Jonathan Edwards’s Education
February 14th, 2008
(By Jesse Johnson)
A post about schooling that has nothing to do with the home schooling debate.
Considered by many to be the most brilliant American ever, Jonathan Edwards is the consummate theologian. He was a pastor, and a missionary; he was an author and a preacher; he was university president and a renowned evangelist. To read anything by Edwards is to be challenged and convicted at the superficial way our generation treats theology.
While obviously Edwards was gifted by God, his education as a boy certainly trained him to maximize his gifts. He was the only son in a family with 10 daughters, four of whom were older than him. His father, Timothy, graduated from Harvard and then became a school master—a bit of a teacher and principal in one person—in Connecticut. After marrying the daughter of an influential pastor, Timothy himself became a pastor in East Windsor, where Jonathan was born.
Jonathan’s mother, Esther, did much more than give birth to Jonathan and 10 daughters, she also assisted with their education. However (and this puts a little wrinkle in the home school debate) she was not a professing Christian at the time, although she was a student of theology. As a side note, Esther would eventually say that she was converted under her husband’s preaching when Jonathan was 12.
Jonathan’s father was his main teacher. Because of his education, he excelled in teaching Greek and Latin, and taught Jonathan at an early age. However, churches then often paid their pastors too little, and Timothy spent much of his time returning to his earlier profession by tutoring the students from the community. Jonathan most likely received much of his instruction from his father, in the company of other children.
When Jonathan was eight, his father was forced to serve as a military chaplain for battles against the French. This left Jonathan to be instructed by church members in his father’s absence.
At age 13, Jonathan left for college. While considered young (some students began as old as 16), it was not exceptionally so. It has often been said that Jonathan went to Yale, but there is more to it than that. In the early 1700’s, Harvard had begun to slide away from evangelical Christianity. They had recently fired their president, Increase Mather, a famous puritanical minister. To understand the significance of this, imagine if The Master’s College fired MacArthur for being to concerned with religion. Many Christians responded to this by starting a new college, which according to Marsden was “opened on a shoe-string.”
This new college was called The Collegiate School of Connecticut, which is another way of saying it did not even have a name. It also did not have a campus, or a location. Many of the families who formed it were vying for one location or another, and so they sent their children to that location for study. Edwards then actually began his studies in Wethersfield, about 10 miles South of East Windsor, and 40 miles north of the New Haven campus.
When you picture this, don’t picture modern day Yale, or really any modern concept of college. Instead, picture 10 students, ages 13 through 17, living away from their families, in a house, under the supervision of a tutor. While in concept it might be closer to a modern boarding school for high school students, the entrance requirement was a mastery of Latin.
In Jonathan’s third year at the Collegiate School, the students from Wethersfield tried to join the students in New Haven. However, the New Haven campus was much more naturalistic (reading Descartes, Locke, Newton) and Anglican while the Wethersfield campus was more traditional (reading Latin and Greek, studying geography) and Calvinistic. Jonathan and his classmates revolted and returned to the make-shift campus in Wethersfield. However, Jonathan would return to the New Haven campus one year later, largely because they built a new dorm which he thought would help his learning. It was around this time that the school became known as Yale, named after the benefactor who built the new dorm.
There are some lessons that can be drawn from Jonathan’s early education. First, he was trained exceptionally well by parents who were exceptionally busy. His father was pastoring, tutoring others, and still taught him Latin and Greek. Second, his parents were in diverse places as to their religion, and yet from them Jonathan learned morality, and the refusal to compromise. And third, his parents had such confidence in him, that they had no qualms (that they recorded) in sending him away to school, six weeks before his thirteenth birthday.
Wow, it is quiet here this morning…compared to yesterday’s list of comments on “Does the Bible Mandate Homeschooling?”. I agree…Let us have time for quiet Bible reading, meditation/reflection on God’s Word, and prayer. Then let each of us obey the Lord as He convicts our hearts; esteeming others better than ourselves.
Philippians 2:3-Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit, but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than himself.
Jonathan Edwards’ material is tremendous reading. Also, teaching ourselves and our children to have a love for reading such material as to include that from our earlier “church fathers”, and also more modern men of the Word like Charles Spurgeon, A.W. Tozer, and John MacArthur, would be great!
Blessings in the Lord,
Pat
I had a preacher in Bible college say that there are two kinds of people, those that “do” and those that “write.” He said, “we fundamental Baptists are the ones that ‘do’, so we have no time for writin’.”
I wanted to cry when he said that.
Those same people often quote Edwards and others. Do they realize that Edwards, Spurgeon, Wesley, Tozer, etc were all men that “wrote” and…”did”? I guess not.
