Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God

Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God

3.75 of 5 stars 3.75  ·  rating details  ·  697 ratings  ·  71 reviews
This is a reprint of Jonathan Edward's famous sermon. Many have said it is the most famous sermon ever preached. The sermon was first delivered in Enfield, MA on July 8, 1741. The sermon had an amazing impact on the audience.
Published (first published 1741)
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Seif Salama
Apr 04, 2013 Seif Salama rated it 3 of 5 stars
Recommended to Seif by: ECLT 310 Reading
On July 8th 1741 Edwards preached his most famous sermon, "Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God" to a Church in Enfield, Connecticut, USA. It was a word of light imparted to darkened souls and many came to faith experiencing true `heart religion'. It was based on Deuteronomy 32:35 "Their foot shall slide in due time". Jonathan Edwards gave a clear picture of the predicament of every unbeliever and lukewarm Christian. Edwards used compelling words and images to describe the shaky position of thos...more
Arnaldo Ibarrientos
One of the most famous sermons ever produced, Jonathan Edwards caused a revival of mass hysteria that led to the Great Awakening when he preached this. The images he employed were great and useful for the time he preached it. At the age of sixteen, I already had an admiration for men like him along with other great preachers such as C.H. Spurgeon and Cotton Mathers.

This wasn’t about fear as it was more about the call to holiness. This would not be a popular sermon in this day and age of cozy fee...more
Isaac
This book is amazing. I could not properly review any of this without pointing out the amazing spiritual level that the puritans walked in. This book is on my 'still reading' section, and will probably remain so for a long time as I've found I need to read each sermon slowly, without interuption, and sometimes several times in order to fully assimilate the truths laid out.
The puritans are often portrayed as all hellfire and brimstone (as typified by the sermon which titles this book), yet the fa...more
Joe Dantona
There is much truth in this sermon. God's wrath is real and is leveled against evil and evil-doers.

Edwards takes John 8:23 out of context and changes the meaning. He was trying to make the point that people are sinful, therefore we are not only destined to Hell but are also "from Hell" in a sense and that we belong there.

But he uses a verse where Jesus is saying He is from Heaven and the Jews are not, and that is why they ought to listen to Him but don't.
Do we belong in Hell? What about "the fir...more
Lee Harmon
This is a little pocketbook sermon Edwards preached in Enfield, Massachusetts in 1741. From the back cover: “With this marvelous sermon, Jonathan Edwards changed history and helped spark a spiritual awakening … Historians recognize Edwards as one of the most brilliant men of all times.”

The torments of hell are vividly described, but according to the book, “Throughout the sermon Edwards demonstrates the utmost compassion for the lost.” See if you can locate the compassion in this quotation from t...more
Skylar Burris
Rhetorically? Beautiful. Masterful. Theologically? Not so much.

Is the God who seeks out the very last, lost sheep though he have 99 secure the same God of Edward’s sermon, holding with anger and disdain a spider over a pit of fire? Edward’s God is always overturning the tables of the money changers and never overturning the house in desperate, loving search for the last lost coin.

Though Edward’s God is not God as I understand him from the Gospels, I confess that, for some reason, I am really em...more
Keiki Hendrix
Jonathan Edwards' sermon "Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God" narrated by Max McLean will take your breathe away. This is the pure, unadulterated, hard hitting Truth that, once heard, simply cannot leave you as you were before you heard it.

This sermon is regarded by many as the most famous sermon ever delivered. Written by (or perhaps through) one of the greatest American Theologians. It begins with the Word from Deuteronomy 32:35 '..their foot shall slide in due time', and with these words, t...more
Stevie
A humbling preaching of God’s Word and His wrath

Poignant Quotes:

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, and are already sentenced to it; and God is dreadfully
provoked, his anger is as great towards them as to those that are actually suffering the
executions of the fierceness of his wrath in hell, and they have done nothing in the least to
appease or abate that anger, neither is God in the least bound by any promise to...more
booklady
Reflecting on Edward’s sermon, there’s nothing technically wrong with it and yet still it doesn’t ring true. It doesn’t sound like the same God I have come to know through the Jesus I’ve met in the Gospels. Where is the Abba, Father we are supposed to address our prayers to?

Yes, Jesus does become angry in the Gospels. In the Gospel of Mark in particular, Jesus is portrayed as rather impatient, brusque even. He curses the fig tree—symbolic of barren Israel and a parable on the fate of Jerusalem—a...more
Ben
A very powerful and moving sermon given by Edwards. That said, it is perhaps a bit overdone to accomplish his noble affect of "scaring the hell out of people."

