Jonathan Edwards: America's Evangelical

by Philip F. Gura

An important new biography of America's founding religious father.

Jonathan Edwards was America's most influential evangelical, whose revivals of the 1730s became those against which all subsequent ones have been judged.

The marvelous accomplishment of Philip Gura's Jonathan Edwards is to place the rich intellectual landscape of America's most formidable evangelical within the upheaval of his times. Gura not only captures Edwards’ brilliance but respectfully explains the enduring appeal of his in a world of profound uncertainty, it held out hope of an authentic conversion---the quickening of the indwelling spirit of God in one’s heart and the consequent certitude of Godly behavior and everlasting grace.

Tracing Jonathan Edwards’ life from his birth in 1703 to his untimely death in 1758, Gura magnificently reasserts Edwards rightful claim as the father of America's evangelical tradition.

Genres: Biography, History, Church History

304 pages, Hardcover

First published February 10, 2005

Reviews

[Josh]

An interesting biography, well written and concise. Gura interpret Edwards as a theologian of human experience, whose work gave rise to later views of religion as solely a matter of the heart. I think this is a very selective reading of Edwards, especially one that ignores the distinctive Christian contours of Edwards’ thought, but still intriguing.

[Brian]

I did enjoy the book, and the thorough picture it painted of Edwards' life and theology. Just as a matter of preference, I wish the author would have relied less heavily on original sources in the text, and less literally analysis, and woven more of that into the overall narrative. Good book though.

[Tyler C]

I love Jonathan Edwards, but this biography was incredibly dry.