Marks of Saving Grace

“Professor Lehner has offered here an outstanding contribution to our understanding of Edwards, his doctrine of assurance, and his theological method, riding a wave of recent work on Edwardss biblical exegesis. I am happy to recommend it.”

“When Jonathan Edwards and his contemporaries emphasized conversion and the new birth in the eighteenth century, their preaching brought with it the question, How can I know that I have been born again? In Marks of Saving Grace, Eric Lehner takes up the crucial question in Edwardss thought about how one can distinguish between true and false conversions. Beginning with Edwardss own struggle over whether he had truly been converted, and then moving on to discuss how Edwards grappled with history, Scripture, and epistemology, this book offers a comprehensive look at Edwardss theology on a question that has been vital to evangelicals ever since at least the eighteenth century. Whether readers come to this book with historical questions or theological questions, they will benefit from reading Edwards with Lehner as their guide.”

“Few books are more needed for pastoral reflection than Jonathan Edwardss Religious Affections. Not only does Edwards help us pastors think through the nature of true conversion and assurance, he also warns us about the reality of hypocrisy and self-deception in ways that remain pastorally relevant. In addition, as the historian Perry Miller noted, Edwards offers the most wide-ranging and valuable textbook on religious psychology in recent times. Eric Lehners treatment in Marks of Saving Grace offers something not only for Edwards specialists, but for pastors and leaders wrestling with the nature of assurance and saving faith. It proves to be a valuable addition to the literature on Religious Affections.”

“To bring new, significant insight to an already robust understanding and appreciation of Edwardss classic treatise on the doctrine of assurance is not an easy accomplishment. Yet this is indeed what Dr. Lehner has accomplished. He has succeeded in paying careful attention to contextualizing Edwards, offering the general reader, as well as the scholar, a dizzying composite of information with perceptive interpretation. Though a doctoral dissertation (evidenced by the mass of scholarly footnotes and conversations), the work is a delightful introduction to the mind of Edwards. It is also a serious antidote to false ideas about the doctrine of God and the nature of redemption, and the consequent lifestyle of desires, passions, and priorities. I highly recommend this intriguing study, regardless of readers previous acquaintance with Mr. Edwards.”

“Lehners work fills a clear void in Edwards scholarship. After meticulous examination of A Treatise Concerning Religious Affections, Lehner concludes: Let Edwards be Edwardsa Bible-centered theologian and churchman passionate to defend Christian assurance first and foremost from Scripture and, only after thus proved, to support and illustrate the doctrine by philosophical and historical means. Lehners careful study advances our understanding of Edwardss theological method and commends his doctrine of assurance for the good of the church.”

“Sympathetic to Jonathan Edwardss own vision, enviably well-versed in the relevant literature, and carefully documented, Marks of Saving Grace is a significant new study of Religious Affections. Dr. Lehners discussions range from a careful assessment of Edwardss theological method to a valuable and balanced assessment of his use of proof texts, and an illuminating analysis of his source material. This is an important contribution to the increasingly massive corpus of Jonathan Edwards scholarship. Given its subject matter, it merits the attention not only of scholars and students, but also of those wholike Edwards himselfare working pastors.”

“I love it when scholars provide a close reading of a text! Dr. Lehner examines Religious Affections with a prodigious eye to detail, and he asks bigger questions about the theological method adopted in Edwardss exposition of Christian assurance and authentic spiritual experience. With clarity, common sense, and appeal to context, Lehner draws together the skills of theologian and historian to remind us that it is not how we set out on the journey that really counts but signs of progress along the way.”

“Eric Lehners academic tour de force hits two birds with one stone. First, it elucidates Edwardss view of assurance in the context of his Puritan ancestors, demonstrating his exegetical and pastoral sensitivity. Second, it explores how one of Americas most brilliant minds integrated sources ranging from the Holy Scriptures to the philosophy of John Locke under a coherent theological methodology. Lehners monograph makes a valuable contribution to the study of the premier pastor-theologian in the First Great Awakening.”

“Christians want, and sometimes lack, assurance of their salvation. Finding salvation and finding assurance are not quite the same thing. Eric Lehner sheds light on this problem by reading Jonathan Edwardss Religious Affections as a treatise on assurance. By setting Edwards against his historical, philosophical, and theological background, this reading provides fresh insight into one of the most widely read works of Christian theology and devotion. Lehners contribution, while narrow, is important for a full understanding of Edwards.”