JONATHAN EDWARDS AND HIS UNDERSTANDING OF REVIVAL

This article provides the context for Edwards’s formation as a theologian of revival movements. Our main intent here is to show that Edwards is concerned to advance a Calvinistic theology of revival which is also constrained by evangelistic warmth and zeal. His work aims to establish a theological position that would embrace both the mind and the affections. He saw the need for a balanced approach due to an earlier emphasis on divine sovereignty over against man’s inability. It is important to stress here that Edwards’s interest in religious revivals does not originates from his desire for success, but from the truths he discovered about revival as described in Scripture. He explains that there are two underlying causes of biblical revivals: prayer and the preaching of God’s Word. True revivals are not the product of man’s endeavours. They start with prayer, are accomplished by God’s power and grace, and through the preaching of the gospel. In order to strengthen our argument, we shall look at the language Edwards uses and in doing that we will see that all the terms used by him lead us to the conclusion that the origin of revival is in God, not in man’s activities.