The Modern Preacher and the Ancient Text: Interpreting and Preaching Biblical Literature
Overview
A fusion of biblical hermeneutics and homiletics, this thorough and well-researched book offers a holistic contemporary approach to the interpretation and preaching of biblical texts, using scholarly tools and focusing on literary features. Greidanus develops hermeneutical and homiletical principles and then applies them to four specific genres: Hebrew narratives, prophetic literature, the Gospels, and the Epistles.
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Interested in similar titles? Be sure to check out Eerdmans Preaching Resources Collection (9 vols.).
- Presents a fusion of biblical hermeneutics and homiletics
- Offers a holistic contemporary approach to biblical interpretation and preaching
- Biblical Preaching
- Historical Foundations
- Literary Interpretation
- Historical Interpretation
- Theological Interpretation
- Textual-Thematic Preaching
- The Form of the Sermon
- The Relevance of the Sermon
- Preaching Hebrew Narratives
- Preaching Prophetic Literature
- Preaching the Gospels
- Preaching the Epistles
Top Highlights
“The New Testament uses as many as thirty-three different verbs to describe what we usually cover with the single word preaching. The most significant of these verbs are keryssein (to proclaim as a herald), euangelizesthai (to announce good news), martyrein (to testify, witness), didaskein (to teach), propheteuein (to prophesy), and parakalein (to exhort).13 These words and others show the rich variety of preaching in the early church.” (Page 6)
“The first and foundational criterion is that sermons must be biblical, that is, they must pass on the meaning and intent of Scripture. A second criterion, implied in the first, is that sermons must be God-centered (or Christ-centered) rather than human-centered.” (Pages 14–15)
“The New Testament, therefore, views preaching as ‘God in action.’11 Preaching is not merely a word about God and his redemptive acts but a word of God and as such is itself a redemptive event.” (Page 5)
“The question is, What is involved in preaching biblically? Leander Keck suggests that at least two elements must be given their due: ‘Preaching is truly biblical when (a) the Bible governs the content of the sermon and when (b) the function of the sermon is analogous to that of the text. In other words, preaching is biblical when it imparts a Bible-shaped word in a Bible-like way.’23 Under the heading of ‘Expository Preaching’ we shall discuss the ‘Bible-shaped word,’ and under the heading of ‘The Form of Biblical Preaching’ the ‘Bible-like way.’” (Page 10)
“The Bible is unique and indispensable for preaching because it provides the definitive interpretation of God’s acts in history; the Bible is the source for contemporary preaching because it alone provides the normative proclamation of God’s acts of redemption and the response he requires.” (Page 13)
Preachers seeking a solid and helpful consideration of hermeneutics in service of preaching will greet The Modern Preacher and the Ancient Text with great enthusiasm. Sidney Greidanus has produced one of those rare volumes which should be read by all preachers who take the task of interpretation and proclamation with great seriousness.
—Preaching
For students who desire to see how their theological studies can come together at the point of preaching or for pastors who feel the need for an update on the biblical, hermeneutical, and homiletical currents of our day, this volume is enlightening and useful.
—Homiletic
- Title: The Modern Preacher and the Ancient Text: Interpreting and Preaching Biblical Literature
- Author: Sidney Greidanus
- Publisher: Eerdmans
- Publication Date: 1989
- Pages: 390
- Christian Group: Reformed
- Resource Type: Topical
- Topic: Preaching Resources