Customer Reviews

Preaching Jesus: New Directions for Homiletics in Hans Frei's Postliberal Theology

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Campbell's Preaching Jesus is a fine introduction to postliberal theology as it relates to the task and privilege of preaching scripture. He offers a nice, succinct review of Barth's approach to preaching, later interpreted by Hans Frei, et al in the so-called postliberal, anti-apologetic vein. Campbell makes a compelling case for a dogmatic approach to vivid PROCLAMATION, contra an apologetic (in the classical theological sense of the word) approach to EXPLANATION. Furthermore, he clarifies an emphasis on narrative preaching, noting that the church is interested in a narrative homiletic -- not because stories in and of themselves are any more revelatory -- but because narrative is the primary truth-telling mode of the gospels. A fine PhD dissertation turned into a fine read for mainline preachers who need a recall on why preaching Jesus is an urgent, indispensable task.

This is a marvelous book that stimulates much thought about what to do on Sunday morning when you are in the pulpit and all those faces are looking at you hoping for some word from God. Frei, here, in Campbell's telling, is introduced in a marvelous way, perhaps in a more accessible way, than in any other place. Perhaps America's greatest theologian in the latter half of the twentieth century, but sadly little known and barely published, Frei's thought offers much grist for the thinker/ preacher's mill. Campbell's book is worth reading slowly and with great reflection. An outstanding resource for the pastor who wants not just to talk on Sunday morning, in a way that is clearly plageristic given all the resources for preaching these days, but instead to really "reflect" on what it means to speak of God, when we cannot-- and in our own authentic way. My copy is underlined, and highlighted and underlined again and again. Get the book and read it more than once--your preaching will be the better for it.