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Him We Proclaim: Preaching Christ from All the Scriptures

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Any book which includes "Preaching Christ from All the Scriptures" in its title instantly grabs my attention. How Christ is revealed in the Old Testament, and how the Old Testament foreshadows New Covenant realities has been a theological interest of mine for some time. So when P & R Publishing agreed to let me review "Him We Proclaim: Preaching Christ from All the Scriptures", I was thrilled with the opportunity. I hadn't known of Dennis Johnson, but I did recognize Westminster Seminary California where he is Academic Dean and Professor of Practical Theology. So with P & R as publishers, and the Westminster connection, I trusted it would be a good book.

I was wrong. It was a phenomenally good book. In every way it exceeded my expectations. 500 pages is quite a bit of ground, and with that space Johnson covers an awful lot of territory. Even still, by the end of the book, I was eager for more.

The book is part hermeneutic manual, homiletic textbook, and preaching guide. It's a polemic for apostolic preaching (that which recognizes the Christological bent of all of Scripture) even as it is an explanation for how to be exegetically careful in handling Old Testament texts. As I said it covers a lot of ground.

The book is divided into two parts: first Johnson makes the case for apostolic, Christocentric preaching. He then he fleshes out the practice of that preaching. Johnson contends that:

"Christians need to be shown how to read each Scripture, first in the context of its original redemptive-historical epoch, and then in terms of the focal point and climactic "horizon" toward which the particulars of God's plan always pointed, namely Jesus the Messiah, who is the second and last Adam, seed of Abraham, true Israel, royal descendant of David, and obedient and suffering Servant of the Lord." (pg. 49)

Such preaching today is not all that common. Johnson traces the history of how the Church has interpreted, and preached the Scripture. Behind the preaching of today's "twenty-first century evangelicals", lies both "the Reformation's hermeneutic restraint and the Enlightenment's faith in scientific methodology as part of our almost invisible but virtually inevitable mental framework" (pg. 126-127).

As an antidote, the major portion of the book focuses on a positive treatment of how to preach Christologically. Johnson focuses on Hebrews as an example of an extended Apostolic sermon, and goes on to carefully model his approach to preaching in five or six passages from each testament. The exegesis is very sound, and only with great care does Johnson run from the OT text to Jesus. But he does run to Jesus, and he shows us how to find the Biblical path to Jesus from most any Scriptural text.

It is not only the Scriptural promises of the Messiah that point to Jesus, "What God said in the words of the prophets as they pointed Israel's faith toward the future in the imagery of the past and present, God had also said through his design of the events of the history of Adam, Noah, Abraham and the patriarchs, Moses, Israel and David." (pg. 226) Johnson shows how not just from the Old to the New, but often from older revelation to newer revelation in the Old Testament itself, God makes use of foreshadowings and types. The prophets use the imagery of the Exodus and the wilderness wanderings as they pronounce judgment or promise future blessing for Israel. Johnson's emphasis on how the Old Testament uses the Old Testament is extremely helpful and not something I've encountered before in the whole discussion of the NT use of the OT.

With this background, Johnson can argue,

"Because of the occasional character of the New Testament, however, we should not conclude prematurely that Old Testament texts that are not explicitly interpreted typologically by a New Testament writer cannot be read in the context of Christ's climactic work as Lord and Servant of the covenant, and as prophet, priest and king. Rather, we must seek to relate particular texts to the broader structures and institutions that provide the framework for God's relation to his people throughout the history of redemption." (pg. 279)

Such an approach, Johnson admits, "requires a more comprehensive hermeneutic perspective." He proceeds to provide just such a perspective. He argues that Christ's role as the Mediator, and his threefold offices, Prophet, Priest and King, provide overarching themes by which to find Christ in the Old Testament revelation. He shows how to preach the promises in the Old Testament, and how to then preach the Promise Keeper in how we handle the New Testament. Showing how the NT passages interpret and fill up the OT provides a unified view of God's redemptive work which truly ministers to the believing soul.

This work doesn't stop with theory and theology. Johnson provides numerous discussions of texts in the book, working through the passages step by step. After exegetical discussion, he provides simple outline with application points for the passage at hand. He then offers an appendix with two sample sermons that are more filled out. After reading all the sermon outlines, and seeing how the theory comes to life, one will certainly be impatient to try out this method of preaching for himself.

I can't think of another similar book that rivals Him We Proclaim. If you are looking for a book to help revolutionize your preaching, or something to challenge your perspective of the Old Testament, look no further. For anyone interested in theology or aiming for a better understanding of how all of Scripture fits together, this book will be exceedingly helpful. I'm proud to be able to recommend such a great resource as this.

Disclaimer: This book was provided by P & R Publishing for review. I was under no obligation to offer a favorable review.

I was not fortunate enough to attend a seminary where Biblical Theology or intertextual approaches were widely popular. Had it not been for a single Professor who opened my mind on this account, I might have gone on thinking that all contemporary evangelical hermeneutical models were unnecessarily limiting. Following the breadcrumbs giving by this professor in looking for a better approach I ultimately ended up here at Dennis Johnson's "Him We Proclaim." I way hampered, however, by the fact that the book is billed as a preaching text, when its greatest impact is as a hermeneutics text.

