Preaching the Old Testament

Preaching the Old Testament, which can seem harsh and foreign to modern listeners, can be a challenge. In fact, many preachers abandon it altogether because of the difficulties in making it understandable and relevant to those in the pews. But to appreciate the full depth and beauty of New Testament teaching we must build our foundation on an understanding of the Old Testament. The insights of the Hebrew language, poetry, historical narratives, and prophetic offerings were important to the writers of the New Testament, and they should be to us as well.

Preaching the Old Testament equips pastors to keep up on the Hebrew language, prepare to preach the various sections of the Old Testament, and see how it can be interpreted in light of its context and of our world today.

"An outstanding collection of insights for preaching from the two-thirds of Scripture that compose our Old Testament. This is a valuable resource that deserves a place on every preacher's bookshelf."-Michael Duduit, editor, Preaching magazine

"This is the book I have been waiting for! Those who let these pages impact their preaching will better serve their congregations for having done so."-Greg R. Scharf, associate professor and chair of pastoral theology, Trinity Evangelical Divinity School

"Preaching the Old Testament is not primarily a book about how to prepare sermons. It is more about the 'what' of preaching than the 'how.' We will be better preachers and teachers by attending carefully to what it says."-Wayne E. Shaw, dean emeritus and professor of preaching, Lincoln Christian Seminary

Scott Gibson is Haddon W. Robinson Professor of Preaching and Ministry at Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary and is one of the founders of the Evangelical Homiletics Society.

Many pastors find it easier to preach on the New Testament than the Old Testament, with its powerful and often shocking narrative, prophetic warnings and calls to holiness. For many preachers seeking to make the Bible relevant, it's far easier--and safer--to stay out of the woods and plow the well-worn fields of the newer canon.

Preaching the Old Testament equips pastors to journey into the forest and find a passion and confidence for preaching on the Old Testament. This book helps them keep up on their Hebrew, understand the themes of the Old Testament, and unpack Jesus' foundational text to take their congregations to a deeper understanding of Christ himself.

Library Journal

Editor and coauthor Gibson (director, Ctr. for Preaching, Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary) is a founder of the Evangelical Homiletics Society. The other authors of this book's 11 chapters are all preachers or teachers of the Old Testament (OT). The major concerns here involve maintaining knowledge of biblical Hebrew; preaching the historical books, the narratives, the Law, the Psalms and Proverbs, and the Prophets; OT cultural considerations; preaching New Testament citations of the OT; preaching the OT today; preaching the OT evangelistically; and the challenges of all such preaching. As Gibson summarizes, "the entire Bible is our authority and we are called to preach the entire counsel of God." This book is for those who engage in biblical exegesis but reject many of the assumptions of other contemporary biblical textual criticism (e.g., source, redaction, and historical criticism); for those who assume that the Bible is God's word to humanity rather than human words conveying the various human authors' experiences with God; and for those who assume that the Bible is not only foundational for the Christian faith but also normative. Highly recommended for Christian seminary libraries, especially those serving evangelicals.-Carolyn M. Craft, emerita, Longwood Univ., Farmville, VA Copyright 2006 Reed Business Information.

Scott M. Gibson (D.Phil., Oxford) is the Haddon W. Robinson Professor of Preaching and Ministry and Director of the Center for Preaching at Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary and one of the founders of the Evangelical Homiletics Society.