''A Dissertation Concerning the End for Which God Created the World'' is a work by Christian
theologian,
reformer
A reformer is someone who works for reform.
Reformer may also refer to:
*Catalytic reformer, in an oil refinery
*Methane reformer, producing hydrogen
* Steam reformer
*Hydrogen reformer, extracting hydrogen
*Methanol reformer, producing hydrogen ...
,
author, and
pastor Jonathan Edwards Jonathan Edwards may refer to:
Musicians
*Jonathan and Darlene Edwards, pseudonym of bandleader Paul Weston and his wife, singer Jo Stafford
*Jonathan Edwards (musician) (born 1946), American musician
** ''Jonathan Edwards'' (album), debut album ...
(1703–1758) that was started in the mid-1750s but not finally published until 1765, several years following Edwards' death.
This dissertation was published concurrently with ''
The Nature of True Virtue
''A Dissertation Concerning the Nature of True Virtue'' is a work by American Christian reformer, theologian, author and, pastor Jonathan Edwards originally published posthumously in 1765. The work was published jointly with '' A Dissertation C ...
''. The two works have much in common, specifically the assertion that
God's aim in creating the world was not human
happiness, but his own
glory.
Synopsis
Edwards argues against contemporaries who claimed that human happiness was the end for which God created the world. Edwards instead puts forth the idea that the reason for God's creation of the world was not human happiness, but the magnification of his own glory and name.
Edwards then argues that since true happiness comes from God alone, human happiness is an extension of God's glory. Indeed, Edwards maintains, all God's "ultimate" ends and "chief" ends serve to magnify his glory as well. As in ''Virtue'', Edwards discusses the claim that there is no true happiness unless it is happiness in God.
History and impact
Modern day
evangelicals such as
John Piper still use Edwards' works today in their own congregations. In his book ''God's Passion for His Glory'', which includes the complete text of ''The End for Which God Created the World'' as the second half of the book, Piper argues that the longer he lives "the more clearly I see my dependence on those who have gone before," that "Edwards's relentless God-centeredness and devotion to the Biblical contours of doctrine are profoundly needed in our day," and that Edwards is in "a class by himself in American history, perhaps in the history of Christendom."
See also
*
The Nature of True Virtue
''A Dissertation Concerning the Nature of True Virtue'' is a work by American Christian reformer, theologian, author and, pastor Jonathan Edwards originally published posthumously in 1765. The work was published jointly with '' A Dissertation C ...
*
Religious Affections
''A Treatise Concerning Religious Affections'' is a publication written in 1746 by Jonathan Edwards describing his philosophy about the process of Christian conversion in Northampton, Massachusetts, during the First Great Awakening, which emanate ...
Notes
External links
Complete text
{{DEFAULTSORT:Dissertation Concerning The End For Which God Created The World
1765 non-fiction books
18th-century Christian texts
Calvinist texts
Christian theology books
Books published posthumously
American Enlightenment
Works by Jonathan Edwards (theologian)
God in culture
Happiness