A DISSERTATION CONCERNING THE END FOR WHICH GOD CREATED THE WORLD

by Jonathan Edwards

THE Author had designed these Dissertations for the public view; and wrote them out as they now appear: though it is probable, that if his life had been spared, he would have revised them, and rendered them in some respects more complete. Some new sentiments, here and there, might probably have been added; and some passages brightened with farther illustrations. This may be conjectured from some brief hints or sentiments minuted down on loose papers, found in the manuscripts.
But those sentiments concisely sketched out, which, it is thought, the author intended to enlarge, and digest into the body of the work, cannot be so amplified by any other hand, as to do justice to the author: it is therefore probably, best that nothing of this kind should be attempted.
As these Dissertations were more especially designed for the learned and inquisitive, it is expected that the judicious and candid will not be disposed to object, that the manner in which these subjects are treated is something above the level of common readers. For though a superficial way of discourse and loose harangues may well enough suit some subjects, and answer some valuable purposes; yet other subjects demand more closeness and accuracy. And if an author should neglect to do justice to a subject, for fear that the simpler sort should not fully understand him, he might expect to be deemed a trifler by the more intelligent.
Our author had a rare talent to penetrate deep in search of truth; to take an extensive survey of a subject, and look through it into remote consequences. Hence many theorems, that appeared hard and barren to others, were to him pleasant and fruitful fields, where his mind would expatiate with peculiar ease, profit, and entertainment. Those studies, which to some are too fatiguing to the mind, and wearying to the constitution, were to him but a natural play of genius, and which his mind without labour would freely and spontaneously perform. A close and conclusive way of reasoning upon a controversial point was easy and natural to him.

Genres: Theology, Christian, Philosophy, Christianity, Nonfiction, Religion, Audiobook

118 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 1, 1765

About the author

Librarian Note: There is more than one author in the Goodreads database named Jonathan Edwards.

Jonathan Edwards was the most eminent American philosopher-theologian of his time, and a key figure in what has come to be called the First Great Awakening of the 1730s and 1740s.

The only son in a family of eleven children, he entered Yale in September, 1716 when he was not yet thirteen and graduated four years later (1720) as valedictorian. He received his Masters three years later. As a youth, Edwards was unable to accept the Calvinist sovereignty of God. However, in 1721 he came to what he called a "delightful conviction" though meditation on 1 Timothy 1:17. From that point on, Edwards delighted in the sovereignty of God. Edwards later recognized this as his conversion to Christ.

In 1727 he was ordained minister at Northampton and assistant to his maternal grandfather, Solomon Stoddard. He was a student minister, not a visiting pastor, his rule being thirteen hours of study a day. In the same year, he married Sarah Pierpont, then age seventeen, daughter of Yale founder James Pierpont (1659–1714). In total, Jonathan and Sarah had eleven children.

Stoddard died on February 11th, 1729, leaving to his grandson the difficult task of the sole ministerial charge of one of the largest and wealthiest congregations in the colony. Throughout his time in Northampton his preaching brought remarkable religious revivals.

Yet, tensions flamed as Edwards would not continue his grandfather's practice of open communion. Stoddard believed that communion was a "converting ordinance." Surrounding congregations had been convinced of this, and as Edwards became more convinced that this was harmful, his public disagreement with the idea caused his dismissal in 1750.

Edwards then moved to Stockbridge, Massachusetts, then a frontier settlement, where he ministered to a small congregation and served as missionary to the Housatonic Indians. There, having more time for study and writing, he completed his celebrated work, The Freedom of the Will (1754).

Edwards was elected president of the College of New Jersey (later Princeton University) in early 1758. He was a popular choice, for he had been a friend of the College since its inception. He died of fever at the age of fifty-four following experimental inoculation for smallpox and was buried in the President's Lot in the Princeton cemetery beside his son-in-law, Aaron Burr.

Reviews

[Ryan Hawkins · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow. After reading this, I wonder why I ever read more modern books! It isn't 'easy' to read at times, but his thoughts, arguments, and biblical exegesis are simply astounding. As with Freedom of the Will, his arguments in here deserve slower and more careful meditation—not just because they make so much sense, but because their truth is life-changing. As a result, I want to write a longer summary and review which will appear later on my site (seekingformore.com).

