Did Jonathan Edwards misunderstand John 8:23?
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Did Jonathan Edwards apparently misunderstand Jesus' point in John 8:23?
In the sermon titled "Sinners in the hands of an angry God" Jonathan Edwards says that sinful man deserves judgement (certainly), has been condemned by God in the law (that's true), then he says this as well:
> So that every unconverted man properly belongs to hell; that is his place; from thence he is, John 8:23. “Ye are from beneath,”
In John 8:23 it seems like Jesus' point is not that "you are from beneath, hell where you are punished for your sins" but rather "you are from beneath, earth where your minds are set on physical things rather than spiritual things".
**Is there any possible explanation for this other than "Mr. Edwards was wrong"?**
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Sources to find the full text of the sermon:
- [Blue Letter Bible](https://www.blueletterbible.org/Comm/edwards_jonathan/Sermons/Sinners.cfm)
- Jonathan Edwards Center at Yale University:
- [Introduction](http://edwards.yale.edu/archive?path=aHR0cDovL2Vkd2FyZHMueWFsZS5lZHUvY2dpLWJpbi9uZXdwaGlsby9nZXRvYmplY3QucGw/Yy4yMTo0Ni53amVv)
- [Facsimile](https://collections.library.yale.edu/catalog/2011583)
- [Transcription](http://edwards.yale.edu/archive?path=aHR0cDovL2Vkd2FyZHMueWFsZS5lZHUvY2dpLWJpbi9uZXdwaGlsby9nZXRvYmplY3QucGw/Yy4yMTo0OC53amVv)
- [Edited transcript](http://edwards.yale.edu/archive?path=aHR0cDovL2Vkd2FyZHMueWFsZS5lZHUvY2dpLWJpbi9uZXdwaGlsby9nZXRvYmplY3QucGw/Yy4yMTo0Ny53amVv)
Asked by Kweestor
(162 rep)
Jan 19, 2025, 05:01 AM
Last activity: Jan 21, 2025, 03:34 PM
Last activity: Jan 21, 2025, 03:34 PM