Tag Archives: preachng

Doctrine of Proclamation (4)

This is the final installment on the Biblical Doctrine of Proclamation, our study of the words descriptive of the kind of preaching in which inspired men in the first century engaged and of which God approved. The references are all found in the book of Acts.

Teachers (DIDASKALA) – 13:1: This word is variously translated in the New Testament as master (Matt. 8:19, of Christ; Matt. 10: 24, of any teacher; John 3:10, and of the Jewish Pharisees), teacher, and doctor of the Jewish law (Luke 2:46). According to Thayer it means one who is fitted to teach or thinks himself so. This word does not inherently imply good or bad, only the context can determine which (cf. II Tim. 2:11 with 4:3).  

peter_preachingA master is one who is accomplished in his work.  A master woodwright has reached the point where his knowledge and skill is of the highest quality.  Those who take upon themselves the grave responsibility of teaching publicly, must be masters, hence eminently knowledgeable and skilled, in the use of scripture, language, reason, and persuasion.  A master woodwright whose work is shabby would not last long in his trade.  A preacher who unskillfully uses the tools of his trade can cause untold eternal harm to precious and growing souls.

Reasoned (DIELEGETO) – 17:2:
The Analytical Greek Lexicon defines this word as “to discourse, argue, reason; to address, speak to; contend, dispute.” Preachers of the gospel are to reason “out of the scriptures” (Acts 17:2), reason daily (Acts 19:9), and reason with others as long as it takes (Acts 20:9- cf. I Tim. 4:2).   Paul reasoned of righteousness, temperance, and of judgment to come and it caused Felix to tremble (Acts 24:25; II Tim. 4:2).

This word justifies logical, necessary inference from what the scriptures imply.  To reason is to be in a mental confrontation.  Paul compares the Christian life to warfare. Hence we are to put on the whole armor of God, including the sword of the Spirit, “which is the word of God” (Eph. 6:17).  We are to battle against “spiritual wickedness in high places (Eph. 6:12; II Cor. 10:4,5).

The Lord’s church grew when it engaged in rigorous, spiritual battle with the religious error that surrounded the camp of the saints.  The Lord’s church today has ceased to grow as it has in the past not because it hasn’t compromised, but because it has called a truce with error and the errorists have infiltrated–no, rather, have been invited into–the city of God.  We need more men skilled in the ability to reason and who will confront, not coddle, the pervasive errors of the day.

Opening (DIANOIGO) – 17:3: This word means to “open thoroughly, literally (as a firstborn) or figurative (to expound).  It is also used of the ears of the deaf being opened (Mark 7:34).  Gospel preaching should enlighten the hearer with a better understanding of God’s will.  Preaching should be plain enough for all to understand (Hab. 2:2).

Alleging (PARATITHEMI) – 17:3:
 In Acts 16:34 the Philippian jailer is said to set meat before Paul and Silas. The ideal then, is to “set before.”  Gospel preachers are to make plain (DIANOIGO) the message and set it before the hearers.  While, as stated earlier, the sermon should not be aimed at simpletons, neither should one try to overwhelm the hearer with verbiage.  And yet, the sermon should challenge the hearer to grow in grace and knowledge (II Pet. 3:18).  If the gospel is plainly set before the hearers, then it becomes their responsibility to respond to it (Rom. 10:13-17).

Declare (KATANGELLO) – 17:23:
To “declare” is “to announce, proclaim, laud, celebrate.” Thayer defines it as “to announce, declare, promulgate, make known, to proclaim, publish with the intended idea of celebrating, commending, openly praising.” We should never apologize for the preaching of the gospel regardless of who it may offend. What should we be ashamed to preach? The resurrection (Acts 4:2), the word of God (Acts 13:5), that men have sins and that there is a plan by which they can be forgiven (Acts 13:38), Jesus (Acts 17:3), God (Acts 17:23), faith (Rom. 1:8), the testimony of God (I Cor. 2:1), the gospel (I Cor. 9:14), and the Lord’s death {Lord’s supper} (I Cor. 11:26)?  How can we be ashamed to speak these things? “And oh may this my glory be, that Christ is not ashamed of me!” (Tillet S. Tedlie).  

