STRANGE! Edwards on Philosophy & Metaphysics - Matthew Everhard
- Andy McIlvain
- May 31
- 2 min read
Video from Matthew Everhard
STRANGE! Edwards on Philosophy & Metaphysics - Matthew Everhard
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Jonathan Edwards
1) His Biography
Jonathan Edwards was born on October 5, 1703, in East Windsor, Connecticut, into a devout and scholarly family. His father, Timothy Edwards, was a minister and his mother, Esther Stoddard, was the daughter of Solomon Stoddard, a prominent preacher in Northampton, Massachusetts. This rich spiritual and intellectual environment deeply influenced Edwards from a young age, fostering his precocious intellect and religious fervour. By the age of 13, Edwards entered Yale College, an impressive feat that underscored his extraordinary academic abilities. His early education at Yale laid the foundation for his later theological and philosophical pursuits.
Edwards graduated from Yale in 1720 as the valedictorian of his class, demonstrating exceptional proficiency in theology and philosophy. After a brief stint studying theology, he was appointed as a tutor at Yale, a position he held from 1724 to 1726. During this time, Edwards immersed himself in the works of John Locke and Isaac Newton, whose writings on empiricism and natural philosophy left a lasting impression on him. This intellectual engagement helped Edwards develop a unique theological perspective that blended Reformed theology with Enlightenment thought.
In 1727, Edwards was ordained and became an assistant pastor to his grandfather, Solomon Stoddard, in Northampton, Massachusetts. Following Stoddard’s death in 1729, Edwards succeeded him as the full-time pastor. His sermons during this period were characterised by an emphasis on the sovereignty of God, the depravity of humanity, and the necessity of a personal religious experience. Edwards’ preaching style, which was both intellectually rigorous and emotionally stirring, began to attract considerable attention, setting the stage for his pivotal role in the Great Awakening..." from the article: Jonathan Edwards
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