It is clear that Christianity today sadly finds the "wrath of God" as politically incorrect, Edwards view is perhaps not entirely accurate either in terms of how he portrays God. Yes, God is angry and wrathful toward sinners, but He is at the same time compassionate and merciful to them. Edwards does address this point, but fails to make...more
Brandon
This is a truly valuable book. It appears that the publisher offers it for historical interest primarily but for those of us who count ourselves the spiritual descendents of the American Puritans these sermons are very much alive. So far I am amazed with Increase Mather's "Predestination and Human Exertions" and John Cotton's "The Life of Faith."
Timothy McNeil
This book (the DTE version) was a labor from the beginning to the end. It runs the gamut from musngs about immersion in Faith to lectures about the wrongness about falling asleep in church (I have to wonder what else there would be to do on a Puritanical Sunday, so sleeping through a sermon seems to be the fault of the preacher) to a justification for rebellion against the Crown to a poorly reasoned rational approach to accepting God's greatness to the titular warning about how Angry God is goin...more
Matt Fagaly
most likely one of the worst representations of Christianity I've ever read. It doesn't help that I was forced to read this sadistic sermon from a young age, and that I actually found it 'soul-empowering.' I once viewed this as an enriching, passionate cry from a respectable theologian. A new perspective has brought me to determine this is anything BUT enriching. Only worth reading as a silly 'spook-the-kids' fable, or if you're a staunch, life-denying Christian fatalist like Edwards was.
Mark A Powell
One of the most famous sermons ever preached in American history is transcripted in this book. It’s hard to review a sermon the way one would review a book, because much of the power in preaching comes from the work of the Spirit in that time and place. That said, Edwards’ message about the reality of hell, the guilt of humanity, and the righteous judgment of God remains a poignant, much-needed message in our postmodern age.
Michael E.
Definitely a fire-and-brimstone sermon. Very powerful, and full of great truths. Edwards really focuses on God's wrath, and the restraint he has in moderating that wrath for the present. For me, the balancing point is this point is God's amazing love, mercy, and grace that He has also given. These points are sort of glossed over by Edwards, but those elements were not part of his point.
Mark Cooper
[Audio & Book:] To read, or better to listen to this sermon, it is easy to understand why it was so powerful. We are too quick to view God as a doting old grandfather-type who simply winks at our sins. It's jarring to think of Him as this sermon presents Him, infinitely provoked at our sinfulness and able at any moment to cut us loose to fall into the fires of Hell. Yet He loves us (why is hard to grasp) and provided a single Way of escaping this righteous condemnation by sending His Son to...more
George King
After reading this sermon, I would suggest reading Joyce's Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man. The exteneded "fire and brimstone" sermon in the latter work is truly horrifying. Of course, Joyce's intent was satirical; Edwards' was not. I gave "Sinners" a 5 because it is the epitome of its genre, even though I hold Christianity in low regard.
Becky Cantor
Fabulous! The imagery and structure of this frightening sermon are intense. Important to remember that most of Edwards's sermons were very different from this, much more level-headed and loving. Scary to realize that people still see this as "truth." I put this on my non-fiction shelf, but only because Edwards thought it was the truth, not because I do.
Chuck O'Connor
Frightening in its logical progression and theological clarity. This is an important piece to read if one wants to understand the moral divide between conservatives and progressives in America today. I think that Edwards should be studied for his ideas and their impact on modern America as much as we study Jefferson, Madison, Hobbes and Locke. It is important to better see the perspective of those who believe why America is exceptional and how we claim the status of a "Shining City on a Hill"
Randall Walton
What an amazing sermon, well delivered thoughts through imagery. I think a few sermons like this would help today. It would certainly make some "Christians" survey their spiritual life or lack there of in many cases. The sermon I would think made some people very strong in their faith in God when it was first delivered.
Rock Rockwell
Edwards classic sermon that HE READ to his congregation which resulted in people screaming out to God in repentance. It is noted that even people who were walking on the street in front of the church were 'drawn' into the church where they heard the message and converted to Christianity on the spot. Edwards' message would not be well received in our contemporary culture because it isn't a sweet message of "don't worry, be happy!" but rather "repent or go to hell!" The message hangs us by a threa...more
Anthony Ewell
That was a great sermon delivered by Johnathan Edwards. The message was great, we need more messages like that preached today. The Gospel message is very powerful..The Great Awakening was a great period in the history of the church. The Protestant Reformation brought out of it many awakenings...
Kelsey
Intense and convicting. Edwards emphasizes the infinite holiness and power of God, His abhorrence of sin, and His sovereignty; however, I think a more full picture of the gospel would include more on the grace and mercy of God instead of focusing almost solely on His wrath.
Brad
A good sermon, that is a good reminder of our status as sinners before God. However, I found that it emphasizes the *reality* of God's anger at the expense of exploring the *reason* for that anger-- our sin (by which I don't mean individual sins we commit, but the depravity of our nature). While I appreciated the ideas immensely, as a whole message it felt underdeveloped.
Shoelace
Gave me sth to think about. I take his thoughts as good excuses for such behaviour towards people (Israelites in this case) who other people don't (want to) accept. still applicable.

+ The beauty of the world -> like it, also good thoughts.
Jer
im doing a project for school and was wondering if anybody can help me with the review of this book, i dont know how to read a book on this cite or anything can someone please help and give me a few quotes and the base of the story !
Brad Ormonde
If this book does not convict you, I don't know what will! One of the greatest works of Jonathan Edwards. It will leave you on your knees in a much stronger and much more closer relationship to God. Highly recommended!!
Tony
Sep 16, 2012 Tony added it
The sermon itself is totally unlike what it is often portrayed as by secular historians. One wonders why more preachers who profess to believe the scriptures still do not preach anything like this.
Alex4J
Some may believe the cruelty of God depicted in Edwards book as outrageous, I say, Edwards has cleverly depicted the word of God regarding heaven, hell and the very decision we must all make.


Aase Marit
Had to read this for my American Literature class. As much as I do not agree with the content of the text, I found his use of language quite interesting.
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Sinners In The Hands Of An Angry God (Paperback)
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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 fou...more
More about Jonathan Edwards...
Religious Affections The Life and Diary of David Brainerd Freedom of the Will Jonathan Edwards' Resolutions: And Advice to Young Converts Charity & Its Fruits

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“Unconverted men walk over the pit of hell on a rotten covering.” 14 people liked it
“That the reason why they are not fallen already and do not fall now is only that God's appointed time is not come. For it is said, that when that due time, or appointed time comes, their foot shall slide. Then they shall be left to fall, as they are inclined by their own weight. God will not hold them up in these slippery places any longer, but will let them go; and then, at that very instant, they shall fall into destruction; as he that stands on such slippery declining ground, on the edge of a pit, he cannot stand alone, when he is let go he immediately falls and is lost.” 6 people liked it
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