A Jonathan Edwards Reader (Yale Nota Bene) [Paperback]

Jonathan Edwards (Author), John E. Smith (Editor), Harry S. Stout (Editor), Kenneth P. Minkema (Editor)

Book Description

Series: Yale Nota Bene | Publication Date: March 11, 2003

Prepared by editors of the series "The Works of Jonathan Edwards", this anthology includes selected treatises, sermons and autobiographical material by Jonathan Edwards, early America's great theologian and philosopher.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"Jonathan Edwards remains unequalled among North American theologians. These selections exemplify his special traits: eloquence, knowledge of the human heart, and metaphysical passion for complex beauty in nature, God, and Being-in-general." Richard R. Niebuhr, Hollis Professor of Divinity Emeritus, The Divinity School, Harvard University "Selections representative of both the public and the private Edwards give readers a nuanced introduction to Edwards and his time as well as an accessible entree to the whole body of his work." Booklist "The most comprehensive one-volume Edwards anthology ever assembled." Gerald R. McDermott, Religious Studies Review

About the Author

John E. Smith, Harry S. Stout, and Kenneth P. Minkema are editors of the multivolume series The Works of Jonathan Edwards, published by Yale University Press.

Product Details

• Paperback: 384 pages
• Publisher: Yale University Press (March 11, 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0300098383
• ISBN-13: 978-0300098389
• Product Dimensions: 7.4 x 5 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 9.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #68,248 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Discover books, learn about writers, read author blogs, and more.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

38 of 38 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Great anthology, August 22, 2000

By 

Jeremy Pierce (Syracuse, NY) - See all my reviews

This review is from: A Jonathan Edwards Reader (Paperback)

This book contains excellent choices from the writings of Jonathan Edwards, the first great philosopher in the American colonies, including some of his earliest writings, mostly just philosophical or biological musings. It reflects some interesting developments in the maturation of his thinking. It also has letters to friends, colleagues, and family members. Some of his most well-known sermons are alongside some representative samples of his sermons. Unfortunately, there is room for only excerpts from his longer works, such as The Religious Affections, but that can't be helped in an affordable popular anthology. If you want all of his works, but the complete works from the same publisher. If you just want a representative sample of some of the best works of this great theologian and philosopher, get this.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Good Selections, Too Abridged, August 27, 2009

By 

Alan Reynolds (Franklinton, NC) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: A Jonathan Edwards Reader (Yale Nota Bene) (Paperback)

This was the required primary text reading for a class on Edwards. When it was all said and done, I was very disappointed. There is a wide selection of Edwards' works in this volume--sermons, letters, essays and treatises. It was helpful to be able to read parts from so many of these works. Edwards' writings can be quite varied, and this volume really allows the reader to see the difference in his writings.

But......

The editorial process on each work is rough. Admittedly, several of the works are quite lengthy in their full text, and you would just need to buy the two volume version of Edwards' works (and a magnifying glass) if you wanted the full texts. However, some of these texts are cut so short that you don't really get a feel for Edwards' real argument. I'm specifically thinking about his treatise on Original Sin, where you only get some of his natural arguments, and little (if any) of his biblical and theological arguments. The same could be said about the treatise on Free Will. This is unfortunate, as it makes Edwards look to be more of a philosopher and less of a theologian. Edwards was clearly both.

The editors had no choice but to chop Edwards' works into small pieces for this volume. However, it would have been nice to see the multifaceted nature of his arguments, instead of being left with a few odd ramblings.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Jonathan Edwards Reader, October 5, 2009

By 

Barry OConnell (Amherst, MA USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: A Jonathan Edwards Reader (Yale Nota Bene) (Paperback)

It has everything important for a beginning reader of Edwards, beautifully edited. I chose it for classroom use and it was just right.