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UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH AFRICA UNIVERSITEIT VAN SUID-AFRIKA OFFICIAL STATEMENT AMPTELIKE VERKIARING JUDSON SHEPHARD LAKE HAS IN THE ACADEMIC YEAR 2002 COMPLIED WITH THE REQUIREMENTS FOR THE DEGREE OF i '- / N(S~flJEMBER 2003 v < ~ TJTLE OF THESIS: AN EVALUATION OF HADDON. THOD: AN EVANGELICAL PERSPECTIVE THESIS ACCEPTED ON: ~ REGISTRAR (ACADEMIC) PRETORIA, 2003-05-29 BDS/lsm-54 3308-681-8 THIS DOCUMENT IS ISSUED WITHOUT ALTERATION OR ERASURE AN EVALUATION OF HADDON ROBINSON'S HOMILETICAL METHOD: AN EVANGELICAL PERSPECTIVE by JUDSON SHEPHERD LAKE submitted in accordance with the requirements for the degree of DOCTOR OF THEOLOGY in the subject PRACTICAL THEOLOGY at UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH AFRICA PROMOTER: DR A G VANWYK MAY2003 ****************** SUMMARY AN EVALUATION OF HADDON ROBINSON'S HOMILETICAL METHOD: AN EVANGELICAL PERSPECTIVE by JS Lake for the degree of DOCTOR OF THEOLOGY in the subject of PRACTICAL THEOLOGY PROMOTER: DR A G VAN WYK SUMMARY OF RESEARCH For the last two decades Haddon Robinson's homiletic text Biblical Preaching has been a significant influence in evangelical homiletics. In an endeavor to evaluate the homiletic method within it, this study asked the following questions: What is Robinson's theological methodology and how does it affect his homiletical method? What is his hermeneutical methodology and how does it affect his homiletical method? These two questions lead into the main issue of this study expressed in two other questions: Is Robinson consistent with his theological and hermeneutical methodology in his homiletical method? What are the strengths and weaknesses of his ten-stage method? Based on these issues, the purpose of this study was to investigate Robinson's theological and hermeneutical methodology, evaluate his ten-stage method in light of this investigation, and based on any problematic areas, suggest pointers toward new theory and procedure for the enhancement of expository pedagogy. To provide a framework for this study, four homiletical paradigms in contemporary American homiletics were identified and explained. Robinson's method was found to be in one of these paradigms. With this framework in mind, Robinson's theological and hermeneutical methodology was investigated. Following this, his definition of expository preaching with its five components was set forth and investigated. It was found that Robinson's expository methodology as expressed in his view of Scripture, hermeneutics, and definition of expository preaching, is a consistent foundation for his ten-stage method. Nevertheless, several problematic issues were noted. Having investigated Robinson's expository methodology, this study formally evaluated his ten-stage method and found its center of gravity to be on the two center stages dealing with the homiletical idea and purpose statement. Furthermore, this evaluation found the ten stages to be consistent with Robinson's definition of expository preaching in its movement from interpretation to application. In seven of the stages, however, this study found deficiencies due to procedural weaknesses and a lack of theoretical focus. The study concluded with ten pointers based on the problem areas addressed throughout the investigation and evaluation. These pointers suggested a new theory and procedure to enhance expository pedagogy and practice. TABLE OF CONTENTS ACKNOWLEDGMENTS ..................................................... v Chapter I. INTRODUCTION ...................................................... 1 1.1 Who Is Haddon Robinson? ............................................ 1 1.2 Robinson's Theological Training ....................................... 4 1.3 The Evangelical Context of Robinson's Teaching ........................... 4 1.4 Two Editions of Biblical Preaching .................................... 14 1.5 Statement of the Problem ............................................ 15 1. 6 Purpose of the Study . 16 1. 7 Research Design . 17 1. 8 Limitations of the Study . 18 1.9 The Perspective of the Researcher ..................................... 19 II. THE CONTEMPORARY HOMILETICAL SCENE AND HADDON ROBINSON ... 20 2.1 Introduction ...................................................... 20 2.2 The Contemporary Scene ............................................ 20 2.2.1 Historical Roots of the Contemporary Scene .......................... 20 2.2.2 Four Contemporary Homiletical Paradigms ........................... 26 2.2.2.1 The Traditional Homiletic ..................................... 27 2.2.2.2 The Kerygmatic Homiletic .................................... 31 2.2.2.3 The New Homiletic ......................................... 34 2.2.2.4 The Postliberal Homiletic ..................................... 