Philip Arthur Bence PhD Thesis - Research@StAndrews:FullText

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become revelation. Human words, subsequent to the New
Testament era, as in preaching, while subordinate to the
revelation received through both the Revealed Word
(Jesus) and the Written Word (Scripture), can become
channels of that same revelat1on.1
As with Scripture, the words of preaching possess no
power of their own, but "when and where God pleases,"
they become God's Word."'
Once again in a different form [as Scripture
differs from the revelation in Jesus], but here
too neither diminished nor weakened, we have to
do really and truly with the one integral Word
of God, with God Himself, with Jesus Christ
through the Holy Ghost, just as certainly as
Holy Scripture, and in and through it God's
self-revelation, is given to the Church.17
Through God's gracious choice, words about God, based on
the Written Word, become words from God Himself, the
Preached Word of God. Barth approvingly quoted from the
1562 Helvetic Confession, "Praedicatio verbi Del est
verbum Dei."16'
Barth thus elevates preaching above and beyond
ordinary human speech. He drew an analogy, which,
parallelling reality as he saw it, highly exalts
preaching. In the Revealed, Written, and Preached Word,
we "encounter the same fundamental determinations and
mutual relationships" as seen in Father, Son, and Holy
Spirit, the Triune God.'"'
While lifting preaching to this highest honor, Barth
countered with a sobering balance. The human preacher
must always remember the sovereignty of God and His Word.