Anyway, great reminder that while education isn’t everying, God is honored when we diligently study and our ministries are blessed when we apply that God-given knowledge.
Is it just me or does this still seem to be addressing the Homeschool debate? As a man who is with no children these articles seem to be antogonistic toward homeschooling. Showing that education can be outside the home is not an endorsement of public schools. At the most it allows for teaching outside the home. Parents are still required to make sure that whoever is teaching their children share their beliefs. Public schools are not values free. I am sure no Christian would send their children to a mosque to be educated. Even though a Muslim education actually would probably share more values with a Christian than the public schools. The debate is not between in home education vs outside education. It is between a Christian education and an anti-Christian education. The question is not whether Christian children are interacting with non-Christian children. It is whether a child of a Christian should be put under the direct authority and tutalage of someone who is mandated to teach anti-christian principles. We should not have to defend a Christian education. The defence should be of why we would ever not give our child a Christian education. I would not willfully put my self under the moral instruction of a non-Christian and I would not expect any child I might have to either.
Justin wrote:
Is it just me or does this still seem to be addressing the Homeschool debate?
I don’t think its just you, because I thought the same thing.
Sorry…”Justin” should be “Winston”
I am wonedring if the modern age problem is trusting a “Faceless” Government to educate our children while we slave away for an income, whilst in the Biblical times, the believers sent away their young sons to the “Trusted and perhaps known” Synagogues, which they trusted with the souls of their children?
Is this perhaps the greater evil, that we have allowed our culture to help deprived us of know “WHO” we are netrusting our children unto for not ONLY their education, but their spiritual welfare?
I wonder if many Churches in the west would ever consider setting up a “Synagogue” boarding school? Certialy Grace Community Church has had the will to and continues to draw many to the Masters College etc.
Would we perhaps find many more such examples in the Middle Eastern Churches?
Excellent article and has got me thinking!
If the LORD would will it so, I know that I would send my “Samuel” to the Masters College, even at the age of 7…
Thank you Jesse and all at Pulpit!
By grace alone in the stregth of our LORD God Jesus teh Holy Spirit.
:-)
Winston and Jon,
I actually wrote this because on Nate’s first article, some one brought up Edwards in defense of home schooling. Because I am an Edward’s fan in the same way that many are Laker’s fans, I spent some time researching what his early education was like. I did this to post on the earlier article, but then thought I would just turn it into its own post.
I don’t think it is antagonistic to home schooling, public schooling or Christian schooling. His life does indeed show a mixture of those, and it is fascinating to me because he was around during the genesis of Yale, Princeton and Harvard, and all three of their histories were affected by him, or at least affected him.
Thanks,
Jesse
Jesse,
I quoted last week Jonathan Edwards but not in the context that he was received by some. I also know there were a lot of posts last week (and this week for that matter) but you may have missed my response when I wrote, “The point of sharing what past gifted teachers have said about the training up of the next generation is to bring their ideas into the discussion. My point may have been misconstrued by some to think I was saying that they were promoting HS, but my actual point was that we would see that they too understood the importance of Biblically training up of the next generation.”
I am too a “fan” of Jonathan Edwards and am very familiar with his writings and life. There is no doubt that he was homeschooled for a good part of his adolescent years (and I might add his most impressionable years). Edwards, being a pastor, I am sure understood the importance of the proper training up of children in Christian families. As I am sure you are well aware of, Jonathan’s grandfather, was the famous Solomon Stoddard and had a strong influence on Jonathan’s life. Quick side note, Jonathon followed after his grandfather (S.S.) in becoming the pastor at Northampton. I don’t have to tell you what God did through Jonathan’s preaching at Northampton in 1734. Another quick side note, his grandpa (S.S.) was also a revivalist preacher.
Jonathan Edwards is not for those who only prefer to have their theology in little bite sized morsels. I feel his writings are more for those who want to stretch their minds and hearts even further for Christ. Sometimes when I read Jonathan Edwards I am just blown away by his insight into some of the deeper subjects. The man had a deep understanding of the things of God. My small little testimony is, ever since adding Edwards, Spurgeon, Henry, Augustine and Luther to my regular reading over the last several years it has helped me greatly in my understanding of God’s Word and Ways. These men were no doubt gifted teachers and powerfully used by God. They went against the grain and stood in obedience for their Lord and Savior no matter the cost. Thank our good and gracious Lord that Augustine was there to stand against Pelagius. That good ole’ Martin Luther was there to stand against Erasmus and really the whole Catholic Church at the Diet of Worms when he said the infamous words: “Unless I am convinced by proofs from Scriptures or by plain and clear reasons and arguments, I can and will not retract, for it is neither safe nor wise to do anything against conscience. Here I stand. I can do no other. God help me. Amen.”
