Explore every episode of the podcast 10 Minute Edwards

In this episode, Kyle Strobel hosts Edwards scholars Layne Hancock and Mark Hamilton to explore the complexities of Edwards's philosophy, questioning influential modern interpretations that make Edwards sound radical and unhinged. They discuss how close readings and historical context can reshape our understanding of Edwards's thought.

If you want to watch the video from this episode, go to Kyle’s YouTube channel here.

In this conversation, Kyle explores the concepts of sanctification and regeneration, expositing the insights of Jonathan Edwards in light of John Calvin. Kyle highlights the relationship between regeneration, sanctification, and justification, showing how sanctification is given its unique shape in Edwards’s thought by attending to both regeneration and new creation language. The discussion moves into the transformative process of sanctification, the necessity of God’s action in enabling believers to live out their faith, and the ongoing struggle between the flesh and the Spirit in the Christian life.

00:00 Introduction and Overview of Sanctification

05:37 God’s Continuous Work in Sanctification

In this conversation, Kyle explores Jonathan Edwards’s doctrine of justification, addressing common confusions and critiques. Kyle outlines four key axioms of Edwards’s doctrine, emphasizing that justification is God’s declaration of righteousness upon the ungodly, not based on works. The discussion also delves into the Catholic critique of Reformed thought and the relationship between faith and union with Christ, ultimately clarifying the significance of imputation in the context of justification.

Chapters

00:00 Introduction to Justification

03:13 Edwards’s Key Points on Justification

06:10 Addressing the Catholic Critique

09:01Faith and Union with Christ

In this episode, Kyle delves into the doctrine of regeneration within Jonathan Edwards’s soteriology, exploring how he articulates the concept of being “born again.” The discussion highlights the role of the Holy Spirit in sanctifying the soul and infusing spiritual life, emphasizing the interconnection between the doctrines of regeneration and sanctification. Kyle attends to the transformative power of divine beauty and the necessity of a continual process of death and resurrection in the Christian life.

Chapters

00:00 Introduction to Soteriology and Regeneration

02:54 Understanding Regeneration and Infusion

06:13 The Role of the Holy Spirit in Regeneration

In this conversation, Kyle explores Jonathan Edwards’s understanding of human nature, with a particular focus of the image of God. He discusses the distinction between the natural and supernatural images of God, emphasizing the rational capacities of humans and the principles that govern their actions. The conversation delves into the implications of the fall, the loss of supernatural principles, and the process of redemption that restores divine order in human lives.

Chapters

00:00 Introduction to Human Nature and the Image of God

00:59 Understanding the Natural Image of God

04:17 The Supernatural Image and Human Principles

07:41 The Fall and Its Impact on Human Nature

08:36 Redemption and the Restoration of Divine Order

In this conversation, Kyle explores the concept of the beatific vision, a significant yet often overlooked aspect of Christian theology. He discusses its biblical foundations, particularly in the writings of Paul, and how it relates to faith, hope, and love. The conversation delves into Jonathan Edwards’s interpretation of the beatific vision, emphasizing its developmental nature and its culmination in a profound experience of divine love and knowledge in eternity.

Chapters

00:00 Introduction to the Beatific Vision

03:08 Understanding the Beatific Vision in Scripture

05:52 Edwards’s Perspective on the Beatific Vision

08:54 The Nature of the Beatific Vision as Love

In this conversation, Kyle delves into the three eras of heaven and the role of the angels in Jonathan Edwards’s theology. This focus leads him to consider the impact of Christ’s ascension into the heavenly realm, culminating in the eternal wedding feast where the saints and angels are fully glorified.

Chapters

00:00 Introduction to Angelology

01:25 The Nature of Heaven and Its Eras

04:17 The Angelic Realm and Its Probation

06:10 The Ascension of Christ and Its Impact

07:15 The Eternal Wedding Feast and Final Glory

In this conversation, Kyle Strobel delves into Jonathan Edwards’s understanding of the purpose of creation, and the relationship between God’s attributes and humanity’s ultimate end. The discussion emphasizes that God is self-sufficient and creates not out of need but to manifest his glory and goodness. Edwards’s six points outline the reasoning behind God’s creation, culminating in the idea that God’s ultimate end aligns with humanity’s ultimate good, which is found in a relationship with Him.

