Is “Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God” representative of Edwards’ entire ministry?
• “Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God” was preached at a church that was reportedly resistant to the work of the Great Awakening, the massive transatlantic revival taking place at the time. Edwards preached many other sermons in other contexts (for instance, famously, his series on Charity and Its Fruits), but it is fair to say that Edwards believed strongly not only in the fearful reality of hell but his duty as a minister to warn people of that reality. • Having said that, to call, as some have, Edwards’ hell-fire preaching effectively ‘theological terrorism’ is quite unjustified. Even the sermon itself Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God has, when read properly, a clear emphasis upon the mercy of God – it is nothing but God’s mercy that keeps us out of hell, he was saying, and therefore we are to ask God for an extension of that mercy for salvation. • So is Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God representative? Yes, Edwards did preach on hell, and did seek to warn people of hell mo
