Sinners In The Hand Of An Angry God By Jonathan Edwards

708 Words3 Pages

Starting in the 1730s, a movement formally known as the Great Awakening was born. This marked the beginning of a religious and spiritual revival that was a direct response to Enlightenment ideals which highlighted logic instead of spirituality. A leader in this movement was Jonathan Edwards; a theologian that delivered one of the most influential sermons of its time; a sermon titled Sinners in the Hand of an Angry God. In this sermon, Edwards employed the use of cherry picking from a credible source and the use of a threatening tone to convey his message - that one would be saved from the wrathful judgment of God if they obediently followed the Bible and its teachings. Edwards employs a tactic of choosing the best evidence out of credible …show more content…

It is cited periodically throughout the text, with a few of the verses being “Psalm 73:18,19”, “Isa 66:15”, and “Revelations 19:15”. This galvanizes the reader to listen to what message the author is conveying; this message stating that the only way to be saved from God’s wrath is to present compliance, respect, duty. Moreover, the Authors' improved credibility removes the mistrust that occurs when listening to a speaker who is rather harsh with their wording. By making his words a reflection of God, it removes the hesitation in believing it. Edwards also employs a style of cherry picking during his speech which enables him to be …show more content…

Diction choices such as “hell”, “anger”, “wrath”, and “misery” are all signs of a threatening tone. These particular tone words, and others used throughout the text, force the audience to accept God’s judgment and modify their current lifestyles. The Implication of hell similarly bolsters the scare tactics in this message; thus forcing the congregation to keep their lives nevermore the same. Furthermore, Edwards employs a structural organization that makes it so the last paragraph of the essay serves the idea of a threatening tone as it states a final warning that “every one that is out of christ” is waiting for “wrath to come.” This final warning serves as an ominous statement that frightens the audience into taking Edwards’ message to heart. Thus, forcing the idea that there is a way to be saved from God's judgment; and that way is through the direct following of the principles and commandments outlined through the word of