But for now, in sum the book gives the reason for why God created the world and universe (pretty awesome book idea, right!?). It is divided into two parts. In the first part, Edwards argues using reason alone that God's glory must be the reason he created the world. He defines terms well and shows what God's ultimate end must be. This is a very impressive section because he intentionally doesn't use Scripture much because that will come in the second part. But he still arrives logically and philosophically that God's emanating glory must be why he created the world, and in this section he also responds to some push backs. At the end of the section, he then admits that reason can be a fallible guide—which brings us to section two.

The second section is really where you hit gold when you're reading. Here, Edwards uses Scripture to show that the glory of God certainly is the reason God created the world—as it shown all throughout Scripture. But even this can be vague. So, he defines what glory is in Scripture using four main definitions, and he shows how these relate to his creating the world.

So what does it mean that the end for which God created the world is his glory? Well, I encourage you to read the book! Trust me, it'll be worth it for the last 20 pages or so. If you read slowly and really understand what he's saying, it's amazing how much sense it makes and how wonderful it is! But here's my (feeble) attempt at rewording Edwards' conclusion very briefly:

- God's glory describes who he is internally. Meaning, his glory is his beauty, admirableness, goodness, and especially his grace. This glory consists in his knowledge (who he is, what is best, etc.), his virtue (his love, holiness, goodness), and his happiness (his joy). He (and his glory) have always existed.
- God created the world for his glory. Meaning, he created it so that this internal glory may be communicated, emanated, diffused, overflowed, exist ad extra, etc., in the world. This means that God created the world so that all his internalness—meaning, his knowledge, virtue (love, holiness, goodness, etc.), and happiness may fill it.
- This is why he created everything, and especially why he created man in his image. He created mankind so that mankind may receive the communicated glory of God.
- Man in God's image has both a mind and a will. Or a more modern way to say it is that God created man with an ability to think, see, and understand (mind), and to do, feel, and have emotions/affections (will). With these main two faculties, he receives the glory of God, which consists in God's knowledge, virtue, and happiness. As a result, man was created to understand God and all his glory he shares in the world (man's mind; God's knowledge); man was created to love God and all his glory God shares in the world (man's will; God's virtue, love, goodness, holiness); and man was created to find happiness in God and all God's glory he shares with the world (man's will; God's happiness). Man therefore is created for the glory of God, which consists in man's greatest good as well.
- In this way, God's ultimate end for creating the world ultimately centers on himself—meaning, the world is created to emanate his glory—and this perfectly aligns with the creatures good. Why? Because the creature is created in such a way in which their good consists in seeing, loving, and rejoicing in God and his revealed glory.
- Concerning all this, God couldn't have done it another way. He is infinitely perfect and beautiful. If he were to create with no regard to his superior joy, love, and perfection, it would be wrong and unloving for him to do so. And in creating with supreme regard to himself, he also gives the greatest joy, love, and happiness to the creatures. In short, it is a win-win.
- Side note: as for those who do not trust Jesus, the glory of God will still emanate through their judgment. This is clear in Scripture, and it also shows forth God's justice against sin—which justice is an aspect of the glory (internal goodness) of God.
- Side note: This idea of God creating it to emanate his glory, and man receiving and rejoicing in his glory, is not ethereal or separated from day-to-day life. Quite the opposite. All the goodness, beauty, joy, etc. in this world are emanations of God's internal glory that he has had forever. As a result, all the good we all experience fits right in to this end for which he created the world.
- So the world came out of God's glory—meaning, it is an overflow of his knowledge, goodness, and happiness; the world exists in order for that glory to be emanated and received; and finally, the final end is that the glory may be returned to God—meaning, people receive and return; they drink from his fountain of delight, and praise him for his satisfaction. In this way, all things are from God, through God, and to God (Rom. 11:36). In this way, he is the beginning and the end. And in this way, the good of his creatures is not diminished by his being the Beginner, Sustainer, and the Goal. Rather, they experience their greatest good because of this.
- Finally, as God created the creature to communicate his glory (his knowledge, goodness, and happiness), so God intended for this communication to go on forever since God's glory is truly infinite. As a result, there will never be a time when it can be said that all of God's glory has been communicated to the creature. There will never be a time when the creature has seen (knowledge), loved, or enjoyed all of God's glory. This is why the new heavens and new earth are eternal, or everlasting.
- This is the ultimate end for why God created the world. This is the greatest happiness of man.