Chapters

00:00 Introduction to Edwards’s Understanding of God

02:55 God’s Ultimate Purpose in Creation

05:53 The Attributes of God and Their Relation to Creation

09:12 God’s Glory and Our Ultimate End

In this conversation, Kyle Strobel explores the profound question of why God created the world, emphasizing that the ultimate purpose is for His own glory. He delves into Jonathan Edwards' interpretation of God's glory, discussing its internal and external dimensions, and how it is communicated to created beings. The conversation highlights the importance of knowing God, the distinction between different types of knowledge, and the role of human beings in reflecting God's glory back to Him, particularly through redemption.

Chapters

00:00 The Purpose of Creation: God’s Glory

02:56 Understanding God's Glory: Internal and External Dimensions

05:51 The Manifestation of Glory in Creation and Redemption

In this conversation, Kyle discusses the theological implications of why God creates, focusing on the concepts of ends, particularly subordinate, ultimate, and chief ends. He emphasizes that understanding God’s purpose in creation is crucial for our own lives and transformation, ultimately leading to the realization that God’s glory and our good are intertwined. The discussion explores how our lives should be reordered around higher ends that reflect God's ultimate purposes.

Chapters

00:00 The Importance of Understanding Creation

02:53 Exploring God's Ends in Creation

05:46 The Relationship Between God's Glory and Human Good

08:46 Reordering Our Lives Around Higher Ends

In this conversation, Kyle explores the complex theological concepts surrounding God, eternity, and creation. He delves into the idea of God’s decrees before creation, the eternal covenant of redemption, and the nature of subordination within the Trinity, addressing the notion of the “Eternal Functional Subordination” of the Son. The discussion emphasizes the distinction between ontological and economic subordination, highlighting the mutual agreements within the Trinity and the implications for understanding God’s nature and actions.

Chapters

00:00 Introduction to God and Eternity

02:57 The Eternal Covenant of Redemption

05:54 Understanding Subordination in the Trinity

In this conversation, Kyle delves into Jonathan Edwards’s unique approach to understanding the divine attributes through the lens of personalism. He explains how Edwards distinguishes between real and relational attributes of God, emphasizing the importance of personhood in theological discussions. The conversation explores the implications of Edwards’s thought on the nature of God and human personhood, ultimately highlighting the significance of understanding God’s personal existence.

Chapters

00:00 Introduction to Edwards’s Personalism

02:49 Understanding Real and Relational Attributes

06:11 The Nature of Personhood in Edwards’s Theology

In this episode, Kyle focuses on the significance of the doctrine of the Trinity and its implications for understanding God’s mission in the world. He emphasizes the importance of contemplating divine things and how they contribute to spiritual growth and holiness. The discussion also explores the beatific vision, the nature of the Holy Spirit, and highlights Edwards’s unique view of the divine nature and how that shapes the transformative power of God’s love.

Chapters

00:00 Recalling Edwards’s Doctrine of the Trinity

00:57 The Spiritual Importance of the Doctrine of the Trinity

02:51 Edwards on the Beatific Vision and Divine Life

05:52 Understanding the Holy Spirit in Edwards’s Theology

In this episode, Kyle delves into Jonathan Edwards’s unique approach to the doctrine of the Trinity, exploring how Edwards navigated the challenges of anti-trinitarianism in his time. He emphasizes the importance of understanding God’s happiness, personhood, and the biblical foundations of the Trinity. Kyle highlights Edwards’s distinctive perspective on the interconnectedness of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, and how their unity reflects divine love and understanding. The conversation culminates in a profound vision of the tri-personed God as presented in Edwards’s theology, inviting listeners to engage with these complex ideas.

Chapters

00:00 Introduction to Edwards’s Doctrine of God

02:00 God's Happiness and Personhood

03:48 Edwards’s Unique Perspective on the Trinity

06:11 The Interconnectedness of the Trinity

07:08 The Nature of Divine Love and Understanding

08:13 Conclusion: Edwards’s Vision of the Tri-Personed God

In this conversation, Kyle Strobel explores Jonathan Edwards’s profound vision of God, emphasizing the beauty, glory, and joy inherent in the Trinity. The discussion delves into the nature of the Father, Son, and Spirit, the divine processions, and the interplay of knowledge and love within the Godhead. Kyle highlights Edwards’s classical theism and the psychological analogy used to understand the Trinity, ultimately connecting these theological concepts to the idea of religious affection and the importance of knowing God personally.

