Philip Arthur Bence PhD Thesis - Research@StAndrews:FullText

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detailing the theologies of preaching.
With this consensus in hand, it is possible to state
principles which broadly govern the teaching of
preaching. In each case, selected survey responses
illustrate how these principles operate in current
teaching of preaching. At this point, we reconsider this
chapter's questions, looking, where possible, for
consensus.
A. Sources
What is the source of preaching? Martyn Lloyd—Jones
answered, 'The Bible, which is the Word of God'. James
Stewart: 'The Bible, whose every page points to Jesus
Christ'. Karl Rahner: 'The church's God—given
tradition, whose climax was reached in the New Testament
era, but which has developed authoritatively to this day
(and will continue to do so)'. Paul Tillich: 'Anything
can be a bearer of the holy; preachers should draw on all
symbols which present the Ultimate to man'.6'B
All four theologians, in relation to this question,
share a partial affinity with the position of Karl Barth.
His answer to this question can be summarized as follows:
God himself is the source of preaching. Without
God's self—revelation, man would have nothing substantive
to preach. God's Word, his description continues, is
threefold. e9 First, God reveals himself supremely in
his Son, Jesus Christ.'° The nature of that statement
disallows its objective proof. This 'hypothesis',
however, lies at the very root of Christianity.'"1