Wonderful, isn't it?

I have heard and even taught much on God's glory before. I knew a lot of what I just wrote above. But Edwards' clarity, especially towards the end of his work, made me see much of it afresh and to see much of it in a new, beautiful way.

[Drew Norwood · Rating 5 out of 5]

"[T]he great end of God's works, which is so variously expressed in Scripture, is indeed but ONE; and this one end is most properly and comprehensively called, THE GLORY OF GOD." The world exist for the glory of God; the world was not made chiefly for the creature. Its easy for us to glance over this phrase, the "glory of God," since we see it and use it so often. Edwards is a great help in avoiding this. He holds up the diamond of God's *glory* and turns it from side to side, explicating what is meant by the term in its many Scriptural facets.

The form of the writing makes the reading a chore early on. Edwards is exceedingly logical. He presses his argument forcefully and builds it point by point, supporting each proposition with reasoning and citations to Scripture. After the philosophical groundwork was laid, the reading became easier. Reading the latter half was a real joy, leading you naturally into praise and thanksgiving.

[Josiah Richardson · Rating 5 out of 5]

The title for this book is part of those sort of questions that we think are simple until we consider it in a deeper way. Why did God create the world? In many ways it makes no sense, he didn’t do it because he had to, or was commissioned to, or even because he thought it would be a good idea. We know that through the creation of the world, God provided what Edwards calls “subordinate goods,” and by this Edwards just means those sorts of things that are good results of another good - like how having a baby provides you with someone to love and cherish, but loving and cherishing are not the purposes of having a baby.

Edwards then talks about those types of goods that he terms “Ultimate goods,” which are primary and non-negotiable reasons for the things existence. Is to this end that Edwards explores when answering the question “Why did God create the world?” We know He did not create the world for his creaturely happiness, because creation is not man-centered, but instead he created for his own glory so that we may enjoy Him. Subordinate goods are like the rays of the sun, but ultimate goods are like the sun itself.

We can think of it like this (and I recognize that my analogies often fail), suppose a brilliant pianist loves to play piano, not because he does it for money or for the recognition, but because the music inside them is so rich and beautiful that it just flows out of them. Whenever he plays, others get to enjoy the music, but ultimately they enjoy the musician himself. God created the world, not because he lacked anything (money, fame, etc) but because his virtues and attributes flow out of himself. And the enjoyment we receive is ultimately due to his glory being revealed.

This book was the primary cause for John Piper’s Christian hedonism, that we are most satisfied when we find our joy in Christ. There is much to agree with here on that belief and some needed nuances to add to keep from faulty doctrine, but the main idea rings true. God is complete in Himself and we experience the benefits of God being God when we recognize and find our joy and satisfaction in Him, not just the things that he has created.

[Jeff Shelnutt · Rating 4 out of 5]

I can’t help feeling somewhat self-conscious attempting a review of this book (“dissertation”). Edwards is frequently touted as the greatest American theologian. My adding to the chorus of agreement that his reputation is well-deserved seems a tad presumptuous.

Be that as it may, I also agree that Edwards' accolade as a philosopher is justified. He is a prodigious thinker. As any good philosopher should, he opens with a lengthy definition of terms. The two main sections then neatly delineate between 1) what can be gleaned from reason, and 2) what can be learned from Scripture.

The sensitive apologist in Edwards is evident. Though he believes Scripture to be sufficient for establishing the ultimate end of God’s purposes in creation, he acknowledges that many readers will not accept “divine revelation” alone.

So he begins with that which reason demonstrates. I will not attempt to summarize the first section, just relay the conclusion: “What has been said shows, that as all things are from God, as their first cause and fountain; so all things tend to Him, and in their progress come nearer and nearer to Him through all eternity: which argues, that He who is their first cause is their last end.”

This gives the flavor of Edwards’ use of language. It is typical 18th century academic speak: long sentences, wordy elaborations, comprehensive conclusions. The appeal to reason is followed by objections anticipated by the author, which he proceeds to carefully tackle.

