Reading:The End for Which God Created the World

This topic contains all the biblical support given in the second chapter of Jonathan Edwards’s The End for Which God Created the World^[1].

Section headings given here are Edwards’s own. Some sub-section headings are Edwards’s own; others are from John Piper’s edition. Paragraph numberings are also from Piper’s edition.

The Scriptures represent God as making himself his own last end in the creation of the world

Texts concerning God’s making himself the ultimate end of creation (¶ 125)

Isa 44:6; 48:12; Rev 1:8, 11, 17; 21:6; 22:13

The meaning of the texts and its biblical confirmation (¶¶ 126–127)

Ro 11:36; Col 1:16; Heb 2:10; Pr 16:4

Particular texts of Scripture, which show that God’s glory is an ultimate end of the creation

God’s acting for his own sake is the same as acting for his glory (¶¶ 142–144)

Isa 48:11; Ro 11:36

The good parts of the moral world are made for the glory of God (¶¶ 145–153)

Isa 43:1–7; 44:23; 49:3; 60:19–21; 61:3; Jer 13:11 (cf. Ex 28:8; 2Sa 18:11; Isa 3:24; 22:21; 23:10; Jer 13:9); Jn 17:10; Eph 1:5; 2Th 1:10-12

The ultimate end of the goodness of moral agents is the glory of God (¶¶ 154–161)

Jos 7:19; Ps 22:21-23; 50:23; Isa 24:15; 25:3; 66:19; Jer 13:15-16; Dan 5:23; Mt 5:16; Lk 17:18; Jn 15:8; Ro 3:7; 4:20; 15:5-6; 1Co 6:20; 2Co 8:19; Php 1:10-11; Php 2:11; 1Pe 2:12; 1Pe 4:11; Rev 11:13; 14:6-7, 9

God makes it the duty of man to seek God’s glory as their ultimate end (¶¶ 162–164)

Lev 10:3; Eze 28:22; Mt 6:9 (cf. Lk 11:2); 1Co 10:31; 1Pe 4:11

Saints, at their best, desire and delight in the glory of God above all else (¶¶ 165–169)

1Ch 16:28–29; Ps 29:1–2; 57:5; 69:7–8; 72:18–19; 115:1; Isa 6:2–3; 42:10–12; Lk 2:14; Ro 11:36; 16:27; Gal 1:4–5; Eph 3:21; Php 4:20; 2Ti 4:18; Heb 13:21; 2Pe 3:18; Jude 25; Rev 1:5–6; 4:9, 11–14; 7:12

Christ’s ultimate end in his ministry was the glory of God (¶¶ 170–173)

Jn 7:18; 12:27–28; 17:1ff.

The ultimate end of the work of redemption is the glory of God (¶¶ 174–186)

Ps 79:9; Isa 44:23; 48:10–11; 49:3; Lk 2:14; Jn 7:18; 12:23–24, 27–28, 30–32; 13:31–32; 17:4–5; 2Co 4:14–15; Eph 1:3, 12, 14; Php 2:6–11 (See also Mt 28:18; Jn 17:2; 1Co 3:21–22; 2Co 5:17; Gal 6:15; Eph 1:21–22; Php 2:10; 3:21; Col 1:18; Heb 1:14; 2:8)

The glory of God is the ultimate end of God’s moral government in wrath and mercy (¶¶ 187–191)

Ex 14:17–18; Nu 14:20–23; Eze 28:22; 39:13; Hag 1:8; Ro 9:22–23; 2Co 1:20; 2Th 1:9–10

The glory of God is the ultimate end of God’s works in the natural world (¶¶ 192–194)

Ps 8:1, 9; 104:31; 148:13; Isa 6:3

Places of Scripture that lead us to suppose that God created the world for his name, to make his perfections known; and that he made it for his praise

God’s name is the highest regard of his holy creatures and of himself (¶¶ 195–205)

Ex 9:16; Jos 7:8–9; 1Sa 12:22; 2Sa 7:23, 26; Ne 9:10; Ps 8:1, 9; 23:3; 25:11; 31:3; 76:1; 79:9; 106:8; 109:21; 145:13; 148:13; Isa 12:4; 48:9-10; 63:12; Jer 13:11; 14:7; Eze 20:9, 14, 22; 36:21-23; 39:25; Dan 9:15, 19; Mt 19:29; Ac 15:14; Ro 1:5; 1Jn 2:12; 3Jn 7; Rev 2:3

God’s perfections, greatness and excellency are spoken of as his ultimate end in creation (¶¶ 206–218)

