Do NowDo Now

Think about a time you tried to change someone’s mind. Did you use a

gentle approach, scare tactics, or something in between?

Have you ever persuaded someone to do something or share your same

belief? How did you do it? What was the outcome?

Think about a time you tried to change someone’s mind. Did you use a

gentle approach, scare tactics, or something in between?

Have you ever persuaded someone to do something or share your same

belief? How did you do it? What was the outcome?

“Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God”

by Jonathan Edwards

“Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God”

by Jonathan Edwards

Background InformationBackground Information

• Important role in the shaping of The Great Awakening (1730-1755(

• Grandfather of Aaron Burr• Was the fifth of eleven

children• He entered Yale College in

1716, at just under the age of thirteen.

• He was a scholar-pastor his rule being thirteen hours of study a day.

• Important role in the shaping of The Great Awakening (1730-1755(

• Grandfather of Aaron Burr• Was the fifth of eleven

children• He entered Yale College in

1716, at just under the age of thirteen.

• He was a scholar-pastor his rule being thirteen hours of study a day.

The Great AwakeningThe Great Awakening

In 1740 the well-known British evangelist George Whitefield joined with Jonathan Edwards to spark a religious revival that swept New

England. The Great Awakening was a backlash against what many believed was a church that had

grown far too lenient.

In 1740 the well-known British evangelist George Whitefield joined with Jonathan Edwards to spark a religious revival that swept New

England. The Great Awakening was a backlash against what many believed was a church that had

grown far too lenient.

Edwards preached a return to Calvinism which stressed

predestination, the belief that only a select few chosen by God would be

saved. No individual could earn grace by doing good deeds, so

everyone was equally powerless to control their own fate.

Edwards preached a return to Calvinism which stressed

predestination, the belief that only a select few chosen by God would be

saved. No individual could earn grace by doing good deeds, so

everyone was equally powerless to control their own fate.

“Fire and Brimstone” tradition

“Fire and Brimstone” tradition

Literary ElementsLiterary Elements

Metaphor – a figure of speech that compares or equates two seemingly

unlike things. In contrast to a simile, a metaphor implies the

comparison instead of stating it directly; hence there is no use of connectives such as like or as.

Metaphor – a figure of speech that compares or equates two seemingly

unlike things. In contrast to a simile, a metaphor implies the

comparison instead of stating it directly; hence there is no use of connectives such as like or as.

Literary ElementsLiterary Elements

Imagery – The “word pictures” that writers create to evoke an emotional

response.

In creating effective images, writers use sensory details.

Imagery – The “word pictures” that writers create to evoke an emotional

response.

In creating effective images, writers use sensory details.

Literary ElementsLiterary Elements

Repetition – The recurrence of sounds, words, phrases, lines, or stanzas in a speech or piece of

writing.

Repetition increases the sense of unity in a work and can call attention to particular ideas.

Repetition – The recurrence of sounds, words, phrases, lines, or stanzas in a speech or piece of

writing.

Repetition increases the sense of unity in a work and can call attention to particular ideas.

Literary ElementsLiterary Elements

Sensory details – Evocative words or phrases that appeal to one or more

of the five senses—sight, sound, smell, touch, or taste.

Sensory details – Evocative words or phrases that appeal to one or more

of the five senses—sight, sound, smell, touch, or taste.

Religion in the ColoniesReligion in the Colonies

• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=luCyqzzV0MU

• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=luCyqzzV0MU

Analyze the TitleAnalyze the Title

Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God

Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God

Analyze the TitleAnalyze the Title

Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God

Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God

Analyze the TitleAnalyze the Title

Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God

Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God

Analyze the TitleAnalyze the Title

Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God

Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God

Cultural NoteCultural Note

As a Calvinist, Jonathan Edwards believed that some people were

favored by God and others were not. This belief was interpreted by some to mean that worldly success was a sign of God’s favor. Many believed that one way God rewarded people

for their repentance and pious behavior was with earthly goods.

What is wrong with this assumption?

As a Calvinist, Jonathan Edwards believed that some people were

favored by God and others were not. This belief was interpreted by some to mean that worldly success was a sign of God’s favor. Many believed that one way God rewarded people

for their repentance and pious behavior was with earthly goods.

What is wrong with this assumption?

Visualize the StoryVisualize the Story

As you read, visualize the faces on the congregation as they listen to the

speech.

How might they react?

Could their outward reactions tell how they are reacting inwardly?

As you read, visualize the faces on the congregation as they listen to the

speech.

How might they react?

Could their outward reactions tell how they are reacting inwardly?

Let’s Read!Let’s Read!

Open to page 98Open to page 98

Exit Slip Sticky NoteExit Slip Sticky Note

• What distinctive characteristic do you remember from todays reading? What was the point of Edwards' sermon?

• What distinctive characteristic do you remember from todays reading? What was the point of Edwards' sermon?

“…indeed these things are nothing; if God should withdraw his hand, they

would avail no more to keep you from falling, than the thin air to hold up a person that is suspended in it”

“…indeed these things are nothing; if God should withdraw his hand, they

would avail no more to keep you from falling, than the thin air to hold up a person that is suspended in it”

“…“…all your all your righteousness, would righteousness, would

have no more influence have no more influence to uphold you and keep to uphold you and keep you out of hell, than a you out of hell, than a

spider’s web would have spider’s web would have to stop a falling rock.”to stop a falling rock.”

“The bow of God’s wrath is bent, and the arrow made ready on the

string, and justice bends the arrow at your heart, and strains the bow, and

it is nothing but the mere pleasure of God, and that of an angry

God, without any promise or obligation at all, that keeps the arrow one moment from being made drunk with your

blood.” (p. 103)

“The bow of God’s wrath is bent, and the arrow made ready on the

string, and justice bends the arrow at your heart, and strains the bow, and

it is nothing but the mere pleasure of God, and that of an angry

God, without any promise or obligation at all, that keeps the arrow one moment from being made drunk with your

blood.” (p. 103)

RepetitionRepetition

Edwards repeats the word nothing several times. What effect does this

have?

It emphasizes that there is nothing the natural man can do to save himself.

Edwards repeats the word nothing several times. What effect does this

have?

It emphasizes that there is nothing the natural man can do to save himself.

Theme of the Selection?Theme of the Selection?

It’s time to turn so you don’t

burn!

It’s time to turn so you don’t

burn!

Literary Elements: ImageryLiterary Elements: Imagery

Edward’s sermon is filled with images meant to frighten listeners into seeking God and avoiding hell.

1. What frightening images occur in the first two paragraphs? To what

senses do they appeal?Images of a fiery pit and lake of

brimstone appeal to sight and touch.

Edward’s sermon is filled with images meant to frighten listeners into seeking God and avoiding hell.

1. What frightening images occur in the first two paragraphs? To what

senses do they appeal?Images of a fiery pit and lake of

brimstone appeal to sight and touch.

Literary Elements: ImageryLiterary Elements: Imagery

2. What sensory details does Edwards include in the fourth paragraph?

What effect does the imagery have on the reader?

The weight of sin will make the sinner fall. The images frighten

and intimidate.

2. What sensory details does Edwards include in the fourth paragraph?

What effect does the imagery have on the reader?

The weight of sin will make the sinner fall. The images frighten

and intimidate.

Literary Elements: ImageryLiterary Elements: Imagery

3. List five additional images in the sermon, each of which appeals to a different sense.

• Bow and arrow of God’s wrath• Souls born again

• The sinner held over hell like a spider• A sinner who is like a venomous

serpent• Hell as a great furnace

3. List five additional images in the sermon, each of which appeals to a different sense.

• Bow and arrow of God’s wrath• Souls born again

• The sinner held over hell like a spider• A sinner who is like a venomous

serpent• Hell as a great furnace

Interdisciplinary Activity: ArtInterdisciplinary Activity: Art

Choose a passage from Edwards’s sermon that contains vivid imagery, such as his comparison of sinners to

“the most hateful and venomous serpent.” Sketch the passage.

Choose a passage from Edwards’s sermon that contains vivid imagery, such as his comparison of sinners to

“the most hateful and venomous serpent.” Sketch the passage.