Friday, May 01, 2009

The Meaning of Life According to Jonathan Edwards

During the DSC Clarus luncheon Ray Ortlund Jr. shared this quote from George Mardsen’s biography of Jonathan Edwards aptly titled “Jonathan Edwards: A Life” as one that has stuck with him in profound ways.


“In the Edwardses’ world, the meaning of life was found in intense loves, including earthly loves.” (pg. 497)


The next line says:


“Yet as overwhelming as earthly affections might be, they were supposed to have their true value only when subordinated to heavenly and eternal loves.” (pg. 497)


You mean old, dead theologians understood emotion and love, in intense ways??


Who would’ve thought?


For more on this, check out Clarus' other speaker Sam Storm's book "Signs of the Spirit: An Interpretation of Jonathan Edwards's 'Religious Affections'"


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