Ex 6:7; 7:17; 8:10, 22; 9:16; 10:2; 16:12; 29:44–46; 31:13; Dt 29:5–6; 1Ki 8:43, 59–60; 20:28; 2Ki 19:19; 1Ch 17:8, 23–24; Job 37:6–7; Ps 19:1; 22:21–22; 30:9; 88:11; 102:21; Isa 38:18–19; 43:21; 49:22–23; 60:6; 64:4; 66:19; Eze 20:12, 20, 34–38, 42, 44; 24:17 [see Eze 24:24]; Dan 4:17; Jn 17:26; Ro 2:5; 3:25–26; 9:22–23; Eph 2:4–7; 3:8–10; 1Pe 2:9 (See also: Ex 7:5; 14:17–18; 1Sa 17:46; Dt 4:34–35; Ps 9:1, 11, 14; 26:7; 71:18; 75:9; 76:1; 79:13; 83:18; 96:2–3; 101:1; 106:8; 107:22; 145:6, 11–12; Isa 42:12; 45:3; 64:1–2; Jer 51:10; Eze 6:7, 10, 13–14; 7:4, 9, 27; 11:10–12; 12:15–16, 20; 13:9, 14, 21, 23; 14:8; 15:7; 16:62; 21:5; 22:16; 23:49; 24:21 [see Eze 24:24]; Eze 25:5, 7, 11, 17; 26:6; 28:22–26; 29:9, 16; 29:21; 30:8, 19, 25–26; 32:15; 33:29; 34:27; 35:4, 12, 15; 35:9; 36:11, 38; 37:6, 13; 38:23; 39:6–7, 21–22, 28–29; Joel 3:17)

God’s praise is the ultimate end of creation (¶¶ 219–225)

Gen 29:35; Ps 8:1–2; 30:9; 88:10; 103:19–22; 115:17–18; 145:5–10; 148:1–14; Isa 38:18–19; 48:9–11; 13:11; Jer 33:8–9; Mt 21:16; Eph 1:6, 12, 14; Php 1:11

Places of Scripture from whence it may be argued that communication of good to the creature was one thing which God had in view as an ultimate end of the creation of the world

Doing good to his creatures is pleasing to God in itself, while doing harm is pleasing only in relation to something else (¶¶ 226–227)

Dt 28:63; Neh 9:17; Ps 103:8; 145:8; Lam 3:33; Eze 5:13; 18:32; 33:11; Jon 4:2; Mic 7:18; 2Pe 3:9

God delights in the saving work of Christ as an ultimate end of creation (¶¶ 228–230)

Pr 8:30–31; Isa 53:10–11; 62:5; Zep 3:17; Jn 3:16; 12:23–32; 17:19; Gal 2:20; Eph 2:4; 5:25; 1Jn 4:9–10

The motive for showing goodness and mercy to his people is spoken of in the same way as doing it for his name’s sake (¶ 231)

Dt 8:7–8; Neh 9:31; Ps 6:4; 25:7, 11; 31:16; 44:26

The entire government of the universe by Christ is for the good of God’s people (¶ 232)

Mt 11:27; 28:18–19; Mk 2:28; Jn 3:35; 17:2; Eph 1:20–23

All the wheels of providence turn for the sake of saving the people of God (¶ 233)

Dt 33:26; Eze 1:22, 26–28

God’s judgment on the wicked serves the final happiness of God’s people (¶¶ 234–235)

Ps 136:10, 15, 17–20; Isa 43:3–4; Ro 9:22–23

All creation belongs to the people of God and so exists for their good (¶ 236)

1Co 3:22–23

All the works of providence are mercy for the people of God (¶ 237)

Ps 136:4–9

The kingdom of God is prepared for the people of God (¶ 238)

Mt 25:34

The ultimate end of virtue among men is that they do each other good (¶¶ 239–240)

Ro 12:4–5; 13:8–10; 1Co 12:12, 25; 2Co 4:15; Gal 5:14; Eph 4:15–16; 2Ti 2:10; Heb 1:14; Jas 2:8

Wherein is considered what is meant by the glory of God and the name of God in Scripture, when spoken of as God’s end in his works

What is meant in Scripture by the glory of God? (¶¶ 242–243)

Ge 5:9 (should this be Ex 5:9?); Ex 19:16; 2Sa 14:26; 1Ki 10:2; 12:11; 2Ki 6:14; 18:17; Ps 38:4; Pr 27:3; Isa 30:27; 32:2; 36:2

A person’s internal excellence or greatness is referred to as his glory (¶ 244)

Nu 21:5; Jdg 9:4; 1Sa 18:23; 2Sa 19:43; Dan 5:27; Zep 3:4 (See also: Ex 16:7; 28:2, 40; 3:8; Nu 16:9; Dt 5:24; 28:58; 2Sa 6:20; 1Ch 16:24; Est 1:4; Job 29:20; Ps 19:1; 45:13; 63:3; 66:3; 67:6; 87:3; 102:16; 145:5, 12, 13; Isa 4:2; 10:18; 16:40; 35:21; 40:5; 60:13; 62:2; Eze 31:18; Hab 2:14; Hag 2:3, 9; Mt 6:29; 16:27; 24:30; Lk 9:31, 32; Jn 1:14; 2:11; 11:40; Ro 6:4; 1Co 2:8; 15:40; 2Co 3:10; Eph 3:21; Col 1:11; 2Th 1:9; Tit 2:13; 1Pe 1:24; 2Pe 1:17)

