Rhetorical Analysis Of Sinners In The Hands Of An Angry God

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.

In the “Sinner in the Hands of the Angry God”, Jonathan Edwards uses rhetorical devices such as personification and hyperboles to manipulate his audience and deify himself.

This sermon was preached to warn people to convert to faith or face the danger of the Afterlife, which was the gave logic to the church audience. "Edwards image of god's hand holding 'Natural Man' by a thin thread out of the path of his wrath is a wonderful accounting of God's grace." According to Authors Dens, "God does not want to let go of that thread". This is a logos statement because Edwards is stating the logical fact. In Edwards sermon, as well as Authors Dens analysis of the speech, Edward mentions that " Only God’s own desire to keep us from falling into

He starts out telling the audience about a pit of Hell that is right beneath them; the only thing keeping them from falling is God’s hands. Which is strange because he’s giving human attributes to something that is non-visible. Edwards proceeds to tell the audience that they probably don’t realize this because they are too worried about the care of their own life. If God were to move His hands you would fall into the pits of Hell and nothing would stop you from falling. Edwards compares this to a spider’s web holding a rock. Obviously, a spider’s web can’t hold a rock so the rock would immediately fall. He uses another archetype by describing a black cloud of God’s wrath hanging over their heads. This creates a provocative image and frightens the audience with the thought of this actually existing. Now the audience is convinced that their religion has spiraled

Logan Chloupek Susan, Malcolm English 11 2/25/24 Rhetorical Analysis Essay In both “ Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God” by Jonathan Edwards and “ Speech to the American Equal Rights Association” by Sojourner Truth, both authors skillfully use ethos and pathos to engage their readers. It is very interesting to see how both very different show these persuasive techniques throughout both stories. To start, in the story “Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God” Jonathan Edwards shows an appeal to the ethos “This that you have heard in this case of everyone that you are out of Christ” (Edwards, par.1). By Edwards using this in his story, he is giving credibility to the congregation to convince the congregation to leave their known ways and to turn to God.

Edwards’s uses strong, powerful diction to clearly get his across to the spectators. Jonathan Edwards repetitively uses the word “omnipotent” to visibly tell his audience how powerful God is. Along with that, he repetitively uses the phrase “God’s wrath” along with words such as “fury, despair and destruction”. Edwards actually describes God’s wrath by commonly using words as dreadful, glowing, wickedness, black and vengeance. By the usage of these words and phrases, Edwards indicates that God is angered and furious of our actions. However to point out God’s generosity, Jonathan Edwards commonly uses the word “mercy”. By using the word “mercy”, Edwards indicates that since God made his worshipers, he is giving them an opportunity to repent and amend their ways or destruction is unpreventable. Mr. Edwards also uses words as “mourn, howl, hopeless and sober,” to specify the listeners reactions upon hearing Edwards’s sermon. Edwards use of influential words leave the spectators mourning and groaning in great despair. Edwards employs all these words through the emotional appeal of ethos. This is what causes a great impact upon the listeners at the church.

They are filled with his intense emotion as he speaks about “the fiery floods of the fierceness and wrath of God” (4). His intent is to educate the non-believers on God’s immense power and provide them with the knowledge of His strength and severity. Edwards expresses his passionate tone when trusting that “inconceivable fury” and “omnipotent power” would come upon them if their almighty creator had the desire to do so. By enlightening the doubters of the terror they might encounter through being neglectful, the devoted minister is able guide them towards a better way of life. With his confident attitude, Edwards has a powerful effect on the listeners and easily informs them of what He is capable

Edwards use of metaphors allows his tone to be straightforward with their negative connotations. He compares God’s wrath to the great waters that are damned to the present. By incorporating that the waters are for them and the longer it is held the faster and mighty it is, he makes readers feel guilty for being sinful. Depite managing to comfort them by reminding them they have not yet been judged he changes his tone to criticize it is their

Just as effective as language manipulation is Edwards's use of language transformation; indeed, his skillful employment of descriptive language adds a visual dimension to his message. Even if the foundation is misinterpreted, these transformations allow any listener to mentally "see" Edwards's overall direction. For instance, God's wrath is referred to as "great waters that are dammed", "a glittering sword", and a "drawn arrow". These terms indicate powerful and deadly forces. On the other hand, sinners are likened to "worms of the dust", "miserable creatures", and "loathsome insects"; consequently, these labels are receptors of God's wrath through the forces Edwards introduces. Although these conceptual images appear basic, Edwards's frequency and placement throughout his delivery produce a clear and precise overview to even

