Modern Preacher and the Ancient Text: Interpreting and Preaching Biblical Literature

the bible is God's word, yes, but it did not fall out of the sky all at once and it is not a personal love letter from God in order to help us be more psychologically healthy. This book is a very well thought out and scripture honoring study in several issues relating to not only understanding what the bible is and what it's about, but also how to use it for teaching and preaching purposes. To truly honor the bible's message, the bible should be handled with intelligence and careful thought. This book will go a good distance towards that goal. It is written with serious readers in mind, it is not a feel good devotional type work. Also be sure to check out, Biblical Interpretation by Blomberg, Klein and Hubbard as well as How to Read The Bible For All It's Worth by Fee and Stewart and finally, Preaching The Whole Bible as Christian Scripture by Graeme Goldsworthy. These are some of the most helpful and sane works on the subject that I have come across yet.

A significant, scholarly review of approaches to interpreting the Bible -- complete with a suggested holistic approach. While arduous reading (including so many quotes of primary sources that it was annoying to me!), this was an eminently worthwhile read for me as a teacher & preacher. I'd like to give it 5 stars, but...shoot, it was just too tough going. But if you want to understand the history of Bible interpretation -- learning from your forebears, and strengthening your own convictions -- buck up and read it.

This is one of the most exhaustive looks at translating the biblical text into the preached word. It steps a bit out of homiletics and into hermeneutics. The scope is almost too much for one book. Greidanus does a cursory introduction to expository preaching before launching into a full-blown critique of the historical-critical methods of biblical analysis. While his calm prose and scholarly foundations calmed my initial expectation that this would be a work of defensive fundamentalism, I was still shocked to see such a dubious review of the techniques that biblical scholars have been developing for a couple of centuries. I think Greidanus might have trouble getting a hearing in some circles of biblical scholarship today. Chapters 3-5 are a unit, a look at the means of literary, historical, and theological interpretation of a text. I like the fact that in his subsequent study of each of the genres of biblical literature, Greidanus systematically returns to each of these three methods (e.g. how each of these three apply to prophetic literature, gospels, etc.). Chapters 6-8 are also a unit, though not so tightly bound. Six deals with the selection of a text for preaching, a subject to which Greidanus returns in each of his studies of the genres of biblical literature. Seven looks more specifically at homiletics and the didactic and narrative forms of the sermon. Here, I feel a bit as though the text has wandered from its original purpose, or rather that the book needs to either focus on issues of biblical analysis or of sermon preparation. As I said, he takes on a lot here. Eight talks about the appropriate application of ancient texts to the modern world, the translation of the meaning and purpose of the original text and readers to the congregation. Chapters 9-12 are really the substance of the book. The too-short critique of historical-critical methods with which it began almost detracts from what is really a rewarding conclusion. Here the book walks through Hebrew narratives, prophetic literature, gospels, and epistles and applies all of what came before. For each, it tells us how to apply literary, historical, and theological interpretation. For each, it tells us how to apply the text to modern preaching. In the end, the text is so thoroughly analytical that it is almost impractical. It takes what is probably an entire course that Greidanus teaches (the table of contents even looks like a course syllabus) and puts it in a single work. It will take some time to digest this text.

Reviewed by Rev. George van Popta The author strives to fill two needs: to provide a tool that bridges the gap between the departments of biblical studies and that of homiletics; to provide busy pastors and aspiring preachers access to the fruit of biblical scholarship which is so often buried away in scholarly journals and far away libraries. This books has surprising breadth: in it the author deals with issues in history, hermeneutics, homiletics, Hebrew narrative, prophecy, the Gospels and the Epistles. Despite that surprising breadth, the reader will not be disappointed by a lack of depth. This study is not superficial. In the first chapter Greidanus explores the connection between the Bible and contemporary preaching. He emphasizes the need for expository preaching where the text is master of the sermon, rather than topical preaching. In chapter two he discusses the radical naturalistic historical-critical methods of approaching scripture that deny the historical reliability of the Bible. His conclusion is that there is sufficient reason for approaching the biblical text with confidence, even as the very Word of God. Greidanus accepts what the Bible says about its inspiration (2 Tim 3:16; 2 Pet 1:21). The Bible is trustworthy. He argues for working with a "holistic" historical-critical method that permits one to recognize historical narrative in the scriptures for what it is and to interpret it accordingly rather than to interpret it as myth, legend or mere story. In chapter three the author presents a very helpful survey and assessment of the various forms of literary interpretation of scripture analyzing how they relate to preaching, and how they are either preaching's death knell or of some or much aid to the preacher. The next chapter discuss the place of historical interpretation. The text must be understood in terms of its own time, place and culture. To understand what the text means, we need to seek to understand what the author meant. Greidanus also writes about the history of God's kingdom spanning creation to new creation, and works with the theme of creation, fall and redemption. Chapter five is entitled: "Theological Interpretation." The Bible is not man-centred but has a God-centred focus: it reveals God's sovereignty and relates everything to God. The Bible requires preaching to be Christocentric. Neither the people in the Bible nor in the pew are central to the sermon; rather, Christ is central. In the view of this reviewer, this chapter could have been strengthened if Greidanus had included a paragraph or two on confessional interpretation. A preacher preaches within a confessional context. His sermons ought not to collide with his church's confession(s). This is not to take the position that the confessions rule over the Word. This does not mean that the preacher would need to round off his sermons with footnotes to his confessions-or that his sermons would be nothing more than footnotes to his church's confes

Almost every sentence needs to be studied. It is that good! Of all the books concerning how to preach, this is the greatest I have encountered. Although heavy... it is a must! Every believer should read this. It is one of those works which is nearly flawless. It is hard to describe the importance of "The Modern Preacher and the Ancient Text". Oh that every preacher would follow what is here! So great would be the result.If you want to preach with greatness... this book if for you.It is for all Christian--all should read it; own it; know it.