Great possessions are sometimes called a person’s glory (¶¶ 245–246)

Ge 31:1; 45:13; Est 5:11; Job 19:9; Ps 49:16–17; Isa 10:3, 16; 17:3–4; 21:16; 61:6; 66:11–12; Hos 9:11; Nah 2:9; Mt 4:8; Lk 24:26; Jn 17:22; Ro 2:7, 10; 3:23; 5:2; 8:18; 9:23; 1Co 2:7; 2Co 4:17; Eph 1:18; 1Pe 1:8; 4:13 (See also Ps 73:24; 149:5; Isa 6:10; Col 1:27; 3:4; 1Th 2:12; 2Th 2:14; 1Ti 3:16; 2Ti 2:10; He 2:10; 1Pe 1:11, 21; 5:10; 2Pe 1:3; Rev 21:24, 26)

Glory is also the outshining of the internal greatness or excellence (¶¶ 247–248)

Isa 6:1–3; 24:23; 60:1–2, 19; Eze 1:28; 10:4; 43:2; Lk 2:9; Jn 12:41; Ac 22:11; 1Co 15:41; 2Co 3:7, 18; 4:4, 6; He 1:3; 2Pe 1:17; Rev 18:1; 21:11, 23 (See also: Ex 16:12; 24:16, 17, 23; 40:34, 35; Lev 9:6, 23; Nu 14:10; 16:19; 1Ki 8:11; 2Ch 5:14; 7:1, 2, 3; Isa 58:8; Eze 3:23; 8:4; 9:3; 10:18–19; 11:22–23; 43:4–5; 44:4; Ac 7:55; Rev 15:8)

Glory sometimes refers to God’s fullness of goodness and grace (¶¶ 249–254)

Ex 33:18–19; Isa 53:10–11; Jn 12:23-32 (see esp. Jn 12:23–24, 28–29, 31–32); Ro 9:22–23; Eph 1:7; 2:7; 3:16; Php 4:19; He 12:1-2

God’s glory is the honor accorded him by the creature (¶ 255)

Nu 14:21; Eze 39:21–23 (See also He 3:3)

God’s glory is the praise he receives from his creatures (¶¶ 256–258)

Ps 22:23; 33:2; 50:23; Isa 42:8, 12; 48:9-11; Jer 13:11; 2Co 4:15; Eph 1:6, 12, 14; Php 1:11 (See also: Ps 9:1–2, 14; 21:14–15; 28:7; 30:12; 34:1–3; 35:18, 27–28; 42:4; 44:8; 63:3–4, 5; 66:1–2, 8–9; 67:3–5; 71:6–8, 22–23; 79:13; 96:4–5; 98:4–5; 99:2–3; 100:4; 104:33–34; 106:47; 107:21–22, 32; 108:3–5; 119:164; 135:3; 138:2; 145:1-12; 147:1–2, 5–6; 148:13; 150:2; Ac 2:46–47; 3:8; Rev 19:1–3, 6–7)

God’s name and his glory often signify the same thing (¶ 260)

Ge 11:4; Ex 33:18–19; Dt 26:19; Ps 8:1; 79:9; 102:15; 148:13; Isa 48:9, 11; 59:19; Jer 13:11 (See also 2Sa 7:9; 8:13; 23:18; Ne 9:10; Job 30:8; Pr 22:1)

God’s name sometimes means the same as his praise (¶ 261)

Dt 26:19; Isa 48:9; Jer 13:11; 33:9; Zep 3:20

God’s name sometimes refers to the exhibition of his goodness (¶¶ 262–263)

Ex 29:43; 33:19; 34:5–7; Dt 12:11; Ps 74:7; Isa 60:7; Jer 14:21

Showing that the ultimate end of the creation of the world is but one, and what that one end is

The glory of God is reflected mainly in man’s two faculties: knowing and willing (¶ 270)

Jn 1:14

The glory of God is compared to the emanation of light from a luminary (¶ 271)

Est 8:16; Job 18:8; 22:28; 25:5; 29:3; 30:26; Ps 19:8; 27:1; 97:11; 112:4; 118:27; 119:105, 130; Pr 6:23; Ecc 8:1; Isa 5:20; 8:20; 9:2; 24:23; 29:18; 43:16; 50:10; 59:9; 62:1; Jer 13:16; La 3; Eze 28:7, 17; 32:8; Dan 2:31; 5:11; Am 5:18; Mic 7:8–9; Eph 5:13; 1Jn 1:5

See also

• Glory

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1. Piper, John (2006). God’s Passion for His Glory: Living the Vision of Jonathan Edwards (With the Complete Text of The End for Which God Created the World). Good News Publishers/Crossway Books. Kindle Edition. #