Edward’s Angry God Jonathan Edward’s most famous sermon is “Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God.” This 18 th Century Puritan preached intense sermons that awakened his congregation to an awareness of their sinfulness and need for God. “Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God” exemplifies Edward’s stern religious beliefs. The sermon preaches a savage, cruel God powerful and capable, but not inclined, to cast humans down to hell. The God Edward’s describes is a savage God who torments the wicked. “The God that holds you over the pit of Hell, much as one holds a spider, or some loathsome insect, over the fire”, this idea of God makes him appear heartless, and causes him to be feared. God is seen as having a wrath against sinners, “It would be dreadful to suffer this fierceness and wrath of Almighty God one moment; but you must suffer it to all eternity.” God is revered as the most powerful force or influence in humans lives.
Humans respect and fear his power, “We find it easy to tread on and crush a worm that we see crawling on the earth; so ’tis easy for us to cut or singe a slender thread that any thing hangs by; thus easy is it for God when he pleases to cast his enemies down to Hell.” This attitude toward God displays how humans believe in God’s power, but pray he doesn’t condemn them to Hell. The relationship humans have with God influences their actions, “Therefore let every one that is out of Christ, now awake and fly from the wrath to come.” This section of the sermon teaches humans to follow Christ if they do not want face the consequences of God. Jonathan Edward’s concept of God is truly a force to be obedient and respectful towards. God is fierce, and cruel, but only if you sin and are wicked. To the Puritans of Edward’s time, who believed in his sermons, and depictions of God, God was a clear and prudent nemesis.
The Essay on Main differences and similarities between God and human according to Hebrew Scriptures
The first man was perfect, Made in the image of God and likeness (Genesis 1:26). Image in this case can not refer to the body; God is a spirit while man is earthly. Image here would mean the divine attributes that God endued man with, separating mankind from other animals. Short gives six God like qualities that man posses. These are language, creativity intellectual ability, dominion over the ...
