Theo 425 Session 7: First Great Awakening, pt 1
Rev. Jacquelyn E. Winston, Ph.D.
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Reading assignment: Noll 83-84, 86-106m, 110m-113; Stark 49t, 51-54
I.
II.
The History of Evangelical Revivals in the 18th & 19th c.
A.
The Great Awakening – 1734-1737 in New England under leaders Jonathan Edwards,
Gilbert Tennent (and in Great Britain), resurged c. 1738 with itinerant preaching
ministry of George Whitefield and publication of conversion accounts.
B.
The Second Great Awakening – early to mid 1800s – revival spirit in multiple
localities, started in New England but quickly became a western pioneer,
popular/democratic religious movement (Cane Ridge, KY 1801). Sample leaders:
Charles G. Finney, Phoebe Palmer. Especially among Methodists & Baptists. Early
formation of missionary & temperance societies.
C.
Holiness Movements of the post-Civil War period in the wake of the negative effects
from the Industrial Revolution. (Salvation Army, Church of the Nazarene, religious
societies including Sunday School Movement, YMCA & YWCA). Emphasized
Wesley’s work among poor and his doctrine of entire sanctification.
The First Great Awakening (1734-37; 1738 ff)
A.
Historical and social setting:
1. Viewed as a transatlantic pietistic movement spurred on by preaching within
Congregational, Anglican, and Presbyterian churches. Strongly Calvinistic in
character. Upsurge of revivalistic piety made up of local revivals. Two major
leaders in the colonies: preaching of George Whitefield & apologetics of
Jonathan Edwards.
2. Early Great Awakening was not an anti-intellectual movement, in spite of its
emotional component. Many of the supporters founded colleges to train for
ministry which later became Ivy League colleges (Princeton, Brown, Rutgers,
Columbia, Dartmouth).
3. American setting – colonies still strongly aligned with British thought, preAmerican Revolution.
a)
Hierarchical, paternalistic society, shaped by Anglicanism and its
emphasis on formalism and Puritanism which had become religiously
insensitive.
b)
Affected by conflicts between the Protestant English crowns of the
Hanoverian dynasty (William & Mary) and attempts to restore the
Stuart descendants of King James II (a Roman Catholic) with the
support of France. (His son, Bonnie Prince Charlie was finally defeated
in 1746). Great Awakening was in part reaction against threat of
Roman Catholicism.
Theo 425 Session 7: First Great Awakening, pt 1
Rev. Jacquelyn E. Winston, Ph.D.
c)
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American colonists affected by battles between Indians, Britain, and
France for control of American land.
4. Religious status of the three regions of the 13 colonies prior to the First Great
Awakening (c. early 1730s) (Noll 90):
a)
b)
c)
d)
B.
New England – Puritan heritage, church influence began to decline;
Middle Colonies – Protestant pluralism;
South - Anglican church reinforced deferential culture which
sponsored slavery.
Reasons each region may have responded to revival:
(1) New England ministers to shore up their flagging status.
(2) Middle colony ministers – to expand their outreach and deepen
spiritual life of their denominations.
(3) Southern ministers hoped to augment piety of their followers
while assimilating it into the stable establishment structure.
Characteristics of the Great Awakening:
1. Series of interconnected renewal movements in countries of Great Britain and the
North American colonies. Revivals brought on by preaching linked with efforts
at godly living.
2. Viewed by some scholars as a reaction against emphasis on rationalism of the
Enlightenment deists. At same time, it emphasized another aspect of the
Enlightenment – empiricism (experience).
3. Three influential strains that shaped the Great Awakening: the Calvinistic ideas
of Puritanism; European Pietism and its emphasis on the individual conversion
experience; and the organizational structure inherited from Anglicanism & later
Methodism.
4. Changes in spiritual emphases precipitated by the Great Awakening (Noll,
Evangelicalism 52):
a)
b)
c)
d)
e)
f)
From correct doctrine to correct living
From order to fellowship as the church’s primary goal
From interpretation of scripture by recognized church authority to
more democratic use of the Bible.
From obedience to the expression of faith.
From music by trained specialists to congregational hymnody
From preaching as an intellectual exercise to an impassioned appeal to
make a decision for God.
5. Precipitating event in Northhampton, Mass (1734). Return to religious interest
among youth. Jonathan Edwards began to preach sermon on justification by faith
to offset Arminian tendencies and began age/gender focused small groups in
Theo 425 Session 7: First Great Awakening, pt 1
Rev. Jacquelyn E. Winston, Ph.D.
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homes to promote godliness. Edwards’ famous sermon: “Sinners in the Hands of
an Angry God” (1741) became model for individually focused revival sermon.
6. George Whitefield – preached to thousands, Calvinistic, dramatic presentation.
Popular/democratic style. God’s grace for guilty sinners. Whitefield’s influence –
conversion as a heartfelt experience (derived from Pietists).
7. Jonathan Edwards - apologist for Great Awakening. Religion not revealed by
emotions but by changed heart. Said will doesn’t constitute a real entity but is
strongest motive in a person’s character. Sinful nature can’t desire to please God
except for God’s grace that changes sinner’s character (Freedom of the Will c. 1754).
Edwards’ themes – glory of God, dependence of humanity on God for salvation,
life of holiness (Noll 97).
C.
