Edmund P. Clowney
Reviewed by: Eric Watkins
Preaching Christ in All of Scripture, by Edmund P. Clowney. Published by Crossway Books, 2003. Paperback, 189 pages, list price $11.19. Reviewed by OP pastor Eric Watkins.
Edmund Clowney has once again penned a helpful work on preaching that any minister of the gospel would do well to read. Preaching Christ in All of Scripture begins with two chapters (one suggesting a hermeneutical approach to seeing Christ in all of Scripture; the second suggesting ways of preaching Christ from the text) that would be instructive to any student of preaching. Following this are thirteen of Clowney's own edifying sermons, in which he models his approach to Christocentric preaching.
Clowney demonstrates that Christ-centered preaching is not at odds with application-centered preaching, "for now we present Jesus both in what he says and does to reveal himself, and in what he says and does to direct us" (p. 49).
My criticisms of this book are minor. Many of the references are dated, and some are a bit technical. While the book seems to be aimed at students of preaching (which includes preachers!), it is less of a "how to" book than one might expect. Even the instruction on how to prepare a Christ-centered sermon contains more exegesis than mechanical suggestions. This, however, may not really be a fault, for Clowney seeks to demonstrate that preaching Christ in all of Scripture is nothing more than to "preach Christ as the text presents him" (p. 11).
Reformed pastors are once again indebted to Clowney's work, and may they repay that debt week after week as they faithfully proclaim the Lord of the Word from the Word of the Lord.
September 24, 2023
September 17, 2023
The Sabbath as Rest and Hope for the People of God
September 10, 2023
Old Made New: A Guide to the New Testament Use of the Old Testament
September 03, 2023
August 27, 2023
August 20, 2023
Bully Pulpit: Confronting the Problem of Spiritual Abuse in the Church
August 13, 2023
Who Needs the Church? Why We Need the Church (and Why the Church Needs Us)
© 2023 The Orthodox Presbyterian Church