TMS.Edu Volume 27 Fall 2016 Number 2 the Master’S Seminary Journal
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Volume 27, Number 2 Fall 2016 A Hermeneutical Evaluation of the Christocentric Hermeneutic ABNER CHOU From Old Testament Text to Sermon BRYAN MURPHY Christ-Centered Preaching: An Overview RICHARD L. MAYHUE Israel’s Repentance and the Kingdom of God MICHAEL J. VLACH This Just In: David’s Victory over Goliath Was not an Upset GREGORY H. HARRIS TMS.edu Volume 27 Fall 2016 Number 2 The Master’s Seminary Journal CONTENTS Editorial ................................................................................................................ 111-12 Keith Essex A Hermeneutical Evaluation of the Christocentric Hermeneutic .................... 113-39 Abner Chou From Old Testament Text to Sermon ................................................................ 141-50 Bryan Murphy Christ-Centered Preaching: An Overview ........................................................ 151-60 Richard L. Mayhue Israel’s Repentance and the Kingdom of God .................................................... 161-86 Michael J. Vlach This Just In: David’s Victory over Goliath Was not an Upset .......................... 187-217 Gregory H. Harris Reviews ................................................................................................................. 219-29 Greg Harris The Bible Expositor’s Handbook—Old Testament Digital Edition ........................ 219-22 Reviewed by William D. Barrick Steve Swartz Shattered Shepherds ............................................................................................... 222-24 Reviewed by Gregory H. Harris Sinclair Ferguson The Whole Christ ................................................................................................. 224-27 Reviewed by Paul Shirley John A. Beck Discovery House Bible Atlas ................................................................................. 227-28 Reviewed by Michael A. Grisanti John A. Beck The Baker Book of Bible Charts, Maps, and Timelines .......................................... 228-29 Reviewed by Michael A. Grisanti MSJ 27/2 (Fall 2016) 111–12 EDITORIAL Due only to the graceful provision of the Lord, The Master’s Seminary (TMS) completed thirty years of ministry in June 2016, and The Master’s Seminary Journal (MSJ) is completing twenty-seven years of publication with this issue. For these bountiful blessings, we can only give thanks to our great God. TMS was founded to be used of the Lord to train men that He had called to the pastorate for the ministry of expository preaching. From its beginning, TMS has sought to train men in text- driven biblical exposition. This expository ministry is based on a rigorous study of the biblical languages, the biblical text, historical and systematic theology, and pas- toral ministry because an expository preacher must have a solid exegetical, theolog- ical, and practical foundation based on a historical-grammatical hermeneutic. In 1992, the faculty of TMS authored Rediscovering Expository Preaching (since reti- tled, Preaching) to clearly state the biblical mandate and present a basic method of scriptural exposition. The school continues to stand on the principles and practices presented in that volume. In 1990, MSJ was formed to impact the greater ecclesiasti- cal world with articles that explained biblical truth, interacted with current exegetical and theological discussions, and applied the lessons to practical ministry situations. In all of this, the Lord’s hand has sustained the work of TMS and MSJ. Nearly eight years after the founding of TMS, four years after the beginning of MSJ, and two years after the publication of Rediscovering Expository Preaching, a new homiletic approach was introduced (or according to its exponents, “reintro- duced”) into broader evangelicalism. This homiletic goes by the label “Christ-Cen- tered Preaching” and was popularized in a 1994 book by Bryan Chapell, Christ-Cen- tered Preaching: Redeeming the Expository Sermon (a second edition was released in 2005). More than any other book, Chapell’s book has impacted the homiletical discussion and Chapell has become the leading spokesman for the Christ-Centered Preaching movement among evangelicals who affirm biblical inerrancy and the need for expository preaching. Sydney Greidanus (Preaching Christ from the Old Testa- ment, 1999), Graeme Goldsworthy (Preaching the Whole Bible as Christian Scrip- ture, 2000), and Dennis Johnson (Him We Proclaim, 2007) have authored further influential volumes that promote the Christocentric, gospel-centered homiletic as central to Christian preaching. Popular preachers like Tim Keller, D. A. Carson, and John Piper also promote and model Christ-Centered Preaching. To some degree, all Christ-Centered Preaching advocates argue that a sermon without Jesus Christ, the gospel, and the grace of God being mentioned is sub-Christian. 