The second section is Edward’s argument from Scripture. As would be expected, his handling of relevant passages is meticulous. Though the modern reader, like me, will probably find the Roman numerals inconvenient, each reference is brought to bear upon the thesis: “God’s glory is the end of the creation.”

“Glory” is abstract. Conceding this, Edwards analyzes the various ways that the term is used in Scripture. His assessment: “The glory of God...is the emanation and true external expression of God’s internal glory and fullness.” This begs the question: What in the world is God’s internal glory?

Answer: “The whole of God’s internal good or glory, is in these three things, viz. His infinite knowledge, His infinite virtue or holiness, and His infinite joy.” These three things, Edwards argues, are the essence of who God is. And God reveals Himself to seekers by granting a respective understanding of Him, love for Him, and happiness found in Him.

In the creature’s knowing, esteeming, loving, rejoicing in, and praising God, the glory of God is both exhibited and acknowledged; his fullness is received and returned…[Like the sun, the glory of God] shines upon and into the creature, and is reflected back to the luminary. The beams of glory come from God, are something of God, and are refunded back again to their original. So that the whole is of God, and in God, and to God; and He is the beginning, and the middle, and the end.

I would be remiss if I did not point out how frequently Edwards speaks of the happiness that is inherent to God’s very nature. The man who is most well-known outside of theological circles for his sermon “Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God” writes continually about the pure joy found in knowing God.

This is important because while refuting happiness as the chief end of existence, Edwards does not refute happiness itself. Instead, he frames happiness as a result of pursuing God’s glory:

God’s respect to the creature’s good, and His respect to Himself, is not a divided respect; but both are united in one, as the happiness of the creature aimed at is happiness in union with Himself.

Edwards proceeds to illustrate the glory/joy parallel by pointing out that Jesus’ own focus was the eternal glory of God’s presence. The joy the Son felt at this prospect strengthened Him to suffer the death of crucifixion (Hebrews 12:2). Joy anticipates glory. Glory is the fullness of joy.

Does Edwards prove his thesis? I am probably not the best person to make that judgment. I came to the table in general agreement with his conclusion already. I might differ from some of Edwards’ deductions as to how God brings about His glory, but that is another debate!

[Benjamin Napier · Rating 4 out of 5]

Would have been 5 stars! But, even though i haven’t read the original text, i’ve got a sneaking suspicion that the modern english rendition does lose something from the original text. I could see how this would be useful to most readers though.

Such a thorough answer to the question ‘what is the ultimate and final reason that God created the world?’, this work was so helping in forming new linguistic and conceptual tools for understanding Gods glory.

Highly recommend to any believer.

[Joseph Chow · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good theology! Boring prose!

[Ross · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a challenging but excellent read. Full disclosure it took me nearly a year to read and I had to read the first 150 pages or so twice. Edwards does a great job using both logic and Scripture to back his thesis.

Excepts from the book
God created the world for three things
1) so His name would be honored
2) to provide an arena for His perfect attributes to be seen, known, and worshipped
3) so He would be praised appropriately

-God created the world for his own Glory.
-God's ultimate end is the glory of God.
-When Scripture speaks of the glory of God as the ultimate end of all his works, it means the emanation and true external expression of God's internal glory and fullness

[Lindsay John Kennedy · Rating 5 out of 5]

This work is so God-centered and it's contagious. This is the theology the church today needs! It's not an easy work to read, but it's contents are for all. I want to always be dwelling on the message of this book, so as to keep my life in the correct perspective.

[Ben · Rating 3 out of 5]

Advanced Theology

This is a theological book that delves into profound discussions on God's purpose in creating the world. This book is not for the faint of heart, as it ventures into advanced theological territory, challenging readers to grapple with complex concepts and thought-provoking ideas.

Edwards' insights are nothing short of remarkable, showcasing his deep understanding of theological principles. While the content may appear involved and intellectually demanding, it is precisely this depth that makes the book a valuable resource for those seeking to explore the intricate workings of divine intentionality. Edwards tackles weighty topics with precision, offering a wealth of theological knowledge that serves to expand our understanding of God's grand design.

It is important to note that Concerning the End for Which God Created the World is not a casual read. Rather, it requires focused engagement and a willingness to delve into the intricacies of theological discourse. If you are prepared to embark on a thought-provoking journey, this book will undoubtedly reward you with profound insights into an essential and timeless topic.

