Serious Joy: Reflections and Devotions on Jonathan Edwards’ Seventy Resolutions
Digital Logos Edition
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Overview
Serious Joy, introduces readers to the seventy Resolutions Jonathan Edwards wrote when he was only nineteen years old, showing how they are directly relevant and needful for Christians today.
Each resolution is expounded on in a way that helps the reader establish a regular rhythm of private worship by pointing them to the Scriptures that underpin each resolution and further harmonizes the resolutions with other writings of Edwards that bring them into better focus. The goal of this book is to exalt Christ, foster meditation and prayer, and demonstrate how serious joy in Christ leads to growth in Christlikeness. All of this is accomplished by tethering the reader to the theology of Jonathan Edwards. In so doing, Serious Joy succeeds in bringing a fresh approach to the writings of Edwards by making them more approachable for the Christian who wants to understand the significance and importance of Edwards’ contribution to Christian theology.
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- Introduces readers to Jonathan Edwards’s seventy Resolutions, highlighting their modern relevance
- Expounds on each resolution, connecting them to Scripture and other Edwards’ writings for deeper understanding
- Aims to exalt Christ and foster spiritual growth by making Edwards’s theology approachable
- Foreword by C.R.Wiley
- Introducing Jonathan Edwards
- The Preamble: Sustenance for the Journey
- Resolutions 1 & 2: The Glory of God
- Resolution 3: Repent Quickly
- Resolution 4: Disown Yourself
- Resolution 5: Redeem the Time
- Resolution 6: We are Dependent Creatures
- Resolutions 7, 9, 10, & 17: Suffering and Death
- Resolution 8: Hate Your Sin First
- Resolution 11: Are You Interested in God?
- Resolution 12: Theology and Doxology
- Resolution 13: Strategic, Cheerful Generosity
- Resolution 14: Vengeance Belongs to God
- Resolution 15: The Blasphemous Nature of Our Anger
- Resolutions 16, 31, & 36: When and How to Wound (Part 1)
- Resolutions 18, 19, 50, 51 & 55: Eternity-Driven Focus
- Resolutions 20 & 40: Moderation
- Resolutions 21: Don’t Do What You Despise
- Resolutions 52 & 54: Awareness and Humility
- Resolutions 22: Violence is Required
- Resolutions 23 & 24: Finding Your Roots
- Resolutions 25 & 26: The Accuser
- Resolution 27: Sins of Omission
- Resolution 28: Study the Scriptures
- Resolution 29: True Evangelical Prayer
- Resolution 30: A Higher Religion
- Resolution 32: Faithfulness
- Resolution 33: He Made Peace
- Resolution 34: Guard Your Mouth
- Resolution 35: Anxiety and Assurance
- Resolution 37: Confession of Sin and Forgiveness in Christ
- Resolution 38: The Lord’s Day
- Resolution 39: Blameless
- Resolution 41: An Example, Yet Cautionary Tale
- Resolution 42: Considering Your Baptism.
- Resolutions 43 & 44: We are Not Autonomous
- Resolution 45: Holy Emotions
- Resolution 46: Honor Thy Father and Mother
- Resolution 47: Pride and Humility
- Resolutions 48 & 49: Assurance
- Resolution 53: Eternal Safety
- Resolution 56: Do Not Despair in Your Fight Against Sin
- Resolution 57: Misfortunes, Adversities, &Personal Responsibility
- Resolutions 58 & 59: Dealing with Anger
- Resolution 60: Self-Control
- Resolution 61: Listlessness
- Resolution 62: Cheerful Work
- Resolution 63: Orthodoxy and Orthopraxy
- Resolution 64: Dependency on the Holy Spirit in Prayer
- Resolutions 65 & 68: Transparency with God
- Resolution 66: When and How to Wound (Part 2)
- Resolution 67: Suffering
- Resolution 69: Christ Has Authority, So Get to Work
- Resolution 70: Benevolence
- Conclusion
- Appendix: Categories
- About the Author
- Scripture Index
Jonathan Edwards is arguably the greatest mind ever produced on the North American continent. His writings cover a wide range of topics from theology to philosophy to nature and natural science. But infused in them all is his sense of reverence and awe to be living before the presence of his God. That Edwards wrote seventy resolutions as a teenager to govern his life is commonly known to those who have spent much time studying his life and work. Few, however, have taken the time to read those resolutions carefully, much less to meditate through them. In this work, Joey Tomlinson has made doing both much easier. By demonstrating the biblical thinking out of which each resolution arises, he provides us not only insight into Edwards’ mind but also opportunities to have our own shaped more practically by Scripture. I highly commend this book to all who aspire to do whatever would bring God most glory and bring to themselves their greatest good, profit, and pleasure.
—Dr. Tom Ascol, Pastor, Grace Baptist Church, Cape Coral, FL, President, Founders Ministries
I distinctly remember encountering the resolutions of Jonathan Edwards in college. Some of them I can still quote by heart. ‘To live with all my might, while I do live.’ ‘To study the Scriptures so steadily, constantly and frequently, as that I may find, and plainly perceive myself to grow in the knowledge of the same.’ ‘To never suffer the least motions of anger to irrational beings.’ Joey Tomlinson has written a wonderful introduction and guide to Edwards’ Resolutions, wisely expounding and pressing them into the corners of our lives. I’m glad to commend this little book on Serious Joy.
—Joe Rigney, Fellow of Theology, New Saint Andrews College, Moscow, Idaho
I am so thrilled that another generation of Jonathan Edwards scholars has discovered the Resolutions. Written when the great revivalist pastor was just 19 years old, the seventy resolutions have inspired believers for 300 years now to ‘Live with all my might while I do live!’ I am thankfult hat Joey Tomlinson has taken the time to study this inspiring private document from America’s greatest theologian. I hope the Lord uses this book to help people discover the writings of this God-glorifying colonial pastor.
—Dr. Matthew Everhard, Pastor, Gospel Fellowship Presbyterian Church (PCA), Valencia, PA, Author of Souls: How Jesus Saves Sinners and Holy Living: Jonathan Edwards’s Seventy Resolutions for Living the Christian Life
- Title: Serious Joy: Reflections and Devotions on Jonathan Edwards’ Seventy Resolutions
- Author: Joey Tomlinson
- Publisher: Founders Press
- Print Publication Date: 2023
- Logos Release Date: 2023
- Pages: 210
- Era: era:contemporary
- Language: English
- Resources: 1
- Format: Digital › Logos Reader Edition
- Subjects: Edwards, Jonathan, 1703-1758. Resolution; Christian lif; Young adults › Religious lif
- ISBNs: 9781943539420, 1943539421
- Resource ID: LLS:SRSJYSVNTRSLTNS
- Resource Type: Monograph
- Metadata Last Updated: 2025-08-14T14:10:46Z
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