Jonathan Edward's Sinners In The Hands Of An Angry God

Edwards was a very powerful and persuasive speaker. He used several rhetorical devices such as syntax, sound, emotional appeals, repetition, similes, metaphors, symbolism, and figures of speech. Edwards used these tools to paint the brightest, most vivid imagery that he could. These sharp images and the drab monotone voice he spoke with terrified the congregation.

Unfortunately, for a person to behave morally some motivation might be necessary. Emotional appeals are used by authors to create strong feelings within the audience, some of which include fear, pity, and guilt. A documentary call Scared Straight attempted to use fear of prison life as a reason for the featured teens to alter their lives. However, author Kathy Feinstein disputed that idea in her article, stating that the “Change Within” program used in the video was not ultimately successful. In Jonathan Edward’s sermon “Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God,” he too, uses the appeal to fear to persuade his audience of unbelievers to convert and accept Christ. With the evidence and effects of appealing to fear, along with the arguments made by Feinstein, this tactic is still the best motivational force for three reasons.

In the sermon, “Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God”, Edwards displays controversial viewpoints and ideas concerning heaven and hell. As Edwards speaks to the congregation he warns them of the misery and suffering they will face if they do not repent of certain sins. He also describes God as angry which probably struck fear into the hearts on many. To illustrate his own point that hell is unenviable without repentance Jonathan Edwards creates the idea of an angry God using intense similes, a harsh tone, and strong emotional appeal in “Sinners in the hand of an Angry God”.

Imagine you are a Puritan, it is the Great Awakening, and one of the most well-known preachers of the time is telling you that there is a good chance you are going to hell. Without some serious skills in persuasion, this statement wouldn’t mean anything. Jonathan Edwards ' "Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God" speech was extremely effective in persuading the Puritans to take their religious beliefs more seriously due to his use of many rhetorical devices such as: figures of speech, repetition and sound, syntax, and the triangle of rhetoric - ethos, pathos, and logos. The people were getting distracted by things other than religion

Jonathan Edwards creates a more effective argument for the intended audience in “Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God” than “The Speech in the Virginia Convention” written by Patrick Henry, by utilizing various techniques. Patrick Henry makes a strong argument however in the end, Edwards’ sermon grows to be more effective. Edwards creates the argument by strengthening the writing through tone, structure, fallacies and knowledge of the congregation that became his audience. Henry’s piece uses methods of oratory persuasion but the actual topic of “Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God” has an advantage from the start by appealing to fear, a fallacy of logic. Even with the strong basis “The Speech in the Virginia Convention” by Patrick

Jonathan Edwards, a famous preacher in pre-colonial times, composed a sermon that was driven to alert and inject neo Puritanical fear into an eighteenth century congregation. This Bible based and serious audience sought after religious instruction and enlightenment. Through the sermon "Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God," Edwards offers a very harsh interpretation to humankind. Edwards utilizes various rhetorical techniques to evoke an emotional response in his audience and to persuade the members of his congregation that their wicked actions will awaken a very ruthless and merciless God.

Jonathan Edwards's sermon, "Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God" is moving and powerful. His effectiveness as an eighteenth century New England religious leader is rooted in his expansive knowledge of the Bible and human nature, as well as a genuine desire to "awaken" and save as many souls as possible. This sermon, delivered in 1741, exhibits Edwards's skillful use of these tools to persuade his congregation to join him in his Christian beliefs.

One can hear a sermon any day of the week, because there are many preachers out there in the world. Many sermons are retold Bible stories from the Old and New Testaments that tell how our ancestors lived, and teach us life applications of how to glorify God while we are living our lives. For over a thousand years God’s word has been preached by many faithful men who follow Him. However, there were some of those faithful men who used God’s Word and their own improvisation to convict sinners and to put their trust in God. Those times resulted in an era called the Great Awakening of the 18th century and they also put an end to the segregation era of the 20th century. Two of the faithful men during those eras were

Throughout “Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God,” Jonathan Edwards uses multiple literary devices to disarm his listeners. One literary device he uses is hyperbole. He emphasizes and exaggerated God’s anger. He does this multiple times throughout the story. For example, he says “God is a great deal more angry” (124). Another literary device Edwards uses is allusion. He frequently alludes to the horrors of hell by referencing common terms to make the listener have a visual connection to hell. “The pit is prepared, the fire made ready” (126). This connects to his use of imagery. He incorporates imagery multiple times throughout his work to make it seem more dramatic. An example of this are the multiple times he describes hell throughout the story. Edward tries to make it sound as terrible and destructive as he can to instill fear into the reader.

Throughout Edward's persuasive speech he uses figurative language to further emphasize his point. For instance, in the second paragraph, it states, "That world of misery, that lake of burning brimstone, is extended abroad under you." If any human were to commit any sin they would be facing

Jonathan Edwards shows good persuasive technique by: building an arguments to persuade his audience, that they need to live a more devout life by speaking, using imagery in sentences to paint striking pictures into people's minds, and by using excellent word choice in his speech to the general audience. Jonathan Edwards demonstrates his persuasive technique by speaking,  he directly addresses the problem of sinners. His speaking was pertained to sinners whom believe on a day to day basis that god or “ The Wrath Of God”cannot and will not overpower them. His focus is to change the people's mindset on this because when god is mad he can have a strong vengeance for consistent sinners whom are consecutively giving God’s wrath more and more things to feed off of and more reason to attack with their sins and guilt but by the mere grace of God’s right mind he stays content,  but if it was to happen the sinners would not dare be able to go against a

Edwards' speech, "Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God", is a congitive piece of argument that basis its creates fear in its audience. During the time of the Great Awakening, many Salem Witch Trials imprisioned and killed many. He believed that he could not only convert non-believers, but also give a wake-up call to the ones who have fallen off the tracks. Ed repeatedly talks about people's doom and destruction, but then later on contradicts himself by giving a call to action. Given the setting and circumstances of his time, EdwarsEdwards' speech, "Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God", is an example of an effective argument due to his allusions to the past and polished use of visual imagery, and the audience's susceptibility to fear. to create

In Johnathan Edward's, "Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God," Edwards has a particular style of writing that conveys an underlying purpose when delivering the sermon. Throughout the sermon, he uses multiple writing techniques and tools to engage the listener more, and to assure the listeners believe and trust him. Edwards purpose of writing and delivering the sermon, is to warn his people and to whomever else wants to agree, that they all must show their remorse of their sins to God before it is too late. Every sentence in the sermon, is based around scarring the people even more and more. Edwards accomplishes this by using certain diction and structure, a certain tone, and persuasive figurative language.

Edwards’ message in, “Sinners in the Hands of An Angry God” was preached in a religious climate during the era of the Great Awakening. The Great Awakening preceded the American Revolution, an era when American’s fought against political issues such as high taxes, demanding their freedom and independence (Wikipedia, 2014) . The idea of an "awakening" implies a slumber or passivity during secular or less religious times. However, this can be applied to a non-religious context. I propose that “Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God” be examined from the perspective of compelling people to consider their weaknesses and insufficiencies (along with the insufficiencies of others) in order to encourage them to equality, and removing social hierarchy and fear. From that perspective, “Sinners in the Hands

Both of these speeches influenced people to do or think about something they never did or previously disagreed with. In Edward’s speech he influenced the people in the church to not sin and if you do apologize to God. In Henry’s speech he tells his fellow Americans that we need to stop being scared and go to war with Britain for our independence. Both of the speakers we’re very influential to the people who they we’re speaking to, Edwards was the priest, and Henry was a close person to the president.