I recommend this book to those who possess a strong foundation in theology and are eager to delve into more advanced discussions. The insights it offers are invaluable for those seeking to deepen their understanding of God's purposes and the complexities of creation. While it may be challenging at times, the reward is well worth the effort.

In Summary
Although the book's advanced nature may be intimidating for some, it remains an important resource for those seeking to broaden their theological horizons. Embrace the intellectual journey offered by Jonathan Edwards, and let your theological understanding flourish as you engage with this profound work.

3.7/5

[Gabe Zepeda · Rating 5 out of 5]

What more can I say? This is a classic. Edwards was ahead of his time. He pioneered new and insightful ways to think and talk about the majestic being of God and his ultimate end in creating the universe. At times my mind was blown. Other times, my heart soared with joy. Read this to see what I mean. I would give this work 4.5 stars. Thus, there are some weaknesses:

-Certain sections are hard to read.
-Sometimes Edwards is not the best communicator (but try explaining how the mind of God works!)
-There are a few questionable areas surrounding Edward's understanding of God's divine aseity and divine simplicity. (But this can stimulate further research or understanding on the matter).

[Jon Den Houter · Rating 5 out of 5]

I don't think I would have comprehended the original version. Edwards' deep content took so much of my mental bandwidth that I wouldn't have had anything left to make sense of the 300-year-old English. I am very thankful to Pastor Jason Dollar for updating the language.

(Side note: as a high school English teacher, I need to remember that asking my students to read, for example, Edgar Allan Poe is like asking me to read Jonathan Edwards.)

Edwards divides his work into two: the first division, "What We Learn from Reason," and the second division, "What We Learn from Scripture." The first thing that surprised me is that the first division is not written as a Christian apologetic. Edwards writes (in Dollar's modernized language)

I am going to provide several conclusions about this issue [why God created the world] using only reason... there are many disputes and arguments about why God made the world, and people often argue against what I think the Scriptures clearly teach on this issue They base their arguments on what they call the dictates of reason, which is merely a pretend version of reason. Therefore, to provide an answer to these critics, I will discuss some observations related to what seems rational about this matter (41).

This quote made me read the first division from the perspective of a nonbeliever who was looking to be convinced through reason only that God made the world for his glory. However, Edwards presupposes that a person accepts the Scriptures as true, even in this "using only reason" section. For example, Edwards says,,

From the realm of reason, we've seen that if it's possible for God to be his own ultimate end in the creation of the world, then he is morally obligated to do so—his nature would require it. Nothing is more intrinsically valuable than God, and he knows it. His holy nature compels him to cherish most highly the most valuable thing in existence, which is himself. Logic also informs us that God values the expression of his perfect attributes just as much as he values possessing those attributes. (64)

I agree with Edwards wholeheartedly, but I don't believe you can arrive at this conclusion with reason alone. To get here, you need to believe the Bible and what it reveals about God's "perfect attributes" and his "holy nature." While I believe you can prove with reason alone that God exists by using the Kalam Cosmological Argument, you can't determine with reason alone what God is like.

Even as I write this, however, I think of Romans 1:20, where Paul says, "For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature—have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that people are without excuse." Even so, Edwards doesn't argue from this text or even the idea presented in this text. Rather, Edwards presupposes even in his "reason alone" section that his reader accepts that God exists and is holy and perfect. Thus, the first division is not designed to convince the agnostic skeptic. This doesn't make the first division bad, it's just different than what I had expected.

The real joy to me of this book was the second division, where Edwards comments on Scripture to argue that God made the world for his glory. Edwards exegetes many Scripture passages that I had heretofore seen as curlicues; in his excellent exegesis, I realized that they were not curcliques at all but rather some of the most substantial verses in the Bible.

