"Grace is but glory begun, and glory is but grace perfected"

Jonathan Edwards, a popular theologian and thinker of the 18th century, typically engaged deeply with principles of divinity, spirituality, and morality. The quote "Grace is but magnificence begun, and magnificence is but grace improved" encapsulates his nuanced understanding of the relationship in between grace and splendor within the Christian framework.

To start with, "grace" in the Christian context typically describes the unmerited favor and love that God bestows upon humankind. It is viewed as a vital part of redemption and the transformative power that causes spiritual growth and moral excellence. Grace is the structure upon which a believer's relationship with God is built, functioning as the preliminary example of divine love and acceptance.

On the other hand, "magnificence" frequently refers to the ultimate satisfaction and realization of God's existence and majesty, typically connected with the afterlife or the completion of the spiritual journey. Glory is the conclusion of the spiritual process that starts with grace, representing the complete manifestation and gratitude of God's splendor.

In stating that "grace is but splendor started", Edwards suggests that grace initiates believers into a transformative process, setting them on a path toward spiritual enlightenment and divine fellowship. It marks the start of a journey towards understanding and embodying magnificent love. This initiatory grace, thus, is the seed from which the flower of glory will eventually flower.

Alternatively, when Edwards states that "splendor is however grace refined", he stresses that splendor is the fully grown and complete kind of grace. It is the endpoint where the follower, having actually undergone spiritual development and sanctification through grace, reaches a state of best communion with the divine. This procedure reflects the ultimate fulfillment of the magnificent guarantee-- the complete awareness of spiritual prospective and the experience of God's unmediated existence.

In summary, Edwards provides grace and splendor not as different or opposing forces, but as parts of a constant spiritual journey. Grace is the beginning, the divine initiation into spiritual life, while magnificence is the ultimate, perfected state of that divine grace. This interpretation beautifully catches the unified relationship in between the 2, highlighting the Christian path from divine beginning to practiced completion.