Jonathan Edwards and the reinscripturation of the world.

摘要

This dissertation argues that Jonathan Edwards's central text "Images of Divine Things" falls clearly within the emblem book genre and articulates a comprehensive emblematic world view by which he reinscripturates the world. The first section will introduce the thesis and its broad historical and theological context.;Chapter 1 investigates the origins of Jonathan Edwards's world view. The developments during the Renaissance that led to the rise, and later decline, of the emblematic world view will be canvassed. The emblem book genre will be introduced and its development discussed.;Chapter 2 examines the emblematic world view as embraced by early Evangelicals. It will be argued that the emblematic theology of select Evangelicals is of the same purpose and scope as Edwards's "Images of Divine Things.".;Chapter 3 argues that Edwards's emblematics and his notebook "Images of Divine Things" bear distinct marks that place them within the emblematic world view of the Renaissance. The role of exegesis and occasional meditation is discussed.;Chapter 4 introduces Edwards's reinscripturation of the world. "Images of Divine Things" is reconfigured and summarized into theological categories in order to reveal the doctrinal precision and expansive nature of his vision and project. The closing section summarizes the conclusions of this project, as well as suggests some further areas of research.