In a world where even the most offensive acts are celebrated on the air waves, in magazines, by educational institutions, and even in the highest political offices in the land, gospel preachers need now, as much as ever, to publish the good news of the glad tidings of salvation. Preaching the gospel of Christ is an awesome responsibility that no one should take lightly. Precious souls lie in the balance. When the truth of the gospel is forcefully proclaimed today with the same fervor, strength of reason, fearless confidence, and sober dignity that it was proclaimed with in the first century, souls will be added to the Lord’s church and God will be exalted in the minds and hearts of men. May the Lord raise up gospel preachers who will, with great courage, publish the message throughout the land.

Eric L. Padgett

Doctrine of Proclamation (3)

We continue our study of the words descriptive of the kind of preaching in which inspired men in the first century engaged and of which God approved. The references are all found in the book of Acts.

20400pPreached (EUENGELISATO) – 8:35: This word “is almost always used of the good news concerning the Son of God as proclaimed in the gospel” (except in I Thess. 3:6).  Observe that the preaching was from the scriptures. The scriptures make us wise unto salvation (II Tim. 3:15). The completed revelation of God’s word forms the body of doctrine from which sermons are to be preached (Eph. 4:11-15; Rom. 6:16,17; Tit. 2:1; Gal. 1:6-9, 23; Jude 3; II Tim. 4:1-5; 3:16,17). Note, too, that Jesus was preached from the OT. This teaching from the Old Testament about Jesus led to teaching doctrine (e.g., the necessity of baptism).  Preaching Jesus means preaching the good doctrine.  Those who teach other than wholesome doctrine are to be withdrawn from (I Tim. 6:3-5).

Proving (SUMBIBAZON) – 9:22: According to Thayer this means to put together in one’s mind, to prove, to demonstrate. Paul so thoroughly constructed an undeniable argument for the deity of Jesus that it confounded the Jews. Christians are commanded to prove all things (I Thess. 5:21). Thus, Christianity is rational and logical (Rom. 12:1,2). Preachers of the gospel must give sufficient thought to the sermon they preach to make it logically coherent.  The sermon is to come to a point.  They must also prepare to deliver it in a way that convinces and moves the hearer to respond.  Unprepared delivery takes away from even the most well designed lesson.

Disputed (SUNEZETEI) – 9:29: To dispute is to seek, ask, or inquire with another; deliberate, debate, to hold discourse with, argue, reason, to question, dispute, cavil. This word is used of the Pharisees as they “questioned” with Jesus, tempting Him by seeking a sign (Mark 8:11). It is also used of Stephen in Acts 8:9. Verse 10 states, “And they were not able to resist the wisdom and the spirit by which he spake.” It is not wrong to debate, as long as the truth is preached in love, both for the truth itself and for the souls of men (Eph. 4:15). Alexander Campbell wrote of the controversial nature of Jesus in the very first issue of the Millennial Harbinger that Jesus “never sheathed the sword of the Spirit while He lived; He drew it in the banks of the Jordan and threw the scabbard away.”

Rehearsed (ARXAMEVOS) – 11:4: “Peter confines himself to a careful recital of those incidents mentioned in the preceding chapter…” There is great good accomplished by the rehearsal or review of past events. It is especially scriptural to preach the same lessons once and again. Paul wrote, “To write the same things to you, to me indeed is not greivious, but for you it is safe” (Phil. 3:1). Every preacher should only have one gospel sermon. There may be different ways of presenting the same message, but the message of salvation should always be there, always designed to instruct the hearer to render obedience to Christ.  

Paul’s wrote: “And I, brethren, when I came to you, came not with excellency of speech or of wisdom, declaring unto you the testimony of God. For I determined not to know any thing among you, save Jesus Christ, and him crucified” (I Cor. 2:1-2). Preachers should not let their desire for novelty or style interfere with the simple proclamation of the good news of Jesus Christ. Never sacrifice truth for invention or entertainment. Worship is not a spectator’s sport or a sport of any sort. If the hearer is not moved by the stirring truth of the gospel powerfully and rationally delivered, regardless of how many times it has been heard, then anything else that may move the hearer, moves the hearer for the wrong reason.

Expounded (EXETITHETO) – 11:4: According to the Analytical Greek Lexicon, this word means “to place outside, put forth; to expose; to set forth, declare, explain.” This word gives authority for interpretation. Indeed, without interpreting the Bible we could not understand it. Preachers are in the business of explaining the scriptures (cf. Neh. 8, esp, v. 8). Aquilla and Priscilla expounded the way of God more perfectly to Apollos (18:26) and Paul expounded the truth to all that would come unto him in Rome when he was in his first captivity (28:23). This all implies that one has studied the word and has garnered something from it to present.

More next week.

Eric L. Padgett