Effects of the Great Awakening:
1. New England – splintered unity among churches:
a)
b)
c)
d)
e)
Libertarian themes of revival led towards separation of state-church
establishment and gave rise to Baptists;
New Light Congregationalists like Edwards promoted conversion with
God shining light in soul. Maintained ties with church;
Old Calvinists – traditionalists who kept ties to hierarchical structure;
Rationalistic Congregationalists looked to Enlightenment to avoid
emotionalism of the revivals. (98)
Middle Colonies – common experiences among denominations –
formal schisms among Presbyterians & Dutch Reformed which finally
resolved into more egalitarian, pietistic religion across groups.
1. South – Baptists became alternative to Church of England with popularization of
emotional personal faith & challenges to existing religious order (99) Baptists
challenged existing religious authority and order of society by their appeal to
lower classes.
2. Religious periodicals spread news of revival and incited its growth. Established
Letter Days – periodic meetings in which accounts of revival were read; and
Concerts of Prayer – believers across regions arranged to pray for revival.
3. Terms: New Lights & Old Lights (Congregational Church) – Old Lights (e.g.
Charles Chauncey) opposed New Light supporters of revival like J. Edwards.
New Side vs. Old Side (Scottish-Irish Presbyterians) – supporters of revival like
Gilbert Tennent (New Side).
4. Rejection of church-state sponsored religion in New England and emphasis on
individual conversion led to emphasis on baptism after conversion causing many
believers to move from Congregational to Baptist churches (Noll 100)
Theo 425 Session 7: First Great Awakening, pt 1
Rev. Jacquelyn E. Winston, Ph.D.
D.
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Baptists and the Great Awakening
1. New England Baptists led by Isaac Backus (began as Separate Congregational
church). New England Baptists agreed with Edwards except they only
supported adult baptism and rejected gov’t support of church (100).
2. Southern Baptists shaped by Shubal Stearns & Daniel Marshall from Boston who
moved to Carolinas (101). Baptist growth not appreciated in south since it
undermined social order based on class deference with its emphasis on
egalitarianism (Noll 102)
E.
Changes in Religious Practices produced by Great Awakening:
1. First Great Awakening promoted more active, individualistic Protestantism (Noll
103)
2. Shift in sensibilities from Puritanism to evangelicalism leading to:
a)
Shift in views of authority – authority gained by popularity and
influence of a minister (evangelicalism) vs. authority as the basis of
popular control and influence (Puritanism) (Noll 104).
b)
With evangelicalism, salvation is mediated by spoken & written word,
but Puritanism’s view of salvation shaped by covenant views of family,
church, & nation.
c)
After Great Awakening, charismatic leaders sought (Noll 105) (more
emphasis on religious emotion).
3. Christian message preached to downtrodden in society such as David Brainerd’s
ministry to Native Americans (Noll 105) and Gilbert Tennent & Samuel Davies’
ministry to slaves (106).
4. Great Awakening was first national event (Noll 110)
5. Revivals brought different groups together (Noll 111).
6. GA increased sense of national identity as Americans with greater suspiciousness
vs. Europe (Noll 111), especially tensions vs. Church of England (112).
7. GA increased dynamism of terms such as liberty, virtue, and tyranny.
8. GA encouraged laity to perform their own religious duties rather than rely on
elite clergy (112).
Theo 425 Session 7: First Great Awakening, pt 1
Rev. Jacquelyn E. Winston, Ph.D.
F.
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Finke & Starke 49, 51-54 First Great Awakening as a Sectarian Revival
1. Explosive growth of Baptist and Methodist sects (F & S 49).
2. Emotional sermons replaced lectures on theology.
3. Results of Whitefield’s ministry during the First GA:
a)
b)
c)
Demonstrated market for more robust, less secular religion (F & S 53).
He provided model for itinerant ministry.
Converts of First GA ended up in sects like Baptists, not mainline
churches. (Is this true? What about Edwards’ followers?)
For Further Reading:
Blumhofer, Edith L. and Randall Balmer, ed. Modern Christian Revivals. Chicago: University of Illinois
Press, 1993.
Bushman, Richard L., ed. The Great Awakening: Documents on the Revival of Religion, 1740-1745. Chapel
Hill, NC: University of North Carolina Press, c. 1969, 1989.
Edwards, Jonathan. The Works of Jonathan Edwards, vol 2. Peabody, MA: Hendrickson Publishers,
1998, 42-44.
Finke, Roger and Rodney Stark. The Churching of America 1776-2005, Second Edition. New Brunswick,
NJ: Rutgers University Press, 2005, 49-54.
Gonzalez, Justo. A History of Christian Thought, vol. III: From the Protestant Reformation to the 20th Century,
Revised edition. Nashville: Abingdon Press, 1992, 316-317.
____________. The Story of Christianity. Peabody, MA: Prince Press, 1985: vol. 2: 228-255.
Marsden, George M. Jonathan Edwards: A Life. New Haven, CT: Yale University Press, 2003.
Noll, Mark. A History of Christianity in the United States and Canada. Grand Rapids, MI: Eerdmans
Publishing Company, 1992, 83-105m, 110m-113.
____________. The Rise of Evangelicalism: the Age of Edwards, Whitefield, and the Wesleys, vol. 1. Downers Grove,
IL: Intervarsity Press, 2003.
Spickard, Paul A. and Kevin M. Cragg. A Global History of Christians. Grand Rapids, MI: Baker
Academic: 1994, repr. 2003, 273-292.
Stoeffler, F. Ernest, ed. Continental Pietism and Early American Christianity. Grand Rapids, MI:
Eerdmans Publishing, 1976, 184-219.