A History of Preaching

Bringing together an impressive array of familiar and lesser-known figures, Edwards paints a detailed, compelling picture of what it has meant to preach the gospel. Pastors, scholars, and students of homiletics will find here many opportunities to enrich their understanding and practice of preaching. Volume I, appearing in the print edition, contains Edwards' magisterial retelling of the story of Christian preaching's development from its Hellenistic and Jewish roots in the New Testament, through the late twentieth century's discontent with outdated forms and emphasis on new modes of preaching such as narrative. Along the way, Edwards introduces us to preachers such as Chrysostom, Augustine, Bernard, Aquinas, Luther, Calvin, Wesley, Edwards, Rauschenbusch, Barth, and many others. Volume II, contained on the enclosed CD-ROM, contains primary source material on preaching drawn from the entire scope of the church's twenty centuries. The author has written an introduction to each selection, placing it in its historical context and pointing to its particular contribution. Each chapter in Volume II is geared to its companion chapter in Volume 1. "The History of Preaching is ecumenical in scope, fair-minded in presentation, and appreciative of the contributions that all the branches of the church have made to the story of what it means to develop, deliver, and listen to a sermon. It is the definitive resource for anyone who wishes to preach, or to understand preaching's role in living out the gospel.