Definition of Preaching

What is preaching? Is it an ancient and dogmatic exercise reserved for only for charismatic televangelists in white suits? Furthermore, does the activity of preaching hold any benefit for the modern audience? Without question, the word preaching conjures up a variety of stereotypical ideas, especially for the modern listener. However, a biblical and theological definition of preaching reveals a much deeper and more significant interpretation of the word. While preaching may carry certain negative presuppositions, this entry will show preaching to be a biblical, powerful, beautiful, and extremely relevant exercise.

To begin, it is helpful to provide a basic and fundamental definition of preaching. I enjoy and agree with John Stott’s definition, given at Dallas Theological Seminary in 1988, which states that preaching is “to open the inspired text with such faithfulness and sensitivity that God’s voice is heard and His people obey Him”. This definition addresses several elements of preaching, including: the text, the voice of God, the response of the people, and even the preacher himself. These components of preaching will be examined in later entries for this project.

Dr. Haddon Robinson, Harold John Ockenga Distinguished Professor of Preaching at Gordon Conwell Theological Seminary, defines preaching from his classic book Biblical Preaching as “the communication of a biblical concept, derived from and transmitted through a historical, grammatical, and literary study of a passage in its context, which the Holy Spirit first applies to the personality and experience of the preacher, then through the preacher, applies to the hearers”. Dr. Robinson’s definition is attributed to a particular type of preaching called expository preaching. However, it does an excellent job outlining many of the elements observed in Stott’s definition. Again we see the role of the preacher, the Holy Spirit, and the hearer in the process of preaching. Dr. Robinson’s definition calls for faithfulness to the text and relevance to the hearers.

On the other hand, preaching also addresses the modern audience. At it’s core, preaching communicates divine solutions to human problems. Preaching is a practical exercise because it delivers the ever timely, always timeless truth of Scripture, which is applicable to the modern listener. Pastor and theologian Harry Emerson Fosdick goes so far as to attribute the entire purpose of the sermon to meeting a felt need. In a 1928 article for Harper’s Magazine, Fosdick noted that every preached sermon “should have for its main business the solving of some problem”. While Fosdick may go too far in his definition and interpretation of the purpose of preaching, the truth remains; “Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness” (2 Timothy 3:16, NIV). God’s word is useful and carries practical application when communicated through the venue of preaching. The skill of the preacher in making modern applications to the ancient text is a critical and necessary component of biblical preaching.

Both Stott and Robinson address a key component within the definition of preaching. That is, the application of the message to the hearer. This is wonderful news for the modern audience! Biblical preaching certainly addresses the intricacies of the ancient text. It explores why the Holy Spirit inspired the writers to address their particular audience in their particular time in history.

The word preach or preaching is an incredibly biblical word. The English Standard Version translates several Greek words into different forms of the English word preach approximately 75 times in the New Testament. Other words used to translate the original language include: announce, proclaim, and speak. Even the word gospel is closely tied to preaching (Romans 15:20). The Enhanced Strong’s Lexicon, which examines biblical words in their original language, provides a definition for preaching as “to proclaim after the manner of a herald”. Quite simply, to preach is to proclaim. This is as true today as it was when the Bible was written.

In the New Testament, the activity of preaching is ascribed to John the Baptist, Peter, Paul, Barnabas, Jesus, and others (Luke 3:18, Luke 4:43, Acts 2:14-36, Acts 15:35). The gospel writer Luke gives account to the start of Jesus’ ministry. After Jesus is tempted in the wilderness by Satan, he returns to Nazareth, enters the synagogue on the Sabbath, and reads a scroll from the book of Isaiah. Proclaiming or preaching good news is among other elements that will mark Christ’s earthly ministry (Luke 4:16-19). Jesus understood and embraced the importance of preaching, telling people that he “must preach the good news of the kingdom of God” (Luke 4:43, ESV).

A similar appeal to preaching was shared by the apostle Paul. In his first letter to the church in Corinth, the apostle Paul highlights the importance and necessity of preaching the gospel (1 Corinthians 1:17-23). The core of his ministry was preaching and proclaiming “Jesus Christ and him crucified” (1 Corinthians 2:1-5, ESV). Paul takes the call to preach so seriously that he speaks a woe to himself if he does not preach the gospel (1 Corinthians 9:16). He was “eager to preach the gospel,” which he described as, “the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes” (Romans 1:15, 16, ESV).

Preaching is not an exercise in futility. Preaching is not a dry, dead, or outdated means of communication. Rather, preaching is a biblical, powerful, beautiful, and extremely relevant practice. Preaching is the proclamation of God’s word in truth, which leads to the transformed life of the hearer.