Edwards instills fear in his congregation by threatening the wrath of God and what will happen if one does not omit their lives to Him. “So that thus it is, that natural men’ are held in the hand god over the pit of hell; they have deserved the fiery pit, and are already sentenced to it;” (102). Here Edwards uses sharp descriptions to show his congregation that any wrong move can put one in Hell, promoting the practice of religion, more specifically; his church. Edwards also writes and speaks very poetically in such a way that his sermons are delivered with an intense amount of imagery that it seems as if those in attendance are watching a movie. Comparing the earth to God’s hand and the mention of God’s wrath being a loaded bow that is ready to rain down on sinners at any moment, helps add the the fear and the image. Another way Edwards creates his atmosphere is by referring to the mass in front of him as ‘you’. When spoken to in such a personal manner one is more likely to be afraid or concerned about the subject as opposed to the sermon being delivered with a more general

Edwards' creative choice of words that he uses describes the power of God and the terrible Hell awaiting sinners. These words easily infiltrate into the minds of his congregation and frighten them beyond belief. These choices of words and his use of such vivid images are mostly successful in their intent, to scare and put fear into his audience. Edwards held his audience locked up with his promises of eternal damnation if proper steps were not taken. The congregation felt the intense impact of his rhetorical strategies and lived on the fear of the power of God. In this way, he was able to keep his followers from sin and away from the fiery pits of Hell.

Jonathon Edwards maintains his audience’s attention by creating intense and meaningful similes. Edwards uses these similes as a way for his audience to understand the points he is making and adds dramatic imagery and piercing words to get the audience to consider what he is saying. The first simile he uses says this, “…they were always exposed to destruction; as one that stands or walks in slippery places is always exposed to fall” (Edwards 1). Edwards includes this quote in his sermon to provoke the readers thought. The point he is trying to make is that God’s people are exposed to destruction which is a hard to imagine so he breaks it down for his audience by saying that just as they are exposed to destruction if you walk in a slippery place you will also fall. The next memorable simile Edwards uses says this, “The God that holds you over the pit of hell, much as one holds a spider or some loathsome insect over the fire, abhors you, and is dreadfully provoked. His wrath towards you burns like fire; he looks upon you as worthy of nothing else but to be cast into the fire…” (6). Here Edwards compares his congregation to a “loathsome insect”. Edwards does this to try and describe how God views them. He continues his claim by comparing God’s wrath on them burning like fire, which would probably spark fear in the hearts of the people that they may repent. This simile helped further Edward’s main point, that hell is inevitable. One last simile Edwards uses is this, “Your wickedness makes you as it were heavy as lead, and to tend downwards with great weight and pressure towards

Jonathan in his sermon, Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God (July 8, 1741), claims that the unconverted are hanging from the hands of God, and can be dropped off to the eternity of hell, his sermon is used to make the sinners be afraid and understand how the power of God is saving them, but it is only for his pleasure, unless if they return to Christianity. Edwards strengths his argument by using metaphors and imagery of a wrathful God to make the unconverted people afraid of being sinners and encourage them to have a relationship with Christ to be fully saved from falling to an eternity in the flames of hell. Edwards purpose is to start his sermon with such powerful use of visualization to provide fear to the sinners and give them a

In "Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God" Johnathan Edwards is trying to use scare tactics to scare people back into faith. At the time, most people went away with faith; during this sermon he's letting people know what will/is going to happen when they drift farther from God. He preaches to them in an urgent, persuasive tone by using strong language, metaphors, and powerful diction.

Edwards uses words like “wrath” and “omnipotent” to display the power that God posses, and chooses negative connotation words to describe the relationship between God and man (para. 15, 46). Making the comparison of the relationship between God and humans like a spider web or thread, the author wants the audience to know that it can be broken at any time, and that the “pit is prepared” down in hell for sinners (para. 17). Edward chooses diction that leaves humans hopeless, and at the mercy of God. He wants the audience to know that God is always in control, using words like “if God should permit” and “the mere pleasure of God” (para. 13, 7). Additionally, Edwards uses diction to portray God as merciless and immoral, saying that has God is “without pity” and “will have no compassion upon you” (para. 41). This leaves the audience despaired, and they feel as if they have no choice but to reestablish their relationship with God, or certainly face an “everlasting destruction” at any time God pleases to (para.