For example, I had heretofore recognized the weight of Phil 2:6-11a, which is the beautiful Kenosis hymn describing Christ emptying himself, but I had dismissed Phil 2:11b as a curlicue, which says: "to the glory of God the Father." However, Edwards' exegesis helped me to realize that "curlicue" is the most important part of the hymn! He writes,

These singing angels [who sang "Glory to God in the highest" (Luke 2:14a)] knew what they were singing about. They understood the ultimate end God had in mind for bringing his Son into the world. On the occasion of Jesus' birth, their minds would have, no doubt, rejoiced mostly in what was most valuable and glorious in the sending and coming of Christ.... Another place where the glory of the Father and Son is spoken up as the end of the work of redemption is Philippians 2:6-11.... Scripture is abundantly clear in teaching that the glory of God is the ultimate end of the work of redemption [because] the whole universe is subject to Jesus Christ, all of heaven and earth, all angels and men—everything is subordinator to Christ, who carries out his kingly office. And everything that was put under him was placed there for a purpose, namely, that he might order all things in such a way that they fulfill his Father's great design for redemption, which is to bring glory to God." (162)

Another surprise to me was how Edwards changed over the course of his book from minimizing God's love for human beings in comparison to achieving His own glory to saying that God's love for human beings was integrally connected with achieving his glory. For example, at the end of the first division, Edwards writes, "God, in making himself his own last end in the way that has been described, does not show any dependence at all upon [human beings]" (114) and "[God] is the highest of all beings, infinitely greater and more worthy than all the others. Thus, if anyone deserves to make himself his own ultimate end, it is God" (96). Compare the tone of these passages to the tone of this passage near the end of the second division: "Finally, to communicate his joy and happiness to people means that God expresses to them the joy he has in himself. In so doing, he is not communicating something different than the fullness of his being. God's primary source of joy is his own glorious and excellent qualities, and if these are the things that make him happy, then these are the things that will make his creatures happy. Thus, the communication of his joy is not distinct from the emanating fow of his internal glory; rather, it is implied in the phrase glory of God (239). I do not think this is an inconsistency; what's more, if I were to re-read this book, I am sure I would notice a strong consistency between the beginning of the book and the end. The difference in tone in these passages can be explained by saying Ewards focuses on God in the beginning of the book, which is appropriate because God is the source and fountain of His glory, and Edwards only focuses on human beings at the end of the book after he has firmly established the primacy of God in everything.

Edwards ended the book with a mind-blowing thought. From God's perspective outside of time, His people are fully united with Him, but from our perspective, we never will be fully united with him. Edwards writes, "When viewed from the standpoint of eternity, both the happiness of the creature and the closeness of his union with God will be growing and progressing forever... his growth in joy and union will never end... this attainment will never happen from our perspective" (246-7).

[Mike Conroy]

Wow. What can I say? This book is filled with Scripture after Scripture after Scripture all showing that the chief end that God created the world for is the display of His own glory. Edwards, at times, is too philosophical and can impose systems of thoughts on the Bible rather than reading systems of thoughts from the Bible.

This book follows that pattern, but it’s right. The first half is all a philosophical look at motives, and ends or goals in people’s pursuits. And then he applies that thinking to pages and pages of passages that clearly explain that God created this world for Him.

This was the right book at the right time. It refreshed my understanding for why everything exists and pushed me to pursue that purpose in all that I do.

[benebean · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a lot more technical than I thought it would be. Honestly, I was sort of lost/bored/indifferent to a lot of the stuff after the beginning (I'm not a scholar). But it became much more meaningful and enjoyable when Edwards actually started listing the reasons God created the world along with numerous scripture references backing up his claims around chapter 2 section 4ish.

So for me the book is sort of like:
beginning: meh
middle: huh?
end: oooo!

I'm giving is 3 stars, but I suspect the rating would go up if I put more effort into understanding it.

[Jeremy Egerer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Starts off with a beautiful treatise about the objects of human action, and ends with a good old-fashioned Scriptural bulldozing about how God created the world for His own glory.

If you've ever wondered how God could create a universe while in a state of absolute self-contentedness, or if you've ever wondered exactly what it *means* to glorify God -- or what good He gets out of it at all, being God -- then this book is a must-read.

[Richard Roodt · Rating 5 out of 5]

Jason Dollar has done an excellent job updating this classic from Jonathan Edwards into modern English. This modern English version does not detract from the original version's power in communicating the wonder of God's majesty, and the extravagant nature of His Love for Himself and His creatures (man).

[Daniel Kleven · Rating 3 out of 5]

I much prefer Bavinck: "All that exists is ultimately grounded in God’s good pleasure (εύδοκια του θεου). Beyond that we cannot go." (Reformed Dogmatics II:373)

[Chico Collie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Why would a perfect, self-sufficient being create anything?

Through my own personal reflection on the meaning of life, I perceive that this is the second most important question that a person can ask themselves. (the first being, ‘why does anything exist?’ It’s connected to the second question but the subtle distinction is paramount and will be discussed elsewhere).

Said another way, what is a goal valuable enough to warrant God’s singular focus in pursuing it? What is God trying to achieve ultimately?

At first, to some, it may seem like a purely theoretical contemplation, but the implications for our lives, even the apparently ‘mundane’ aspects, are massive. Why do I exist? Is my life meaningful? How do I get true happiness and fulfillment? The answer to these and other questions must be bound within the ultimate purpose of it all, the chief end for which God created the World. Furthermore, that which God values highest must be objectively most valuable. Humanity’s desire to reassign value, leading to distorted value hierarchies, is at the core of our individual and collective moral dysfunction.

It’s a heavy topic but Jonathan Edwards, in his Dissertation Concerning the End for Which God Created the World, brilliantly and logically postulates what should be the ultimate purpose of the universe. Then he later verifies his deductions with Scripture, revealing that this is the single most all-encompassing theme of the Bible. Indeed, Edward’s conclusions are so Biblically supported that to reject them is nearly equivalent to rejecting the Bible in its entirety. Nevertheless, objections have arisen which are also included with his detailed responses to each. He completes the work by showing how true knowledge, love, and joy ultimately triangulate on the Glory of God, a concept that he masterfully elaborates upon. This version of the book, updated by Jason Dollar, makes the original 18th-century classic more legible for a 21st-century audience.

If this book had a flaw, it would be that it presupposes a theistic concept of God without offering additional support for the stance. In Edward’s day, which was in a predominantly Christian society, such a stance would have been expected. But for the sake of our ‘modern’ increasingly pluralistic society, an introductory chapter establishing the position would be of benefit. Also, the book is a reservoir of scripture text on the subject, but the absence of a reference index is noticeable.

With that said, my criticisms are akin to nitpicking and I highly recommend this book to those looking for a serious, intellectual discourse on why God created the World, particularly from a Christian perspective. Non-Christians would benefit from the exposure to Edward’s reasoning while Christians take one step closer to learning how to love God with all their mind and, as the ole time believers would say, see things the way God sees them.

[Aussch · Rating 3 out of 5]

A lot of thought provoking concepts but the points felt belabored and repetitive to me most of the time. I got the most out of the statements and paragraphs where he summarizes the point(s) being made and found that it was much easier for me to take in the information from first reading the summary and then looking at the specific evidence. I was able to get a lot of valuable information to chew on when I focused on the summary and then quickly reviewed the evidence afterward.

I was sometimes amazed, in awe, and challenged to think of God in new ways and even highlighted a lot of things that i used/intend to use during prayer times and in my praise to the Lord...but also felt that the focus of the study left me with an empty feeling as though God was distant and impersonal. I don’t mean to imply the author believes or communicated that God is distant or impersonal... It’s maybe just an unhappy byproduct of a very academic approach to making a very specific point about God’s motives.

Also, the book ended very abruptly.

[Harry Morasch · Rating 5 out of 5]

In diesem Buch zeigt Jonathan Edwards, dass Logik und die Bibel uns lehren, dass Gottes höchstes Ziel seine Herrlichkeit ist und Gläubige dadurch einen unendlich hohen Gewinn haben.

Gott macht, was er macht, weil er sich selbst wichtig findet. Das trifft auch auf die Errettung der Menschen zu und steht nicht im Widerspruch zu seiner Opferbereitschaft und seinem Ziel uns glücklich zu machen. Im Gegenteil: diese beiden Dinge hängen zusammen.

Es gelingt Jonathan Edwards sehr gut, diese herrlichen Wahrheiten zu zeigen, da er sie, wie man beim lesen merkt, unglaublich gut durchdacht hat. Ich kann mir keine bessere Darstellung über das Ziel Gottes, bei allem was er tut, vorstellen.

Gehört definitiv zu den drei wichtigsten Büchern, die ich gelesen habe. Absolute empfehlenswert!

