America's Theologian

"A book of value not only to historians and theologians, but also to any reader interested in the relevance of religious thought to the analysis of culture....Intelligent and impassioned....Should be widely read and vigorously discussed. Edwards would have loved it."--Journal of the American Academy of Religion "Jenson has deeply mined the available Edwards material, bringing a clarity of exposition to that author's views on personal freedom, sin, the relation of personhood to community, the purpose of history, and the notion of God....This engaging book should be read and enjoyed by commentators on contemporary American culture as well as Edwards enthusiasts."--William and Mary Quarterly "Jenson uncovers a remarkable convergence between Edwards' theological approach and context and his own....Jenson's insights into Edwards' thought in itself and its possibilities as an alternative vision for the American church and society make the book well worth pondering by all dissatisfied heirs of the Enlightenment, whether Edwardsian or not."--First Things "In this luminous work of scholarship Robert Jenson helps us recognize Jonathan Edwards not only as our contemporary but as an intellectual force drawing us into a deeper conversation."--Robert John Neuhaus, Rockford Institute Center on Religion and Society "Jenson's work is always theologically incisive. This study of Jonathan Edwards is not an exception. It is a penetrating analysis of the radical monotheism espoused by the premier theologian in America's history, and it calls into question many of the platitudes in our public talk about the nation, the self, and God."--Robert Scharlemann, University of Virginia "A book of value not only to historians and theologians, but also to any reader interested in the relevance of religious thought to the analysis of culture....Intelligent and impassioned....Should be widely read and vigorously discussed. Edwards would have loved it."--Journal of the American Academy of Religion "Jenson has deeply mined the available Edwards material, bringing a clarity of exposition to that author's views on personal freedom, sin, the relation of personhood to community, the purpose of history, and the notion of God....This engaging book should be read and enjoyed by commentators on contemporary American culture as well as Edwards enthusiasts."--William and Mary Quarterly "Jenson uncovers a remarkable convergence between Edwards' theological approach and context and his own....Jenson's insights into Edwards' thought in itself and its possibilities as an alternative vision for the American church and society make the book well worth pondering by all dissatisfied heirs of the Enlightenment, whether Edwardsian or not."--First Things "In this luminous work of scholarship Robert Jenson helps us recognize Jonathan Edwards not only as our contemporary but as an intellectual force drawing us into a deeper conversation."--Robert John Neuhaus, Rockford Institute Center on Religion and Society "Jenson's work is always theologically incisive. This study of Jonathan Edwards is not an exception. It is a penetrating analysis of the radical monotheism espoused by the premier theologian in America's history, and it calls into question many of the platitudes in our public talk about the nation, the self, and God."--Robert Scharlemann, University of Virginia "A thoughtful book, marked by stylistic flair and impressive textual analysis."--Journal of Religion "A book commendable in its scope, admirable in its organization, and suggestive in its content. For all upper-division undergraduate libraries, seminary libraries, and collections specializing in American studies."--Choice "A sparkling, lively, enthusiastic but properly critical study of the greatest Reformed theologian North America has yet produced by the outstanding dogmatician working today in the American Lutheran Church."--Scottish Journal of Theology "Jenson is a provocative writer....The book is filled with quotations from little-known Edwards materials, and serves as an excellent secondary source for seminary students. There is no longer any excuse for us to know more about nineteenth century Berlin than we do about early Princeton....Jenson has given us easy access to this authentic American theological tradition."--Southwestern Journal of Theology "Jenson's volume...is the finest treatment now available of Edwards as a doctrinal theologian."--Interpretation "Certainly the best one thus far on Edwards's theology....Jenson has been able to achieve this feat thanks above all to an extraordinarily insightful and close reading of the unpublished Miscellanies and also of the much-neglected History of the Work of Redemption."--Church History "A brilliant and provocative book. Robert Jenson has succeeded in introducing Jonathon Edwards as a necessary partner in the contemporary dialogue of American theologians. In a sensitive and critical re-presentation of the thinking of the great Puritan theologian, Jenson argues for the possibility of an indigenous theology which both takes into account the intellectual gains of the Enlightenment and retains Christianity's essential Trinitarian character. What this may mean for both ecumenical and public theology is set forth with clarity and persuasiveness."--Wayne C. Stumme, Trinity Lutheran Seminary