Book Minute

A religious revival sweeping parts of Europe and the American colonies in the 1730s and 40s became known as the Great Awakening! Jonathan Edwards, an American Congregationalist preacher and theologian, preached his most famous sermon at the height of the Great Awakening: “Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God”—from Deuteronomy 32:35, expressing the vengeance of God on the unbelieving Israelites.

His stringent views on church membership and discipline angered his congregation. He was ousted as pastor, and for the next few years he became a missionary pastor to Native Americans in Massachusetts, and also wrote prolifically. In 1758, he was called to be president of The College of New Jersey, later called Princeton University. Despite some controversy, Jonathan Edwards was considered by many to be America’s greatest theologian!