Preaching and the Literary Forms of the Bible

by Thomas G. Long

Publisher:

Fortress Press

, 10/01/1988

Overview

Long argues that the literary form and dynamics of biblical texts can and should make a difference in the kinds of sermons created from those texts, not only because of what the texts say but because of how they say it. He presents a methodology for taking the literary characteristics of biblical texts into account in the text-to-sermon process and then applies that methodology in separate chapters on preaching on psalms, proverbs, narratives, parables, and epistles.

Key Features

• Deals with biblical preaching and is based upon the idea that the Bible’s literary form and dynamics should be important factors in how a preacher links text and sermon
• Focuses on the role that literary forms such as proverbs, narrative, psalm, and parable can play in the creation of sermons
• Attempts to incorporate some of the literary and rhetorical approaches to textual intepretation and explores the wealth of insight they bring into the methods of biblical preaching

Contents

The Approach

• Learning How to Read
• Moving from Text to Sermon

The Literary Forms

• Preaching on the Psalms
• Preaching on Proverbs
• Preaching on Narratives
• Preaching on the Parables of Jesus
• Preaching on Epistles
• Sermon Notes

Praise for Preaching and the Literary Forms of the Bible

A ‘must read’ book for preachers! Tom Long’s style is clear, witty, and elegant, his content altogether helpful. Here is a book that anyone who cares about preaching will welcome.

David G. Buttrick, professor of the Homiletics and Liturgics, The Divinity School, Vanderbilt University

This is a well-written book that will aid any preacher, as he or she prepares a sermon, to uncover the riches of the Bible.

Elizabeth Achtemeier, adjunct professor of Bible and Homiletics, Union Theological Seminary, Richmond Virginia

Product Details

• Title: Preaching and the Literary Forms of the Bible
• Author: Thomas G. Long
• Publisher: Fortress Press
• Print Publication Date: 10/01/1988
• Pages: 144
• Language: English
• Resources: 1
• Format: Digital › Logos Reader Edition
• Resource ID: LLS:PRCHNGLTRRYFBBL
• Resource Type: Monograph
• Metadata Last Updated: 2021-11-29T17:53:13Z

About Thomas G. Long

Thomas G. Long is Bandy Professor Emeritus of Preaching at Candler School of Theology, Emory University. He has taught preaching for over forty years, and his introductory textbook, The Witness of Preaching, has been translated into a number of languages and is widely used in theological schools around the world. Long has served as the president of the Academy of Homiletics and as senior homiletics editor of the New Interpreter's Bible. He has been editor of Theology Today and serves as an editor-at-large at The Christian Century. Long has been honored with the distinction of delivering the Lyman Beecher Lectures in Preaching at Yale Divinity School and was also named by Time magazine as one of the most effective preachers in the English language. A Presbyterian minister, Long has served churches in Georgia and New Jersey.