Description
THE HISTORY OF EXPOSITORY PREACHING
https://tms.edu/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/tmsj3a.pdf
James F. Stitzinger
Associate Professor of Historical Theology
The Master's Seminary
The history of expository preaching begins with an understanding of
the revelatory and explanatory preaching recorded in Scripture. Legitimate
preaching in the Church Age continues the expository preaching begun in the
Bible. History unveils a limited but rich ongoing legacy of biblical expositors
up to the present day. These men who poured their lives into expounding
God's Word command careful attention from today's biblical expositors.
* * * * *
The rich heritage of expository preaching in church history
stems from a relatively small number of men who have committed
themselves to this type of preaching. 1
These men, devoted to
expounding the Scriptures, are an encouragement and a challenge
because of the profound results of their ministries. Dargan notes that
"preaching is an essential part and a distinguishing feature of
Christianity, and accordingly the larger history of general religious
movements includes that of preaching."2 He further observes that "a
reciprocal influence must be reckoned with: the movement has
sometimes produced the preaching, the preaching sometimes the
movement, but most commonly they have each helped the other."3
This profound influence of preaching in general applies especially to
expository preaching. It has been a significant factor in the history of
the church, earning a role as a worthy topic of study.