40 2.3 The Evangelical Expository Homiletic .................................. 44 2.4 Conclusion ....................................................... 48 III. ROBINSON'S VIEW OF SCRIPTURE ................................... 50 3.1 Introduction ...................................................... 50 3.2 Robinson's View of Scripture ......................................... 50 3 .2.1 Revelation .................................................... 51 3 .2.1.1 The Evangelical Context of Robinson's View of Revelation ........... 51 3.2.1.2 Robinson and Revelation ..................................... 56 3 .2.1.2.1 The Words of Scripture as Revelation ........................ 57 3 .2.1.2.2 Revelation as Propositional and Personal ...................... 63 3.2.1.2.3 Human Language Conveys Truth About God .................. 67 3 .2.1.2.3 .1 First Assumption: Human language is capable of conveying divine truth. ....................................................... 68 3.2.1.2.3.2 Second Assumption: Because words correspond with objective reality, the language of preaching must be clear and precise. .. 72 3.2.2 Inspiration .................................................... 78 3.2.2.1 The Evangelical Context of Robinson's View oflnspiration ........... 78 3.2.2.2 Robinson's View oflnspiration ................................ 82 3.2.3 Inerrancy ..................................................... 85 3.2.3.1 The Evangelical Context of Robinson's View oflnerrancy ............ 85 3.2.3.2 Robinson's View oflnerrancy ................................. 87 3 .2.4 Authority .................................................... 92 3.2.4.1 The Evangelical Context of Robinson's View of Authority ............ 92 3.2.4.2 Robinson's View of Authority ................................. 93 3.3 Conclusion ....................................................... 98 IV. ROBINSON'S HERMENEUTIC AND HIS DEFINITION OF EXPOSITORY PREACHING .................................................... 103 4. 1 Introduction . 103 4.2 Robinson's Approach to Hermeneutics ................................. 103 4.2.1 The Contemporary Hermeneutical Scene ............................ 103 4.2.2 The Grammatical-Historical Method: Context of Robinson's Hermeneutcial Approach . 108 4.2.3 Robinson's Hermeneutical Approach ............................... 113 4.2.3.1 Robinson's Hermeneutical Approach Identified .................... 113 4.2.3.2 Robinson's Hermeneutical Presuppositions ....................... 115 4.2.3.2.1 First Hermeneutical Presupposition: The Basis of the Message .... 115 4.2.3.2.2 Second Hermeneutical Presupposition: The Result of Applying Biblical Interpretation to the Sermon . 120 4.2.3.2.3 Third Hermeneutical Preuspposition: Author-Oriented Hermeneutics 125 4.3 Robinson's Definition of Expository Preaching ........................... 128 4.3.1 First Definitional Component: The Passage Governs the Sermon .......... 129 4.3.2 Second Definitional Component: The Expositor Communicates a Concept .. 134 4.3.3 Third Definitional Component: The Concept Comes From the Text ........ 142 4.3.4 Fourth Definitional Component: The Concept is Applied to the Expositor ... 144 4. 3. 5 Fifth Definitional Component: The Concept is Applied to the Hearers . 146 4.3.6 Robinson's Summary of the Five Components in His Definition ........... 155 4.4 Conclusion ...................................................... 155 V. EVALUATION OF ROBINSON'S TEN-STAGE METHOD .................. 157 5.1 Introduction ..................................................... 157 5.2 The Ten Stages Collectively ........................................ 157 5.3 Stage One: Selecting the Passage ..................................... 159 5.4 Stage Two: Studying the Passage ..................................... 163 11 5.5 Stage Three: Discovering the Exegetical Idea ............................ 167 5.6 Introductory Remarks to Stage Four .................................. 174 5. 7 Stage Four: Analyzing the Exegetical Idea . 175 5. 7.1 First Developmental Question: "What Does This Mean?" ............... 176 5. 7 .2 Second Developmental Question: "Is it True?" . 177 5.7.3 Third Developmental Question: "What Difference Does it Make?" ........ 179 5.8 Stage Five: Formulating the Homiletical Idea ............................ 190 5. 9 Stage Six: Determining the Sermon's Purpose . 192 5. 9. 1 The Importance of Sermon Purpose . 192 5. 9 .2 The Meaning of Sermon Purpose . 193 5.9.3 A Theology ofBiblical Purpose ................................... 195 5. 9 .4 Procedure for Articulating Sermon Purpose . 198 5 .10 Stage Seven: Deciding How to Accomplish This Purpose .................. 208 5. 11 Stage Eight: Outlining the Sermon . 216 5 .12 Stage Nine: Filling in the Sermon Outline .............................. 218 5.13 Stage Ten: Preparing the Introduction and Conclusion