What many don’t know is what Luther prayed before standing against virtually the whole world- it is awesome and really shows the heart of the man: ““O God, Almighty God everlasting! how dreadful is the world! behold how its mouth opens to swallow me up, and how small is my faith in thee!… Oh! The weakness of the flesh, and the power of Satan! If I am to depend upon any strength of this world - all is over… The knell is struck…. Sentence is gone forth…. O God! O God! O thou, my God! help me against all the wisdom of this world. Do this, I beseech thee; thou shouldst do this… by thy own mighty power…. The work is not mine, but thine. I have no business here…. I have nothing to contend for with these great men of the world! I would gladly pass my days in happiness and peace. But the cause is thine…. And it is righteous and everlasting! O Lord! help me! O faithful and unchangeable God! I lean not upon man. It were vain! Whatever is of man is tottering, whatever proceeds from him must fail. My God! my God! does thou not hear? My God! art thou no longer living? Nay, thou canst not die. Thou dost but hide thyself. Thou hast chosen me for this work. I know it!… Therefore, O God, accomplish thine own will! Forsake me not, for the sake of thy well-beloved Son, Jesus Christ, my defense, my buckler, and my stronghold. Lord - where art thou?…. My God, where art thou?… Come! I pray thee, I am ready…. Behold me prepared to lay down my life for thy truth… suffering like a lamb. For the cause is holy. It is thine own!… I will not let thee go! no, nor yet for all eternity! And though the world should be thronged with devils - and this body, which is the work of thine hands, should be cast forth, trodden under foot, cut in pieces,… consumed to ashes, my soul is thine. Yes, I have thine own word to assure me of it. My soul belongs to thee, and will abide thee forever! Amen! O God send help!… Amen!”
Where is that passion in our Christian leaders today? It is seen in so few and far between. May our Lord stir in the hearts of men today that make men more Luther-like, Edwards-like, and Augustine-like leaders who will stand up for what is right (no matter what the world says) and will ultimately honor and glorify our Lord!
Blessings,
David
PS- Couldn’t sign off with a good quote from J.E.
“Although the business of religion is far from really being as it appears to such men, or the devil will be sure, if he can, to represent it in false colors to sinners, and make it appear as black and as terrible as he can; yet it is indeed a great business, a great undertaking, and it is fit that all who are urged to it should count the cost beforehand, and be sensible of the difficulty attending it. For though the devil discourages many from this undertaking, by representing it to be more difficult than it really is; yet with others he takes a contrary course and flatters them it is a very easy thing, a trivial business, which may be done at any time when they please, and so emboldens them to defer it from that consideration.”—-”How often you have been warned of the approaching flood of God’s wrath. How frequently you have been told of hell, heard the threatenings of the word of God set before you, and been warned to flee from the wrath to come. It is with you as it was with the inhabitants of the old world. Noah warned them abundantly of the approaching flood, and counseled them to take care for their safety, 1 Pet. 3:19, 20. Noah warned them in words; and he preached to them. He warned them also in his actions. His building the ark, which took him so long a time, and in which he employed so many hands, was a standing warning to them. All the blows of the hammer and axe, during the progress of that building, were so many calls and warnings to the old world, to take care for their preservation from the approaching destruction. Every knock of the workmen was a knock of Jesus Christ at the door of their hearts: but they would not hearken. All these warnings, though repeated every day, and continued for so long a time, availed nothing.” -Jonathan Edwards (The Manner in Which the Salvation of the Soul is to be Sought)
Thanks David D.
Jesse
David and Jesse, you may have just created another “fan”. Thanks for your postings.
One sentence: I still struggle from my perspective as a pastor that when we preach, teach and practice the unmistakable Biblical absolute of parental responsibility, and we then stand with parents who love and disciple their children, and we support those parents in their personal choices (for which they, not anyone else, will answer to God), we are labeled as anti-homeschool, even though we support our homeschooling brethren as tenaciously as we support those who choose otherwise.
>Justin wrote:
>Is it just me or does this still seem to be addressing the Homeschool debate?
>I don’t think its just you, because I thought the same thing.
Jesse himself seems to be on both sides of the question. He opens by saying this:
>A post about schooling that has nothing to do with the home schooling debate.
But in the article itself, he acknowledges this:
>this puts a little wrinkle in the home school debate
Jim,
Would you stand behind a parent who sent a 9 year old child to be educated 7 hours/day at a Mosque? I have always said that a parent has the God given authority and right to mess up their children as they please. Yet, that does not mean I or any other Christian has to support and encourage every decision a parent makes.
I am not against education outside the home. I am against public education as it is in the US.
Jim,
Would you stand behind a parent who sent a 9 year old child to be educated 7 hours/day at a Mosque? I have always said that a parent has the God given authority and right to mess up their children as they please. Yet, that does not mean I or any other Christian has to support and encourage every decision a parent makes.
I am not against education outside the home. I am against public education as it is in the US.
Hi Winston,
Absurd logic. Of course not! To equate public education to education in an overtly religious anti-Christian environment is not a fair comparison.
I understand the framework of your question, since secular humanism is an anti-Christian world view. No one, though, is forced to comply with the world view of the school system. It is a very healthy thing when students and their parents stand up for truth in that setting.
Not all Christian parents are prepared or willing to deal with the messed-up condition of our public schools, and public schools are not the best environment for every child of Christian parents. I understand that, and I support those parents who opt out.
The point of my post here is to challenge an ever-growing attitude that unless you categorically denounce public education as sinful for every child of Christian parents, you are (by some) labeled as “anti home school.”
In the early years of the home school movement I devoted a lot of time and energy to battle in my state for the rights of people to home school. Now, some of the people I defended are attacking me as if I’m an enemy. It’s that kind of un-Christian behavior that needs to be quelched, just like the behavior of those who ridicule or marginalize home school families needs to be stopped.
To Brother Jim and to those others who haven’t quite connected the dots. Please, tolle lege.
http://store.summit.org/product.php?productid=16&cat=100&page=1
I mean the following in no disrespect, but I think some in this discussion and the other HS vs PS posts may be somewhat in the dark about where we are today as far as how well entrenched the religion of secular-humanism is being taught in PS today. Please read the document, it has 63 different exhibits to back up their compelling argument. Once folks start realizing Secular-humanism is a religion and it is being taught in PS then we can move forward in our discussion.
Peace,
David
Jim,
I do beleive that public education is overtly religious anti-Christian environment. I do understand that some people in the HS movement do label anyone not anti-public education as anti-homeschool. You can support both.
David,
You are exactly right. A religion is not defined by a belief in a god. I honestly believe that a mainstream Western Islamic school (not extremist) would provide a better more compatible education to Christian beliefs than a public school would. That sounds crazy to most because they think of atheism as neutral. That is why the real argument is a Christian education versus an anti-Christian education. There is no such thing as a neutral education. Anyone who believes that public education is values free, is in error. I hope all who read this will do in depth research. Not relying only on anecdotal evidence. The debate does need to shift. The way it is framed in most discussions turns to grid lock fast.
Winston, you are absolutely right to make your comparison of Christians sending children to an Islamic school, and noting that atheistic public education is not “values free.” May God bless you with a wife and many children to teach to His glory as He uses you as a means to raise a godly seed.
I believe Deuteronomy 6 (thank you Col. Moore for your explanation!) and other scriptures which admonish parents to raise their children “in the nurture and admonition of the Lord” are clear that we must give our children a Christian education in every area of life. But one thing that has not been addressed is the question of who pays for public education? In most areas of the country, the funds come from property taxes. You may think you are just getting back a little of what you have paid (and helping others who can’t afford a private education for their children). In my state of California, it costs over $10,000 a year for each child in the public schools. I have 10 children. If you can multiply, you can see that if all my children were in grades K-12 (I have graduated four homeschoolers so far), that would be $100,000 a year, much of it taken from my neighbors. In our rural county, many of our neighbors are older retired folks on fixed incomes. Our property taxes don’t come close to covering the cost of educating all our children in public schools. “Thou shalt not steal,” comes to mind.
In case anyone wants to argue that the 10 Commandments are no longer binding upon us, let me say that my children know them by heart and have learned to use them (along with some creative tracts) to help nonbelievers understand their sin and need of a Savior. The UPS man, who makes regular stops at our house delivering books (I wish I had $100,000 per year to spend on books!), and who knows us all by name, has been one of many on the receiving end of this ministry. My children also know who Jonathan Edwards is and because of their training (and love of learning), they are able to read and understand his writings.
Jonathan Edwards’s parents used different means to provide their son with a Christian education (steeped in the study of the Bible and theology, according to Yale’s website), but that is far removed from placing him in an anti-Christian environment where homosexuals are a protected class and young girls can be secretly taken away for abortions without parents’ knowledge or permission. And I doubt they expected that anyone else should be forced to pay for his education.
Jesse,
I liked your article and thought it did exactly what you intended. I came away with the knowledge that J.E. was well schooled at home, and his parents carefully chose a school that he would attend outside the home.
No animosity. No antagonism. Just some facts that any parent would do well to consider.
Thank you!
Susan