Preaching and Teaching from the Old Testament

Preaching and Teaching from the Old Testament. By Walter C. Kaiser Jr. Grand Rapids: Baker, 2003, 222 pp., $14.99 paper.

Kaiser's purpose is to show how to preach and teach from the OT (p. 10). There are two sections in the book. The author titles the first section "The Need to Preach and Teach from the Old Testament." Actually, he does much more than establish need in these chapters.

His first chapter is on need. Kaiser asserts that we need the OT because it is the "powerful word of God" (p. 16). Furthermore, he insists we must preach from the older testament because it "leads us to the Messiah" (p. 20). Also, it has primacy for Christians because it deals with questions of life (p. 23) and it is the only Bible the early Christians had (p. 24).

Kaiser follows with a chapter on "The Problem of the Old Testament for Today." In this chapter he raises several questions. "Is the Old Testament the master problem of theology?" Kaiser says "yes," and for that reason argues that we must study and preach the OT. "Does the Old Testament have a center?" Again, Kaiser says, "yes!" he insists the promise theme is the center of OT theology. "Does the Old Testament exemplify legalism or grace?" Kaiser makes his case for grace. "Is the Old Testament to be made over into the New Testament?" he says the OT is "part of a unified plan of God for all times and all peoples" (p. 37).

The next chapter, "The Task of Preaching and Teaching from the Old Testament for Today," JH probably mistitlod, This chapter jg not ao much on the task of preaching as it is on the need for the OT, As in his first chapter, Kaiser again says we need to hear from the OT because it peints UB to Christ. Also, he suggests that we need the OT because it gives us a balanced view of God.

Finally, in this first section of his book Kaiser includes a chapter on "The Art nnd Science of Expository Preaching." Here he abbreviates IOr the reader the principles he discusses in detail in his well-regarded book Toward an Exegctical Theology: lliblica/. Exegesis for Preaching and Teaching (Grand Kapids: Baker, 19,81).

In the second section of the book, ho directs his attention to the purpose of the book; to show how to preach and teach from the QT, In this portion, utilising sermon outlines and in some cases whole sermons, he explains how to preach from narrative texts, wisdom books, the prophets, the laments, the Torah, praises, and apocalyptic literature.

The strength of this book is that it is slavishly accurate to the biblical text. Kaiser is very sensitive to the various genres of the OT. Furthermore, he not only writes about how to preach but includes sermon outlines and some whole sermons demonstrating the method he introduces. In his chapter on how to preach from narrative literature, he summarizes the principles detailed in Robert Alter's widely acclaimed The Art of Biblical Narrative. Kaiser's explanation, however, is far more readable. he also gives a very helpful explanation on what constitutes a "judgment prophecy" and then shows how to develop a preaching outline from a judgment text (pp. 102-3). Finally, he offers a useful commentary on the difference between descriptive and declarative praise. He then illustrates the difference with a sermon on Psalm 84 (pp. 157-60).

An obvious limitation of this book is that Kaiser only shows how to use a hybrid of the "key word" method taught by Lloyd Perry (A Manual for Biblical Preaching [Grand Rapids: Baker, 1965]). There are no inductive outlines or sermons in this book or sermons reflecting any other method.

On occasion his interpretative biases sneak into his suggestions. he argues, for example, that the Song of Solomon "should be taught and preached" from the perspective of three main characters, not just two (p. 95). Obviously, there are some fine OT scholars who argue that there are only two main characters.

On the whole, however, Kaiser's book would be an excellent addition to any practitioner's library. I highly recommend this book to serious expositors who desire to unlock the treasures of the OT for their listeners.

George Kenworthy

Wayzata Evangelical Free Church, Plymouth, MN

Copyright Evangelical Theological Society Mar 2004
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