Edwards and Western Theological Tradition

The same Weekly Standard review mentioned in a previous post gives a brief summary of the editorial introduction to Volume 21 of the Works of Jonathan Edwards , written by Sang Hyun Lee: “Lee claims that Edwards marks a stunning departure from the Western theological tradition by the way he repudiated deism. Eighteenth-century deists depicted a watchmaker god who observes from a distance his self-sustaining world, and Western theology in a similar manner has represented God as ‘externally’ but not ‘internally’ related to the world: ‘What happens in the world does not affect God.’ According to Lee, Edwards instead portrayed God as creating the world in order to enlarge His own being outside Himself. In theological terms, this means repeating His glory in mundane human life and nature. Thus, by their good works, God’s people participate in His life, which makes what people do MATTER in the most vital ways.”

There appears to be something interesting going on here, but the reviewer doesn’t quite hit on it. I’m not sure what “enlarge His own being outside Himself” might mean, nor what “repeating His glory” involves. But it seems altogether plausible that Edwards, in responding to deism, would have noticed that the Western theological tradition had not distinguished itself sufficiently from the deist position and had left itself open to rationalistic attack. And it seems altogether plausible that Edwards would have sought resources in Trinitarian theology for grasping the nature of God’s relation with the world. To get the full picture, run out and get your own copy of volume 21, a bargain at $95.