Chapters

00:00 Introduction to Edwards’s Vision of God

00:59 Understanding the Trinity: Father, Son, and Spirit

02:58 The Divine Processions and Psychological Analogy

05:52 The Movement of Knowledge and Love in God

08:19 The Interrelation of Knowledge, Love, and Affection

The Jonathan Edwards Project

I started something I call “The Jonathan Edwards Project” years ago as an attempt to make the writings of Jonathan Edwards more accessible. Edwards is an important figure in all sorts of ways, but he is often misread or commandeered to agendas that are foreign to his thinking. To understand evangelical theology, it is important to know Edwards’s thinking, but also critique it when needed. Here is a developmental list of resources I’ve published and edited for that end.

101 - Charity and Its Fruits: Living in the Light of God’s Love, edited and introduced by Kyle Strobel (Crossway, 2012). This is the best place to start reading Edwards.

Jonathan Edwards: Spiritual Writings Classics of Western Spirituality Series edited with Ken Minkema and Adriaan Neele (Paulist Press, 2019). This is a collection of key texts on Edwards’s spirituality. This is a great volume for key selections from across Edwards’s writings.

201 - Formed for the Glory of God: Learning from the Spiritual Practices of Jonathan Edwards (IVP, 2013). This tries to capture the vision of early evangelical spirituality.

301 - I’m working on this right now, and I’m really excited about it. More to come.

401 - Jonathan Edwards: An Introduction to His Thought co-authored with Oliver Crisp (Eerdmans, 2018). This introduction to Edwards’s thought is used in graduate school courses on Edwards. It is an introduction, and so it does not assume knowledge of Edwards’s thought specifically, but it does assume an academic background.

501 - Jonathan Edwards’s Theology: A Reinterpretation (T&T Clark, 2013). This is a re-worked version of my dissertation on how to read Edwards’s theology. It serves as a methodological work on reading Edwards as a Reformed theologian.

Other works:

Reformed Dogmatics in Dialogue: The Theology of Karl Barth and Jonathan Edwards co-edited with Uche Anizor (Lexham Press, 2022).

Regeneration, Revival, & Creation: Religious Experience and the Purposes of God in the Thought of Jonathan Edwards with Chris Chun (Pickwick Publications, 2020).

The Ecumenical Edwards: Jonathan Edwards and the Theologians (Ashgate Publishing, 2015).

In this conversation, Kyle delves into the heart of Jonathan Edwards’s theological understanding, emphasizing the centrality of God and the Trinity in his thought. The discussion explores the distinction between speculative and affective theology, the nature of God as infinitely happy and loving, and the significance of the Trinity in Edwards’s work. Kyle highlights Edwards’s attack of anti-Trinitarian views and presents a vision of God as an infinite fountain of love, knowledge, and joy, which is foundational to Edwards’s theology.

Chapters

00:00 Introduction to Edwards’s Theology

02:54 The Nature of God in Edwards’s Thought

06:01 The Trinity: A Central Theme

08:55 God as an Infinite Fountain of Love

The Jonathan Edwards Project

I started something I call “The Jonathan Edwards Project” years ago as an attempt to make the writings of Jonathan Edwards more accessible. Edwards is an important figure in all sorts of ways, but he is often misread or commandeered to agendas that are foreign to his thinking. To understand evangelical theology, it is important to know Edwards’s thinking, but also critique it when needed. Here is a developmental list of resources I’ve published and edited for that end.

101 - Charity and Its Fruits: Living in the Light of God’s Love, edited and introduced by Kyle Strobel (Crossway, 2012). This is the best place to start reading Edwards.

Jonathan Edwards: Spiritual Writings Classics of Western Spirituality Series edited with Ken Minkema and Adriaan Neele (Paulist Press, 2019). This is a collection of key texts on Edwards’s spirituality. This is a great volume for key selections from across Edwards’s writings.

201 - Formed for the Glory of God: Learning from the Spiritual Practices of Jonathan Edwards (IVP, 2013). This tries to capture the vision of early evangelical spirituality.

301 - I’m working on this right now, and I’m really excited about it. More to come.

401 - Jonathan Edwards: An Introduction to His Thought co-authored with Oliver Crisp (Eerdmans, 2018). This introduction to Edwards’s thought is used in graduate school courses on Edwards. It is an introduction, and so it does not assume knowledge of Edwards’s thought specifically, but it does assume an academic background.

501 - Jonathan Edwards’s Theology: A Reinterpretation (T&T Clark, 2013). This is a re-worked version of my dissertation on how to read Edwards’s theology. It serves as a methodological work on reading Edwards as a Reformed theologian.

Other works:

Reformed Dogmatics in Dialogue: The Theology of Karl Barth and Jonathan Edwards co-edited with Uche Anizor (Lexham Press, 2022).

