In his sermon "Sinners In the Hands of An Angry God", Rev. Jonathan Edwards used the word "gaping" to project an image of hell that is opened so wide that it will swallow anyone who sins and move away from the true God.
Explanation:
In his sermon "Sinners In The Hands of An Angry God", Jonathan Edwards gave a detailed description of what life is for those who stay away from the almighty God. He chooses to address this speech/ sermon to try to get the colonies back on tract to God and shy away from material things.
In this specific passage of the sermon, Edwards is describing in graphic details the fate of those who sin. He presents an image of hell "<em>gaping for them, flames gather(ing) and flash(ing) about them</em>" while "<em>the devil is waiting for them</em>". This parallel language structure projects an image of hell as enormous, daunting and dangerous, which it rightly is. But with the choice of words that he employs, he was able to instill a sense of fear in his listeners. This word is so effective as it <em>presents an image of hell as something that is open wide, welcoming them for an eternal life of suffering</em>. He verbally perfects showing an image that will frighten them and make then turn away from their sins.
n his sermon "Sinners In The Hands of An Angry God", Jonathan Edwards gave a detailed description of what life is for those who stay away from the almighty God. He chooses to address this speech/ sermon to try to get the colonies back on tract to God and shy away from material things.
In this specific passage of the sermon, Edwards is describing in graphic details the fate of those who sin. He presents an image of hell "gaping for them, flames gather(ing) and flash(ing) about them" while "the devil is waiting for them". This parallel language structure projects an image of hell as enormous, daunting and dangerous, which it rightly is. But with the choice of words that he employs, he was able to instill a sense of fear in his listeners. This word is so effective as it presents an image of hell as something that is open wide, welcoming them for an eternal life of suffering. He verbally perfects showing an image that will frighten them and make then turn away from their sins.