The book makes the bold claim that modern evangelical rules are not only different from Apostolic methods, but that apostolic methods should be used by us. The excitement begins in the introduction and promotional quotes where one can sense that Johnson not only pushes the boundaries but defends them extremely well. A lifetime of study built on a generation of recovery of Biblical Theology starting with the work of Edmund Clowney led to this fabulous work.

The crux and the power of the book is that he actually demonstrates the apostolic method by working his way through the book of Hebrews. Taking Hebrews as an apostolic commentary on the Old Testament and therefore a textbook on how to interpret the OT, he demonstrates how to do it. In doing so, he finally gives us the intellectual models which allow us to close the gap between anointed preaching and Biblical interpretation.

'Truly apostolic preaching is not ethical imperative ungrounded in theological indicative. It is not psychological manipulation, moralistic harangue based on guilt, or pragmatic life coaching, untethered to the truth of Christ's redemptive accomplishment on behalf of others.' p 177

Johnson's life-work is christocentric to its core and inspiring in its allegiance to the fidelity of timeless truth. His unique and rich portrayal of Christ at the center of life and Scripture, is recommended reading and insightful scholarship. This added to my understanding of revelation in a truly comprehensive biblical way.

The variables that enter into receiving the Word are many. Not everyone attends church regularly every Sunday. Not everyone attended Seminary. Many Christians hear the saving Word amidst fear of reprisal and under threat of death. Yet Christ said: 'My sheep hear My voice, and I know them and they follow Me.' John 10:27 How this is effectually communicated is portrayed by Professor Johnson in this study of preaching and preachers: both old and new. 'Since God commissions and sends preachers (Rom 10:15; Matt 28:18-20), the right to define the purpose of preaching is His.' p 63

Calvinistic preaching contends that God be glorified through proclamation. Only as and when God is justified, fallen man's need for salvation is exposed. One surefire way of achieving this end is in taking the text as primary source. '...the apostolic preacher must be prepared to answer to his Master as one found faithful in administering his stewardship, both preserving and propagating the message of life without modifying its content.' p 65

'Biblicism: the assumption that a concept must be stated in so many words in the Bible in order for it to attain the status of a biblical doctrine.' Michael Horton As an example of this failure to read Scripture correctly, Johnson references John the Baptist: 'But Jesus made no mention of the imminent judgment on the wicked, the motif that was central to John's expectation and message. Was John, then, a false prophet? What John needed to learn, as did Jesus' disciples at a later point (Acts 1: 6-8), was that God reserves the right to fulfill His promises in His own way, even if His ways should contradict our natural, normal, ordinary, literal reading of those promises.' p 143

The indicative, what we ought to believe, is followed by the imperative, how we ought to live. Observance of the Word brings believers comfort and assurance. 'The apostolic model of parenesis (exhortation) in the NT grounds believer's obligations in the Gospel itself, showing how the indicatives describing Christ's saving work precede and entail the imperatives that define our believing response to His mercy.' p 42 We may safely grow in grace knowing all we are called to do, our Lord did and said, and was repeated in word and deed by the apostles, to our exclusive benefit and instruction.

'God's truth in Christ exposes and refutes false ideas about the nature of the divine, the nature of humanity, and the purpose of the universe.' p 65 This may mean that not only sin, but subjective reality is to be combatted in the walk of a Christian. The problem is the human heart settled in opposition to God. It appears even '...when Paul challenges the mature [Gk: teleios] at Philippi to share his recognition that he has not yet been perfected [Gk: teleioo], Phil 3:15.' p 66 Thus sound teaching and admonition combine to alter one's wrong life perspectives - only then effectively altering the subjective Christian experience consistently, effecting sanctification.

The hermeneutical model that Johnson has described so glowingly is truly the heart and soul of this exploration. To the evidently hard-of-hearing, as I myself once was, there comes the discovery of a lifetime in the connecting of what once was heard and knew to be true, to this credible book. Much to my surprise the biblical-theological understanding of the Bible's message is completely familiar, but also makes previously veiled portions of Scripture, such as prophecy and fulfillment, altogether a whole lot more discernable as truth the whole counsel of God.

'The redemptive events narrated in the OT had a symbolic depth that (meant) with the coming of Christ, physical OT types and prophecies are fulfilled in ways that transcend the physical.' p 137

Generating unbelievable examples from passages that I thought I had a full grasp on, Professor Johnson applies this model in such a way that the thoughtful seeker of truth comes not only to appreciate, but admire as the rich topography of Biblical Theology unfolds. Johnson interacts with the major scholarship of evangelical hermeneutics and drives home a real desire to see a homiletical correspondent to the 'all Scripture is given by inspiration of God.' This sizeable theological treatise commands much appreciation, as the rich fabric woven is most intimately God-exalting and unquestionably one of the best resources available on the hermeneutical subject.

