Journal: Southeastern Theological Review
Volume: STR 13:2 (Fall 2022)
Article: Introduction: Preaching The Word
Author: Ronjour Locke

STR 13:2 (Fall 2022) p. 1

Introduction: Preaching The Word

Ronjour Locke

Guest Editor

It has been said that, in the task of exegesis, context is king. While such an adage is generally helpful, further considerations reveal its shortcomings. What entails a context? The common usage of the term “context” refers to the literary setting of a particular passage. The literary setting, however, is situated in several other contexts. The biblical author writes the passage in a cultural context, one which exists in a particular historical context. He also writes in light of the canonical context. The biblical writer understood his message in the light of what has been revealed in Scripture. He writes as a member of the community of God, with a particular story and tradition. He writes to this community as a people consecrated from the world to be God’s possession and witness to the world. Each of these contexts has varying levels of impact on the author’s writing of the passage. The aforementioned adage, therefore, should be amended. The metaphor should not depict one reigning, monolithic context but a multifaceted senate of contexts, each guiding the exegete to discern the author’s intended meaning.

The task of preaching brings additional levels of complexity. Because of the nature of the Scriptures to speak to generations well beyond the original (cf. Rom 15:4; 1 Cor 10:6, 11; 2 Tim 3:16–17), the preacher must not only recognize the Scriptures’ place in its literary, historical, cultural, and canonical contexts; he must also proclaim the Scriptures to his contemporary context. This includes the history from the time of the Scriptures to today. This also includes the eschatological context; that is, the preacher speaks both in light of where he and the church are in the plan of God and where they will be in the age to come.

How does the preacher preach with these contexts in mind? The articles in this journal provide help. Regarding exegesis, Eric C. Redmond, Professor of Bible at Moody Bible Institute and Associate Pastor of Preaching and Teaching at Calvary Memorial Church in Oak Park, IL, and Ryan Ross, Ph.D. Candidate at Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary and Pastor of Discipleship at Veritas Church in Fayetteville, NC, each write on the exegesis of the Psalms for preachers. Redmond investigates the use of Psalm 68 in Ephesians 4 and demonstrates that Paul draws from the meaning of the psalm to recognize Christ as the

STR 13:2 (Fal...