Regeneration, Revival, & Creation: Religious Experience and the Purposes of God in the Thought of Jonathan Edwards with Chris Chun (Pickwick Publications, 2020).

The Ecumenical Edwards: Jonathan Edwards and the Theologians (Ashgate Publishing, 2015).

This conversation delves into Jonathan Edwards’s theological system, focusing on his vision for a comprehensive work on redemption history. It explores the structure of his theology, emphasizing the cyclical nature of providence, as well as the tri-level approach to articulating theology according to the “three worlds” of heaven, earth, and hell. The discussion highlights how Edwards’s unique approach to theology integrates various aspects of divine action and human history, providing a framework for understanding the interconnectedness of all theological concepts.

Chapters

00:00 Exploring Edwards’s Theological Vision

02:59 The Structure of Redemption History

05:53 The Cyclical Nature of Providence

09:13 Tri-Level Doctrine: Heaven, Earth, and Hell

The Jonathan Edwards Project

I started something I call “The Jonathan Edwards Project” years ago as an attempt to make the writings of Jonathan Edwards more accessible. Edwards is an important figure in all sorts of ways, but he is often misread or commandeered to agendas that are foreign to his thinking. To understand evangelical theology, it is important to know Edwards’s thinking, but also critique it when needed. Here is a developmental list of resources I’ve published and edited for that end.

101 - Charity and Its Fruits: Living in the Light of God’s Love, edited and introduced by Kyle Strobel (Crossway, 2012). This is the best place to start reading Edwards.

Jonathan Edwards: Spiritual Writings Classics of Western Spirituality Series edited with Ken Minkema and Adriaan Neele (Paulist Press, 2019). This is a collection of key texts on Edwards’s spirituality. This is a great volume for key selections from across Edwards’s writings.

201 - Formed for the Glory of God: Learning from the Spiritual Practices of Jonathan Edwards (IVP, 2013). This tries to capture the vision of early evangelical spirituality.

301 - I’m working on this right now, and I’m really excited about it. More to come.

401 - Jonathan Edwards: An Introduction to His Thought co-authored with Oliver Crisp (Eerdmans, 2018). This introduction to Edwards’s thought is used in graduate school courses on Edwards. It is an introduction, and so it does not assume knowledge of Edwards’s thought specifically, but it does assume an academic background.

501 - Jonathan Edwards’s Theology: A Reinterpretation (T&T Clark, 2013). This is a re-worked version of my dissertation on how to read Edwards’s theology. It serves as a methodological work on reading Edwards as a Reformed theologian.

Other works:

Reformed Dogmatics in Dialogue: The Theology of Karl Barth and Jonathan Edwards co-edited with Uche Anizor (Lexham Press, 2022).

Regeneration, Revival, & Creation: Religious Experience and the Purposes of God in the Thought of Jonathan Edwards with Chris Chun (Pickwick Publications, 2020).

The Ecumenical Edwards: Jonathan Edwards and the Theologians (Ashgate Publishing, 2015).

In this episode, Kyle introduces the theological vision of Jonathan Edwards and the challenges he faced in navigating the realities of a new world. Edwards sought to faithfully engage with the Reformed theological tradition while reimagining it in the context of an enlightenment age. He emphasized the concepts of emanation and remanation, where God’s glory flows out to creation and is reflected back to God. Kyle explains the three levels of Edwards’s theological vision: 1. God in and of himself, 2. Creation to perfection, and 3. Religious affection and the knowledge and love of God.

Chapters

00:00 Introduction to Edwards’s Theological Vision

02:20 Emanation and Remanation: God’s Glory in Creation

04:04 Moving Beyond Creation: The Perfection of All Things

05:25 Religious Affection: Receiving and Rebounding God’s Love

06:31 The Three Levels of Edwards’s Theological Vision

07:53 Understanding Regeneration and the Regenerate Life

The Jonathan Edwards Project

I started something I call “The Jonathan Edwards Project” years ago as an attempt to make the writings of Jonathan Edwards more accessible. Edwards is an important figure in all sorts of ways, but he is often misread or commandeered to agendas that are foreign to his thinking. To understand evangelical theology, it is important to know Edwards’s thinking, but also critique it when needed. Here is a developmental list of resources I’ve published and edited for that end.

101 - Charity and Its Fruits: Living in the Light of God’s Love, edited and introduced by Kyle Strobel (Crossway, 2012). This is the best place to start reading Edwards.

