an “overwhelming weight of argument” to properly convey his message. This combination of intensity with logical progression brought religious fervor to everywhere he traveled. Edwards’ style and radical methods and ideas gave him unprecedented influence that largely contributed to the period known as the Great Awakening.

Edwards instills fear in his congregation by threatening the wrath of God and what will happen if one does not omit their lives to Him. “So that thus it is, that natural men’ are held in the hand god over the pit of hell; they have deserved the fiery pit, and are already sentenced to it;” (102). Here Edwards uses sharp descriptions to show his congregation that any wrong move can put one in Hell, promoting the practice of religion, more specifically; his church. Edwards also writes and speaks very poetically in such a way that his sermons are delivered with an intense amount of imagery that it seems as if those in attendance are watching a movie. Comparing the earth to God’s hand and the mention of God’s wrath being a loaded bow that is ready to rain down on sinners at any moment, helps add the the fear and the image. Another way Edwards creates his atmosphere is by referring to the mass in front of him as ‘you’. When spoken to in such a personal manner one is more likely to be afraid or concerned about the subject as opposed to the sermon being delivered with a more general

The period of the Great Awakening has truly revolutionized the morals and ethics that not many people are familiar with today. During this time, one sinful action resulted in automatic placement in Hell, and for that individual to endure in endless suffering and agony. Throughout Jonathan Edwards’ sermon, “Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God”, he attempts to instill fear into his audience by stating the consequences of sin for the mere purpose of preventing people from entering Hell. Therefore, through the use of tone shifts within his sermon, he successfully amplified his message and sparked fear to the people.

Jane Austen once said, “My style of writing is very different from yours, ” which reveals how every writer uses different writing styles in order to express their individual intended messages. Writers use numerous stylistic techniques to communicate a particular message to their audience. Jonathan Edward’s Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God, especially, is a powerful and strong example of a writing piece with stylistic techniques that enhances the intended message. Jonathan Edwards first delivered this writing piece in Enfield, Connecticut in 1741. During the time he wrote this sermon, an event called the Great Awakening had sparked, which was a series of religious revivals. Edwards played a major and important role in the Great Awakening

Jonathan Edwards, a preacher during the American Enlightenment period, was mostly known for his sermon, Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God. The Enlightenment, an eighteenth-century movement distinguished by the belief in the power of human reason and by advancements in political, religious, and educational doctrine. Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God was written as a response to the Puritans losing their faith because of the new scientific theories and emphasis on human reason that contradicted the word of God. Jonathan Edwards wrote the sermon to persuade the Puritans that lost faith, by threatening and warning them of the wrath of God. He used this tactic to convince the perplexed Puritans that continuing to sin would guarantee their condemnation to hell.

Jonathan Edward’s “Sinners in the Hand of an Angry God” was a strong and intense sermon, that was well known in the first Great Awakening. This sermon had a huge impact on many sinner , but was targeted mainly to Edward’s puritans in his congregation. He evoked fear in the sinners, while describing the harsh punishments of not repenting the sins to the mighty God. Edwards emphasize his purpose and beliefs of this forgiveness by using rhetorical strategies such as logos, pathos, ethos, imagery, and syntax. His tone and diction also helped to support this purpose which allowed them to understand the seriousness of the situation.

Jonathan Edwards was one of the most famed evangelical preachers in the Age of the Great Awakening. He is best known for his most impactful sermon, “Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God.” Edwards preached with fury and conviction of the All Great our God. He preached for the wanderers; those lost in their spiritual belief. Edwards uses a wide variety of figurative language and rhetorical techniques to urge unregenerate Christians to sanctify their lives and walk devoutly before God, using fear. During this time of recognition, renewal and self-reliance in one’s connection with God, Edwards’ sermon did nothing but illustrate the exact conception of the age of the Great Awakening.

Jonathan Edwards Sermon “ Sinners in the Hands of an angry god” contributed into the Great Awakening, showing that Hell was real, and whoever defied god was put down. Edwards used dark imagery to get his our heads, the meaning that everyone is predestined and anyone can be sent to hell. Edwards says in his sermon that “ God's enemies are easily broken into pieces, they are a heap of light chaff before the whirlwind”(2). Edwards hoped that the imagery and language of his sermon would awaken audiences to the horrific reality that he believed awaited them, should they continue life without their devotion to Christ? This made many people horrified and help start the great Awakening, making Christians more aware of the power of Christ, and increase their devotion to Christ.

Jonathan Edwards, a negative and realistic man, focused on how God is a judgemental god and sinners will be put to a painful death, they should be fearful. He says in the first few lines of his speech, Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God, “So that, thus it is that natural men are held in the hand of God, over the pit of hell; they have deserved the fiery pit.” (Edwards, Pg. 23) Edwards implies that everyone deserves to be in hell and he goes on to say that God is an angry God and that no one had done anything to try to ease His anger. Edwards also played a large role in the Great Awakening. He wanted people to experience Christianity in an intense and emotional way. In his speech, he said, “O sinner! Consider the fearful danger you are in: It is a great furnace of wrath, a wide and bottomless pit, full of the fire of wrath, that you are held over in the hand of that God, whose wrath is provoked and incensed as much against you, as against many of the damned in hell.” (Edwards, Pg. 26) Edward’s speech was opportunity knocking at everyone’s doors. He influenced people to want to be saved in a way that made many fearful of what could happen to them if they weren’t saved or a child of God. Edwards believed that God set the world in motion, but was not active in everyone’s life. Edwards believed that God created the world and