[Steve · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is Edwards's defence of the glory of God as the chief end for which God created all things.
Sections 1-4 address the point with arguments from reason and various objections answered. The remaining sections build the argument from Scripture. This is profound,tough and solid theology that would blow away a lot of nonsense in our own times!

"“Therefore, to speak strictly according to truth, we may suppose, that a disposition in God, as an original property of his nature, to an emanation of his own infinite fullness, was what excited him to create the world; and so, that the emanation itself was aimed at by him as a last end of the creation.”

[Tyler Fitch · Rating 5 out of 5]

Just finished. This book was amazing and important. The best way I can describe it is that helps set priorities in place.

I’m only 28 and 3 years into ministry. Glad I read this now.

It was a slow and steady read. Hard for my type 3 brain. But after Tim Keller said it was one of his top 5 I had to give it a try. SO Glad I pushed through.

“...the creatures true good and God’s adoration of himself are united as one thing. They are not divided goals. The happiness that the creature aims at is a happiness that is only found when he is in union with God, and the union is what brings God glory.”

[Kolin · Rating 3 out of 5]

Overall I liked the premise of the book. I agree with the overarching argument that God’s aim for making the world was for his glory and not creations happiness. I struggled with some of the seemingly redundancy and often very abstract arguments that were boring to follow. It is hard to say if it is because theological arguments are sometimes boring or if it is because it was written about 250 years ago.

Main Takeaways:

- God created the word for his glory

- God’s glory is the end for which he does all things

- There is a lot of scripture to back that up

- He presents several philosophical arguments for why that has to be the case as well

[Parker · Rating 4 out of 5]

Once I got into the flow of reading 18th century English, I quite enjoyed this book. Through his dissertation Edwards led me toward reflections on the divine glory, the chief ends in all my own activities, and the ways all God's creatures are made to mirror His fullness -- all of which led me to wonderful moments of impassioned prayer. Whether it be the original or a modern English paraphrase, I think reading this short book would be beneficial to many.

[Errol Castens · Rating 5 out of 5]

His glory and the happiness of His people are inseparable.

We tend to think of those seeking glory as egotistical. Pastor, missionary, and theologian Jonathan Edwards makes the case that God’s love and promotion of His own glory is the expression and sharing of who He is, to the infinite happiness - indeed, the infinite increase in happiness - of those who love and admire Him.

A must-read for every Christian.

[Caleb Walker · Rating 4 out of 5]

The density of this book and my own density were not always clearly distinguished. Great stuff though! Edwards destroys the idea that the end of all God’s actions is human happiness or well-being and shows that God himself is the end of all things. His glory emanating out to be received and reflected is for his own good pleasure, but that includes our highest pleasure. I now see where Piper gets it.

“It may satisfy us that what the word of God says on the matter is not unreasonable.”

[Steven Evans · Rating 4 out of 5]

What is the end? For God’s own glory. That’s the simple answer. Yet Edwards’ brilliance is manifested in how he thoroughly argues this point. It made me worship God with an enlarged heart, which is a great benefit. Seeing as it made me glorify God and God’s glory is the end for which the world was made, this is a valuable book indeed.

[David King · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have read enough of Edwards and worked to update a few of his sermons and writings to recognize the impressive works that Jason Dollar does. He carefully updates the language while retaining Edwards’ voice. The book is helpfully laid out in relatively short chapters, allowing the reader to make regular progress while at the same time encouraging one to sit and reflect.

[Deric Koop · Rating 5 out of 5]

life changing work

This is the first book of a long list that I’ve begun. Something that I think is becoming harder and harder to grasp, is the necessity of bringing God glory in everything we do. Understanding the glory of God through the words of Jonathan Edwards has completely changed the way I study scripture. I am thankful for this updated version.

[Eli Andersen · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book really stands in a class of its own. He masterfully puts words to the complicated relationships that exist in Christian doctrine. It's one thing to know that God created the world for his glory. But it is another thing to understand why. Jonathan Edwards is the man, can't wait to read more of him

[Paul Herriott · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a fantastic piece of biblical writing. Edwards, arguably America’s greatest theologian crafts a sound thesis for God’s glory being the end for which creation exists. This is a classic text that many unknowingly draw upon, think they are quoting someone more modern.