Homiletics

Definition and Meaning

Homiletics is the discipline that studies preaching. The English name derives from the Greek homilia, meaning "conversation" or "discourse." It belongs to practical theology, the field concerned with the actual ministry of the church. Its subject matter includes the theological question of what preaching is, methods of interpreting biblical texts, the structure and language of sermons, understanding the audience, and modes of delivery.

Biblical and Historical Background

Homiletics points to several scenes in Scripture as prototypes of preaching. Examples include the public reading of the Law in the time of Ezra, when its meaning was explained to the people (Nehemiah 8:8); Jesus reading from and interpreting the book of Isaiah in the synagogue (Luke 4:16-21); and Peter's sermon at Pentecost (Acts 2).

In church history, Augustine's application of rhetoric to preaching in Book 4 of On Christian Doctrine is regarded as an early systematic treatment of the subject. During the Reformation, Martin Luther and John Calvin placed preaching at the center of worship. Later, the Puritans established a tradition of preaching that expounded the text and applied it to life. In the late twentieth century, the "New Homiletic" emerged in the United States, viewing preaching less as deductive argument and more as a narrative and a process that the congregation experiences together; Fred Craddock is known as one of its leading figures.

Practice in the Korean Church

Most Korean graduate schools of theology teach homiletics as a required course. Students complete practicums in which they write sermons, preach them, and receive evaluation. Sermon types are generally taught in three categories: topical preaching, textual preaching, and expository preaching. Expository preaching refers to preaching that explains a biblical text passage by passage.

Emphases vary by denomination.

• Presbyterian: Denominations that follow Reformed theology in particular place a high value on expository preaching. There is also active discussion of redemptive-historical preaching, which reads the whole of Scripture as the unfolding history of God's salvation.
• Methodist and Holiness: Following the tradition of Wesleyan theology, these churches tend to emphasize preaching that calls for conversion and sanctification.
• Full Gospel and other Pentecostal churches: These have a distinct preaching tradition that emphasizes the work of the Holy Spirit and experiences of faith.
• Anglican and other liturgical traditions: These follow the practice of reading and preaching on biblical texts appointed according to the church year.

In addition, a growing number of pastors, influenced by the New Homiletic, are experimenting with narrative preaching. Approaches to preaching adapted to video and online worship settings are also emerging as new topics of homiletical research.