Good books on Jonathan Edwards
by Jonathan on August 23, 2010
Reading about Jonathan Edwards has been a tremendous blessing to my spiritual and ministerial development. I wanted to recommend two books that I have read about Edwards, who is probably the most influential theologian that North America has produced. The first book is A Short Life of Jonathan Edwards (Library of Religious Biography Series)
, which I read this year on my Kindle and really enjoyed. As the title suggests, this book is short and sweet. The author tells the story of Jonathan Edward’s life and compares it to the life of Benjamin Franklin, which gives some interesting insights as you notice the contrast between these two men.
The second book I would like to recommend is Jonathan Edwards: A New Biography
. I read this book in 2008, while I was suffering from insomnia during a hard time in the ministry there in Chia. This book is masterful! In my opinion this is one of the best biographies that has been written. I was encouraged during that time to see how Edwards was treated, in spite of his godliness. If he suffered at the hands of a congregation, we shouldn’t be surprised if we have to suffer at times too.
If you want a shorter book to understand the basics of the life of Jonathan Edwards I would recommend the first one, and if you want a more in depth look at his life I would recommend the second.
{ 5 comments… read them below or add one }
I’ve been reading “Jonathan Edwards: A Life” by George M. Marsden. It’s from 2004, so it’s even newer than the “new” biography above, and it really puts Edwards in the context of the world in which he lived.
It’s much more in-depth than Marsden’s book that you mentioned above.
Thanks Jim. I haven’t had read that one yet, but judging from the “Short Life” I would reckon it’s very good. Maybe it’s because we’re tocayos (Do you say it like that in Mexico?), but I’ve always liked Jonathan Edwards.
Tocayos – that’s a new word for me, but I have a lot to learn – thanks!
tocayo — m. y f. Respecto de una persona, otra que tiene su mismo nombre.
It’s a good word to learn Jim, although I don’t suspect you’ll meet too many “Jim”s in Mexico.
I go by Jaime, so I’m all good… I meet a few of those!