QuoteProject
He that has doctrinal knowledge and speculation only, without affection, never is engaged in the business of religion.
Jonathan Edwards
ShareWTF𝕏

Interpretation

What this quote means

Knowledge without passion or affection is insufficient for true engagement in religious practice.

This quote by Jonathan Edwards emphasizes the importance of not just intellectual understanding of religious doctrines, but also the necessity of genuine emotional engagement and affection in one's faith. It suggests that true religious practice is not merely an intellectual exercise, but a heartfelt commitment that requires warmth and love alongside understanding.

Themes

KnowledgeAffectionReligionFaithEmotion

In practice

Example use cases

During a sermon, you can use this quote to emphasize the importance of heartfelt faith among the congregation.

More from Jonathan Edwards

Godliness is more easily feigned in words than in actions
Jonathan EdwardsRead
Resolved, 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.
Jonathan EdwardsRead
So that it must be only by the imagination that Satan has access to the soul, to tempt and delude it, or suggest anything to it. And this seems to be the reason why persons that are under the disease of melancholy are commonly so visibly and remarkably subject to the suggestions and temptations of Satan... Innumerable are the ways by which the mind may be led on to all kind of evil thoughts, by the exciting of external ideas in the imagination.
Jonathan EdwardsRead
The deceitfulness of the heart of man appears in no one thing so much as this of spiritual pride and self-righteousness. The subtlety of Satan appears in its height, in his managing persons with respect to this sin. And perhaps one reason may be that here he has most experience; he knows the way of its coming in; he is acquainted with the secret springs of it: it was his own sin. Experience gives vast advantage in leading souls, either in good or evil.
Jonathan EdwardsRead
Grace is but glory begun, and glory is but grace perfected.
Jonathan EdwardsRead
True virtue never appears so lovely as when it is most oppressed; and the divine excellency of real Christianity is never exhibited with such advantage as when under the greatest trials; then it is that true faith appears much more precious than gold, and upon this account is "found to praise and honour and glory.
Jonathan EdwardsRead

Similar quotes

Every improvement that is put upon the real estate is the result of an idea in somebody's head. The skyscraper is another idea; the railroad is another; the telephone and all those things are merely symbols which represent ideas. An andiron, a wash-tub, is the result of an idea that did not exist before.
Mark TwainRead
The market is not an invention of capitalism. It has existed for centuries. It is an invention of civilization.
Mikhail GorbachevRead
In almost every case (where the United States has fought wars) our overwhelming commitment to freedom, democracy and human rights has required us to support those regimes that would deny freedom, democracy and human rights to their own people.
Gore VidalRead
We do not live to think, but, on the contrary, we think in order that we may succeed in surviving.
Jose Ortega Y GassetRead
Religion, which never intervenes directly in the government of American society, should therefore be considered as the first of their political institutions
Alexis De TocquevilleRead
Don't worry so much where you live but how you live. Make the family of man your family as well.
Edgar CayceRead

A little wisdom, now and then

Subscribe for the occasional hand-picked quote. No noise.