This denomination arose from John Knox’ Church of Scotland which came directly from the Swiss Reformed Church denomination family. Its soteriological framework is Calvinist (Augustinian) and the method of church governance was by the elders (presbyters) of the congregation. John Knox took the ideas of his teacher John Calvin and brought Presbyterianism to Scotland. It was embraced as the official Church of the State.

Thereafter, the Presbyterians also came to America in the 17th and 18th centuries with the Presbyterian Synod of Philadelphia forming in 1716. and were influential in the anti-slavery movement long before America was a nation. The only active preacher during the Revolutionary war to sign the Declaration of Independence was a Presbyterian named John Witherspoon.

Probably the most notable leaders of Presbyterianism in America was Jonathan Edwards and George Whitefield whose preaching is credited with sparking “The Great Awakening”. The most recent Presbyterian preachers of notoriety were the late Dr. D. James Kennedy who was famous for his daily radio broadcast, apologetics for Christianity, and his desire to see Christians involved in making a difference politically and R.C. Sproul who mostly focused on correcting theology (toward Calvinism) and Biblical Christian discipleship.

Prominant Presbyterians: Jonathan Edwards

A. Jonathan Edwards – 1703-1758 – American Philosophical Theologian and Preacher
1. 1716 Entered Yale College at age 12 – was greatly influenced that year by Locke’s Essay Concerning Human Understanding. Also influenced by the Enlightenment on the whole
2. 1720 graduated valedictorian and head of his class from Yale at age 17 – loved natural science.

3. 1722-23 was a “fill-in” pastor of a Presbyterian Church – he was mostly Reformed in thought.
4. 1727 Tumultuous courtship with Sarah Pierpont, his future wife – became the father of 11 kids
5. 1727 Pastor in Northampton, Mass – greatly influenced by John Locke & the Enlightenment
a. 1741 Preached one of his most famous sermons, “Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God.”
6. 1731 –Preached “God Glorified- in Man’s Dependence” which was his first attack of Arminianism
a. Like Calvin, believed that true religion is more than just “right belief” – interior affections.
b. 1733 Edwards views on God’s absolute sovereignty in salvation erupted in a great revival known as the “Great Awakening” (see GREAT AWAKENING)
c. 1735 it had spread all over New England and New Jersey but many “shaken” by the revivals but not converted causing them to panic regarding damnation – some committed suicide including his own uncle Joseph Hawley II. This caused the end of the 1st wave. –George Marsden – Jonathan Edwards: A Life, New Haven

7. 1741 – George Whitfield was invited to preach at Edwards’ church. Edwards did not fully agree with Whitfield’s “emotional” approach to preaching but respected him & ‘borrowed’ style.
a. Whitfield spoke of the revival at their church 10 years earlier reminding them what God did which caused the whole church to weep, including Edwards.
b. The second wave of the Great Awakening began to sweep over the colonies
c. Edwards would preach his most famous sermon, “Sinners in The Hands of an Angry God”
d. Nearby Congregationalist churches began to take issue with the “swoonings, outcries, & convulsions – Edwards said these were not a sign of the work of the Spirit either way
e. Edwards would write an apologetic defending the “bodily effects”, emotionalism, and even preaching ‘terror’ even to children who are small vipers to God, if not Christ’s.8. 1750 was canned for refusing to offer “open” communion like his grandfather
a. He also required a public profession of faith for new members
b. Used his pulpit to lambaste religious leaders for moral and ethical shortcomings.
9. 1754 Wrote “The Freedom of the Will” while a missionary to Mohican Indians.
10. 1758 Edwards would die of small pox due to a bad inoculation

No one receives eternal life and eternal presence with God, from who all good things come (James 1:17), by belonging to the right church, denomination, world religion, or by having a particular world view. Rather only those who trust in the Lord Jesus preached by the Apostles in the Bible, for their own sin. We will not trust in a Savior for sins that we either don’t believe we have or that we think aren’t deserving of hell. But the Bible says that ALL have sin and the wages of that sin is eternal separation from God (death). The good news is that the Bible says that you can know that YOU have eternal life. Click the button below to see if you are genuinely saved from your sins according to the Bible: