In anticipation of Understanding Affections in the Theology of Jonathan Edwards: “The High Exercises of Divine Love”, Dr Ryan J. Martin goes into further detail on the creation of his monograph.
How would you describe your book in one sentence?
My book is a focused look at how Jonathan Edwards defined affections and other movements of the human soul, and how his understanding of human anthropology was incorporated into his theology as a whole.
What drew to you writing about this subject?
I was already interested in affections as a category, and especially in the ways older Christians thought about them as a psychological phenomenon. It seems--even on the surface--that Christian thought on the soul's movements have shifted and morphed in recent times. I wanted to understand better some of the older models of thought on their own terms, rather than looking at them through the prism of contemporary categories and assumptions. Finally, the opportunity to study a master theological mind like that of Edwards was itself immensely appealing.
How long have you been researching Jonathan Edwards? How did you come to study him?
During my Master of Divinity at Central Baptist Theological Seminary in Minnesota, U.S.A., I started reading Jonathan Edwards's Religious Affections, a classic work on Christian affection and devotion. I read just a couple of pages per day, early each morning before starting the day. I really didn't start studying Edwards's thought in earnest until after I began my Ph.D., however. I assumed that everything that could be written on Edwards had already been written, so I looked at my making any worthwhile contribution to Edwards's thought to be a fool's errand. Nevertheless, my doktorvater and friend, Kevin T. Bauder, pushed me to explore more deeply this area of Edwards's thought through the work of the scholar Thomas Dixon. Ken Minkema also encouraged me to continue my work in Edwards's affective thought.
What does your book focus on that hasn’t been explored elsewhere?
I'd highlight especially three areas of development. My book emphasizes both the way Edwards thought about affections, especially in contrast with other movements of the soul. I pay special attention to Edwards's distinction between "affections" and "passions," showing how he maintained this distinction throughout his career as a pastor and theologian. A second focus is the way I tie those ideas throughout Edwards's greater theological endeavors. I try to show that affections were a perennial concern for Edwards, from his early days at New Haven, to his later writings against the theological progressives of his day. Finally, I make the case that the way Edwards thought about affections has little in common with more recent emphases on emotions found in popular Christian religious thought.
What do you hope readers will gain from the book?
I hope they'll gain an appreciation of Christian theology, the remarkable genius of Jonathan Edwards, and the necessity of gracious affections for the Triune God.
Understanding Affections in the Theology of Jonathan Edwards: “The High Exercises of Divine Love” is available for pre-order now, and is due for release on 15th November 2018!
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