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by Frank J. Matera (Author)
Much has been written about the life, ministry, and theology of the apostle Paul. But what about Paul specifically as a preacher? How did he understand his commission from the risen Lord Jesus to preach the gospel, and how did he put it into practice? Further, what lessons can contemporary preachers learn from Paul about the theology and practice of preaching to help them be more faithful messengers of God's Word?
As a leading Pauline scholar and practicing pastor, Frank Matera has considered these questions, and he offers this short, accessible book to pastors and students as wise and helpful guidance. Matera explores a Pauline theology of preaching, focusing on three main questions: Why did Paul preach? What did he preach? And how did he preach? He also explores Paul's preaching as the ministry of the new covenant. He identifies and explores seven themes of Paul's preaching, which in turn offer key practical insights for preaching in a Pauline way. Readers are encouraged to "preach from the cross," making the crucified Christ their focus and their model, demonstrating what they preach by their own cruciform lives.
Back Jacket
"A carefully nuanced presentation of Paul the preacher and the message he preached"
In Preaching from the Cross, Frank Matera explores Paul's understanding of his own preaching and relates Paul's theology of proclamation to preaching today.
"Anyone who reads and absorbs this small but significant--and deeply spiritual--book will be a better interpreter of Paul the preacher and a better preacher of the powerful gospel of the cross and resurrection that Paul proclaimed."
--Michael J. Gorman, St. Mary's Seminary & University
"Matera has brought a lifelong passion for Paul to this powerful book, directed to all Christian preachers and readers. The book contains a carefully nuanced presentation of Paul the preacher and the message he preached: the new creation made universally available in and through the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ."
--Francis J. Moloney, SDB, Catholic Theological College, University of Divinity, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
"In this unique, integrative volume, a distinguished biblical theologian and experienced practitioner of preaching articulates the theology of preaching he discerns in the Pauline corpus. Readers called to the ministry of proclamation will come away with a renewed sense of the vital importance of this lifelong and life-changing task and invaluable food for thought about what it means to preach with integrity in a Pauline manner."
--Frances Taylor Gench, Union Presbyterian Seminary
"This volume explores Paul's preaching from the cross through his theology of proclamation. Focusing on the why, what, and how of Paul's preaching, Matera presents comprehensive theses for integrating Paul's gift of preaching into a necessary challenge for incisive and active homiletics today."
--Sherri Brown, Creighton University
"An insightful exposition of Paul's theology and practice of preaching, covering all aspects of this significant but overlooked topic. This book should be required reading for all preachers of the Word from any denomination. It also offers a wider audience a superb summary of Paul's unparalleled proclamation of the gospel of Jesus Christ."
--Ronald D. Witherup, PSS, St. Mary's Seminary & University
Author Biography
Frank J. Matera (PhD, Union Theological Seminary, Richmond) is professor emeritus of The Catholic University of America in Washington, DC, where he taught New Testament for many years. He recently served as pastor at St. Mary's Church in Simsbury, Connecticut. A past president of the Catholic Biblical Association of America, he has written commentaries on Romans, Galatians, and 2 Corinthians as well as volumes on Pauline theology, New Testament theology, Christology, and ethics.