Jonathan Edwards: Spiritual Writings Classics of Western Spirituality Series edited with Ken Minkema and Adriaan Neele (Paulist Press, 2019). This is a collection of key texts on Edwards’s spirituality. This is a great volume for key selections from across Edwards’s writings.

201 - Formed for the Glory of God: Learning from the Spiritual Practices of Jonathan Edwards (IVP, 2013). This tries to capture the vision of early evangelical spirituality.

301 - I’m working on this right now, and I’m really excited about it. More to come.

401 - Jonathan Edwards: An Introduction to His Thought co-authored with Oliver Crisp (Eerdmans, 2018). This introduction to Edwards’s thought is used in graduate school courses on Edwards. It is an introduction, and so it does not assume knowledge of Edwards’s thought specifically, but it does assume an academic background.

501 - Jonathan Edwards’s Theology: A Reinterpretation (T&T Clark, 2013). This is a re-worked version of my dissertation on how to read Edwards’s theology. It serves as a methodological work on reading Edwards as a Reformed theologian.

Other works:

Reformed Dogmatics in Dialogue: The Theology of Karl Barth and Jonathan Edwards co-edited with Uche Anizor (Lexham Press, 2022).

Regeneration, Revival, & Creation: Religious Experience and the Purposes of God in the Thought of Jonathan Edwards with Chris Chun (Pickwick Publications, 2020).

The Ecumenical Edwards: Jonathan Edwards and the Theologians (Ashgate Publishing, 2015).

The 10 Minute Edwards podcast is a new podcast that explores the theology of Jonathan Edwards. The host, Kyle Strobel, is a Jonathan Edwards scholar and aims to introduce listeners to Edwards’s theology and its relevance in today’s world. Edwards was a significant influence on American evangelicalism and his thought can be challenging to understand. The podcast provides a crash course in Edwards’s theology in 10-minute segments. This episode introduces listeners to Jonathan Edwards, and the episodes that follow will dive into Edwards’s theological vision.

I mention my article, “Jonathan Edwards and the Polemics of Theosis” in this episode.

Chapters

00:00 Introduction to the 10 Minute Edwards Podcast

01:28 Understanding the Difficulties in Edwards’s Thought

02:26 The Creative Thinking of Jonathan Edwards

03:52 The Firing and Presidency of Jonathan Edwards

06:12 Distinguishing True from False Revival

09:30 A Crash Course in Edwards’s Theology

The Jonathan Edwards Project

I started something I call “The Jonathan Edwards Project” years ago as an attempt to make the writings of Jonathan Edwards more accessible. Edwards is an important figure in all sorts of ways, but he is often misread or commandeered to agendas that are foreign to his thinking. To understand evangelical theology, it is important to know Edwards’s thinking, but also critique it when needed. Here is a developmental list of resources I’ve published and edited for that end.

101 - Charity and Its Fruits: Living in the Light of God’s Love, edited and introduced by Kyle Strobel (Crossway, 2012). This is the best place to start reading Edwards.

Jonathan Edwards: Spiritual Writings Classics of Western Spirituality Series edited with Ken Minkema and Adriaan Neele (Paulist Press, 2019). This is a collection of key texts on Edwards’s spirituality. This is a great volume for key selections from across Edwards’s writings.

201 - Formed for the Glory of God: Learning from the Spiritual Practices of Jonathan Edwards (IVP, 2013). This tries to capture the vision of early evangelical spirituality.

301 - I’m working on this right now, and I’m really excited about it. More to come.

401 - Jonathan Edwards: An Introduction to His Thought co-authored with Oliver Crisp (Eerdmans, 2018). This introduction to Edwards’s thought is used in graduate school courses on Edwards. It is an introduction, and so it does not assume knowledge of Edwards’s thought specifically, but it does assume an academic background.

501 - Jonathan Edwards’s Theology: A Reinterpretation (T&T Clark, 2013). This is a re-worked version of my dissertation on how to read Edwards’s theology. It serves as a methodological work on reading Edwards as a Reformed theologian.

Other works:

Reformed Dogmatics in Dialogue: The Theology of Karl Barth and Jonathan Edwards co-edited with Uche Anizor (Lexham Press, 2022).

Regeneration, Revival, & Creation: Religious Experience and the Purposes of God in the Thought of Jonathan Edwards with Chris Chun (Pickwick Publications, 2020).

The Ecumenical Edwards: Jonathan Edwards and the Theologians (Ashgate Publishing, 2015).