Jonathan Edwards’ best work

Last updated on: November 6, 2020 at 8:00 am by Coyle Neal

Jonathan Edwards’ best work 2020-10-30T14:18:49-06:00 Coyle Neal

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I’ve had several occasions to talk to fellow Edwards scholars, and I like to ask them what their favorite Edwards work is. I’ve heard everything from The Religious Affections to The End for Which God Created the World to Freedom of the Will. My usual answer is Original Sin, not least because it lets me say “I love original sin.” But one work that more people need to give as their answer (and I include myself here) is Edwards’ exposition of 1 Corinthians 13, Charity and its Fruits. Certainly the best chapter in that work is the last one, “Heaven is a world of Love,” which has now been released as one of Crossway’s “Short Classics” in its own volume.

Image: Crossway

I suspect that this little book (and maybe the others in the series) will end up used more as giveaways and gifts, given that this work is easily available for free online. As far as that goes, it’s an affordable and attractive enough book. More importantly, the content is superb and worth reading by any interested in reflecting on the nature of heaven and what a refined and heavenly love might look like.

For example, Edwards reflects on the purified nature of love in heaven:

“In its nature, this love is altogether holy and divine. Most of the love that there is in this world is of an unhallowed nature. But the love that has place in heaven is not carnal but spiritual. It does not proceed from corrupt principles or selfish motives, nor is it directed to mean and vile purposes and ends. As opposed to all this, it is a pure flame, directed by holy motives, and aiming at no ends inconsistent with God’s glory and the happiness of the universe. The saints in heaven love God for his own sake, and each other for God’s sake, and for the sake of the relation that they have to him, and the image of God that is upon them. All their love is pure and holy.” (50)

You and I and all who have repented of their sins and believed in the atoning work of Christ alone for salvation will have in heaven a love that is untainted by sin and is eternally properly focused on proper objects. We will never again love that which we should not, or which is bad for us, or which is bad for others. We will never again love too much the good things of this world or too little the God who has saved us. Our loves will be founded on the person and character of God and focused on God and on His image and stamp in what He has made. Our love will be a constructive love that builds up the glory of God in the universe, rather than a destructive love that tries to tear down that which does not worship us.

And we could go on. You should go on and read the whole thing. I’m writing this review the week before the Nov. 3, 2020 election. I don’t know what will happen next week, but I do know that reading this little book in the aftermath–regardless of the outcome–is a good idea. We do not live in a world of love, and there are few occasions other than elections to better remind ourselves to look forward to the coming heavenly city. Joining Edwards in a walk through this aspect of that city is well worth your time, and a balm to soothe whatever lingering electoral pains we’ve got.

Dr. Coyle Neal is co-host of the City of Man Podcast and an Associate Professor of Political Science at Southwest Baptist University in Bolivar, MO

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