111 112 | Editorial The continuing and growing influence of the Christ-Centered Preaching move- ment in contemporary evangelicalism led the TMS faculty to address this topic in the 2016 Richard L. Mayhue Faculty Lectures. The fruit of these lectures is presented in the MSJ articles that follow in this issue. The reader will soon glean that TMS pre- sents a “friendly” critique of our fellow-Christians’ attempts to promote biblical ex- position, the preaching of the gospel, and the exaltation of Jesus Christ. However, we do have reservations about the theological system that undergirds most of the propo- nents. Moreover, a Christocentric homiletic has historically come from or has led to an allegorical hermeneutic. My colleagues argue that to guard against a subtle or overt allegorical interpretation a rigorous historical-grammatical hermeneutic must undergird all of our expository preaching. Jesus Christ can rightfully be discovered in many OT and NT texts, but He must not be artificially imposed on those texts where He is not presented. Finally, the NT itself does not always preach OT texts in a Christ-centered manner; the NT uses the OT in a number of ways. A further reason for this lectureship is to make sure that our TMS motto, “We Preach Christ,” is understood in its proper context. We affirm that the NT does speak of the need to focus on Jesus Christ when the gospel is preached. In an evangelistic context, the sin of man and the good news of what God has done for sinners through the person and work of Jesus Christ is central to our proclamation. As we enter into the five-hundredth year of the anniversary of the Protestant Reformation, TMS once again dedicates itself to the truth of solus Christus (Christ alone). There is no other way of salvation given by God except through the work of Christ applied to the sinner through the agency of the Holy Spirit. This does not mean that every biblical exposi- tion is Christ-centered, but that every biblical exposition of the gospel must be Christ- centered. This theme of “We Preach Christ” will be explored further in March 2017 at the annual Shepherds’ Conference at Grace Community Church, cosponsored by TMS. We invite you to come to the conference. But in the meantime, we present for your information, edification, and consideration the following articles from the TMS faculty. Keith Essex [email protected] Professor of Bible Exposition The Master’s Seminary MSJ 27/2 (Fall 2016) 113–39 A HERMENEUTICAL EVALUATION OF THE CHRISTOCENTRIC HERMENEUTIC Abner Chou Professor of Bible The Master’s University How to study and teach the Bible are of utmost importance for a pastor. The Christocentric hermeneutic has proposed a modification to a grammatical-historical hermeneutical approach. This article maintains that such an alteration is not scrip- turally warranted and that the grammatical-historical method is not only justified by Scripture but also more than sufficient to discover the glories of Christ as perfectly presented in God’s Word. Accordingly, a Christ-centered ministry not only honors Christ in the pulpit by proclaiming Him but also in the study by handling His Word the way He demands. * * * * * Preaching occupies a central place in the pastor’s ministry. It is mandated by God (2 Tim 4:1–2) for every season (2 Tim 4:2b) in order to feed and equip the flock (2 Tim 4:2b; cf. Eph 4:12; John 21:15). It is vital for the church (Eph 4:12–13), piv- otal in one’s ministry (1 Tim 4:16), and of the utmost importance to God (2 Tim 4:1; cf. 2 Tim. 2:14–15). For this reason, God demands we rightly divide His Word (2 Tim 2:15). We need to care about interpreting the text rightly as much as God does. However, what does it mean to “get it right”? Some have argued that preaching that is not Christocentric is sub-Christian. It falls short of Paul’s declaration that he preaches Christ and Him crucified (1 Cor 2:2). Such an allegation is of the utmost seriousness as it strikes at the core of one of the most important tasks for a pastor. This dilemma illustrates the need not only to have an exegetical process or her- meneutical knowledge but, even more, hermeneutical conviction. We need to be con- vinced our hermeneutical approach is one that rightly divides the Word of Truth. The goal of this article is to evaluate the claims of the Christocentric hermeneutic to that end, to give us confidence and boldness that a grammatical-historical method not only honors what God has commanded us to do, but also brings the greatest glory to Christ. 113 114 | A Hermeneutical Evaluation of the Christocentric Hermeneutic Hermeneutical Definitions As we begin to investigate the Christocentric method, we need to be familiar with two hermeneutical concepts: