I. Course Description
In this course you will have the opportunity to study the life and writings of the greatest American theologian and philosopher, Jonathan Edwards. Dr. Tom Nettles is one of the foremost Baptist historical theologians in America. Since 1997 he has served as Professor of Historical Theology at The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in Louisville, KY.
II. Course Mentor
If you are taking this course as directed studies, you must have a mentor to successfully complete the course requirements. A list of available mentors for this course and their contact information is posted in the Student Area. If you have any difficulty arranging for a mentor, please contact the Study Center Director.
III. Attendance and Participation
This course meets for 16 sessions. Students will have 20 weeks to complete all the sessions (from September 6, 2011 to January 23, 2012).
Your participation in the course will be determined largely by your contact time with your mentor. You may work through the course material online at your own pace, but to fulfill the attendance requirement for the course, you must stay in contact with your mentor and log at least 16 meetings with your mentor (one for each session of the course). If you meet long enough to sufficiently cover two sessions, your mentor may give you credit for two meetings. It will be up to your mentor to determine at the end of the course if you have fulfilled the attendance requirement and sufficiently covered the course material.
If extenuating circumstances arise and you will not be able to complete the course in the allotted time, please contact the Study Center Director.
IV. Required Texts
Two texts are required for this course:
Additional reading assignments will be provided online.
V. Outline of Sessions
The 16 sessions of this course follow the course lectures by Dr. Tom Nettles.
1. Why Study Jonathan Edwards
2. Edwards Biography (Part 1)
3. Edwards Biography (Part 2)
4. Edwards and Preparationism
5. Edwards and Stoddard
6. Edwards Biography (Part 3)
7. Jonathan Edwards, the Preacher
8. Reason and Doctrine
9. Edwards and Revival
10. Justification and Conversion
11. Some Thoughts Concerning the Present Revival of Religion in New England (Part 1)
12. Some Thoughts Concerning the Present Revival of Religion in New England (Part 2)
13. True Virtue (Part 1)
14. True Virtue (Part 2)
15. Freedom of the Will (Parts 1 and 2)
16. Freedom of the Will (Part 3)
VI. Method of Instruction
Teaching methods will include:
VII. Course Assignments
All assignments for the course are outlined on the session pages and in the study guides.
Weekly Assignments:
Each session will include the following:
1) Reading Assignments from required texts
2) Study Notes for the lectures
3) Discussion Questions over lectures
Please complete all the readings for the session and print out a hard copy of your answers to the discussion questions so you are prepared for your meetings with your mentor. You will receive credit for doing your weekly assignments once you have met and covered the material with your mentor.
Major Projects:
Your first major project for this course will be to prepare a Book Essay (review) on Edwards' The Religious Affections. Your review should be minimum of three pages (not including title page), double-spaced, no larger than 12-point font (Times Roman or Arial), with 1-inch margins. As you write your essays, consider the following questions:
- How did the book come to be written? What was its purpose? To whom was it written?
- What is the book about? What are the main ideas the author is trying to communicate?
- What did you learn from the book? How has it challenged your thinking?
- In what ways did the book enlarge your understanding of the affections? Did anything in the book surprise you?
- How does this book compare to modern titles written on a similar topic?
- Did you find the book a challenge to read?
- Was the book worthwhile? Would you encourage others to read it?
- Was the book memorable? What has most stayed with you from the book?
More detailed instructions on this project will be provided in Session 8.
Your second major project for this course will be a Position Paper.
You will choose from a list of topics covered in the course (preaching, revival, resolutions,...) and prepare a position paper. Your paper should be 7 to 10 pages (not including title page or bibliography), double-spaced, no larger than 12-point font (Times Roman or Arial), with 1 inch margins. Your paper should cover your own understanding of the topic, a defense of your own understanding from Scripture, and a comparison of your understanding to that of Edwards. More detailed instructions on this project will be provided in Session 12.
Your mentor will assign a specific due date for your paper. All course work must be complete to the satisfaction of your mentor by January 23, 2011.