'The Bible is not a self-help book. To preach what people should be and do and yet not mention Him who enables their accomplishment warps the biblical message.' Bryan Chapell, Christ-Centered Preaching p 277

What is the purpose of preaching within the worship and ministry of the Christian church? Is it to teach those gathered in worship more information about Jesus? Is it to teach about the impact of a particular ministry, such as a community project the local church is involved with, or maybe of a missionary they support in service in some far-off part of the world? Is the purpose of preaching to inspire the listeners in some way? Is it to give them encouragement to become actively involved in bringing peace and justice into the world?

All of the options I've mentioned may be valid, but they all are secondary to a greater purpose. I believe that the primary purpose of preaching is to proclaim Christ, and to do so in such a way as to emphasize the redemptive work that God has done in him, and him alone, which was God's plan before the creation of the world. And this same perspective is the one taught by Dennis Johnson in Him We Proclaim: Preaching Christ from all the Scriptures.

Johnson is firmly anchored in what is known as the Redemptive-Historical understanding of the Bible. He reads and preaches the Bible from a perspective that expects the Bible to reveal Christ and his uniquely redemptive work, either directly or indirectly, from the opening words of Genesis through the closing words of Revelation. He believes that it is possible to preach "in such a way that our hearers are led to Jesus as the climax toward whom every Scripture drives, and to do so with integrity, accountability and credibility," (272)

Johnson recognizes that the redemptive work of Christ is not the unifying element of preaching for some preachers and/or their faith traditions, and that there are preachers for whom this emphasis is not "on their radar," so to speak. He looks back to the preaching of Peter and Paul, in the book of Acts, to show us that Christ's finished work was the primary focus of their preaching and that this focus remains relevant and appropriate for the church today. He calls the preaching of Peter and Paul "apostolic, Christocentric preaching" and he devotes the first portion of the book to making a case for this type of preaching in the church today. In doing so he reviews the work of the apostles and then explores the ways in which the church has historically interacted with their model, including both its rejection and later recovery.

After making what I believe to be a compelling case for apostolic, Christocentric preaching Johnson shifts to giving practical instruction in how it can be done, which is the part of the book that I found to be overflowing with wisdom for the modern preacher. The idea suggested in the subtitle of the book "Preaching Christ from all the Scriptures," that all of scripture is filled with Christ, and filled in such a way that it can be preached to a modern congregation, may seem to be an impossible one. Preaching Christ from Chronicles? Preaching Christ from Psalm 102 or 113? Preaching Christ from Revelation 12? The Bible is filled with page after page after page of many types of literature, written by many human authors, over a span of thousands of years. Can Christ, and particularly his redemptive work, be found and made known in all of it? To these questions Johnson offers a resounding "Yes!" as he points out the landmarks that would guide a preacher desiring to follow the redemptive-historical path.

The last two chapters of the book are titled "Preaching the Promises" and "Preaching the Promise Keeper." In these chapters Johnson deals in turn with the various literary genres of the Old and New Testaments. Working with an example of each genre, i.e. historical narrative, law, wisdom, poetry and prophecy for the Old, and gospel narrative, parable, epistolary doctrine, epistolary exhortation, wisdom and prophetic vision for the New, he demonstrates the ways in which each sample text bring forth the redemptive work of Christ. And for his examples Johnson hasn't picked texts in which Christ is patently obvious, but he uses examples such as 2 Samuel 16:1-14, Proverbs 15:27 and Luke 16:1-13.

In the example from each genre Johnson explains in very real ways the markers that point towards Christ and God's eternal plan to redeem his people. To give further help to the preacher in understanding and applying the apostolic, Christocentric method he provides an outline of what a sermon shaped on the sample texts could look like. Johnson's method and purpose are not merely theoretical, but he is also attentive to the fact that all preaching should speak with relevance to the lives of those listening in our congregations each time we gather for worship.

I could go on and on about how good this book is and the very gentle and practical wisdom it offers to the preacher who would seek to make the finished work of Christ the unifying point of their preaching. Instead I will conclude with two final thoughts, as I commend all who "preach," be it vocationally or in their living as a disciple in the world, to consider their own work on behalf of God. The first is related to the title of the book, Him We Proclaim, which comes from Paul's letter to the Colossians.

The singular work that God did through Christ is the only bridge in which a sinful man or woman can cross over to be united with a holy God. This is the message that must continually be brought to the world. The Gospel has many things to give shape to our lives in the love of God, but none of it matters absent the redemptive work of Christ.

And the second reason we need to frequently and joyfully preach the redemption known in Christ is that while living in a fallen and broken world we are bombarded with things that push us away from him. All believers in Jesus have known times when their mouths professed faith but their hearts were going in the opposite direction. And those living without a saving faith in Jesus are not even aware of the barriers in their lives blocking their understanding of God's word. In either case these words of Johnson are true:

"[The] defenses of the human heart are harder fortifications to breach than the massive walls of unscaleable stone that encircled ancient Jericho. Yet, the apostolic preacher has in his arsenal the very weapons that can pierce stone-hard hearts and invade spiritual death with new life: the gospel of Christ, carried forward by the invincible Spirit of Christ." (90)

As you read this book and apply its principles may you know God's power and peace as he reveals Christ to you in all of scripture, so that you may carry his redemptive work more fully in the world.

Buy it, read it, and be blessed. It is a dry read, but the content is incredible!!