Copyright © 2019 Kevin David Koslowsky All rights reserved. The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary has permission to reproduce and disseminate this document in any form by any means for purposes chosen by the Seminary, including, without limitation, preservation or instruction. ONLY THE MESSENGER: DONALD GREY BARNHOUSE’S ILLUSTRATIVE PREACHING AS A COMMITMENT TO BIBLICAL AUTHORITY __________________ A Dissertation Presented to the Faculty of The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary __________________ In Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree Doctor of Philosophy __________________ by Kevin David Koslowsky December 2019 APPROVAL SHEET ONLY THE MESSENGER: DONALD GREY BARNHOUSE’S ILLUSTRATIVE PREACHING AS A COMMITMENT TO BIBLICAL AUTHORITY Kevin David Koslowsky Read and Approved by: __________________________________________ Hershael W. York (Chair) __________________________________________ Robert A. Vogel __________________________________________ Michael A. G. Haykin Date______________________________ To Laura, my constant encourager, And to David, Leah, and Samuel, Our blessings from God. TABLE OF CONTENTS Page LIST OF TABLES ........................................................................................................... viii PREFACE ........................................................................................................................... x Chapter 1. INTRODUCTION ..................................................................................................1 The Preaching Ministry of Donald Grey Barnhouse...........................................3 Significance of Illustrations in Barnhouse's Preaching .......................................6 Thesis ..................................................................................................................8 Background .........................................................................................................9 History of Research ................................................................................. 10 Methodology .....................................................................................................16 2. COMMITMENT TO AUTHORITY: FROM THE BEGINNING ......................21 Family and Church Background .......................................................................21 Theological Training .........................................................................................28 Bible Institute of Los Angeles ................................................................. 28 Princeton Theological Seminary .............................................................. 39 United States Army: World War I ........................................................... 42 Belgium and France ..........................................................................................45 Belgian Gospel Mission ........................................................................... 46 Dismissal from the Belgian Gospel Mission ................................. 47 France ...................................................................................................... 51 Return to the United States .............................................................................. 59 iv Chapter Page Grace Presbyerian Church ....................................................................... 60 Academic Degrees Awarded ................................................................... 60 Tenth Presbyterian Church ................................................................................65 Modernist-Fundamentalist Controversy .................................................. 68 Ecclesiastical Trial ................................................................................... 69 Independent Board for Presbyterian Foreign Missions ........................... 70 3. COMMITMENT TO AUTHORITY: TO THE END ..........................................76 Thirty-three Years as Pastor of Tenth Presbyterian Church .............................76 Pastoral Care ............................................................................................ 78 Family ...................................................................................................... 83 Evangelical Foundation .....................................................................................85 Radio Ministry ......................................................................................... 85 Conferences, Magazines, and Other Opportunities ................................. 90 Keswick and Cambridge ................................................................ 93 New Year's Resolution ....................................................................................100 Authority of Scripture ............................................................................ 105 Defense of Exclusivity ................................................................. 107 Strategic Partnerships ............................................................................ 108 Death ...............................................................................................................116 4. BARNHOUSE'S PREACHING STRATEGY ...................................................119 Exegetical Priorities ........................................................................................121 Doctrinal Commitments......................................................................... 131 Commitment to Study .....................................................................................135 Significance of Illustrations ............................................................................140 Harry Emerson Fosdick's Illustrations ................................................... 145 v Chapter Page 5. THE PURPOSES OF ILLUSTRATIONS .........................................................151 Necessity of Illustrations .................................................................................151 Criticisms of Illustrations ...................................................................... 156 Biblical Examples of Illustrations ...................................................................160 The Value of Illustrations................................................................................163 Illustrations Shine Light on the Biblical Passage .................................. 164 Illustrations Make the Abstract Concrete .............................................. 164 Illustrations Serve Application .............................................................. 168 Illustrations Connect with the Emotions................................................ 170 Illustrations and the Image of God ........................................................ 174 Illustrations Motivate ............................................................................. 178 Illustrations Connect the Preacher with Listeners ................................. 181 The Cultural Context of Illustrations ..............................................................182 Cautions and Limitations ................................................................................188 6. BARNHOUSE'S ILLUSTRATIVE STRATEGY .............................................191 Sermons Examined..........................................................................................197 Analogies, Anecdotes, and Stories ........................................................ 201 Sample Sermon ...................................................................................... 202 Analogies.........................................................................................................206 Anecdotes ........................................................................................................210 Stories ..............................................................................................................218 Purposes of Illustrations ..................................................................................223 Evaluation .......................................................................................................233 vi Chapter Page 7. CONCLUSION ..................................................................................................234 Barnhouse's Commitment to Biblical Authority .............................................234 Importance of Illustrations ..............................................................................237 Pastoral Recommendations .............................................................................238 Conclusion.......................................................................................................240 Appendix 1. BARNHOUSE'S 1953 NEW YEAR'S RESOLUTION ....................................242 2. ILLUSTRATIONS IN GENESIS ......................................................................249 3. ILLUSTRATIONS IN MARK ..........................................................................252 4. ILLUSTRATIONS IN JOHN ............................................................................255 5. ILLUSTRATIONS IN ACTS ............................................................................257 6. ILLUSTRATIONS IN ROMANS .....................................................................258 7. ILLUSTRATIONS IN THESSALONIANS .....................................................286 8. ILLUSTRATIONS IN REVELATION .............................................................287 9. ILLUSTRATIONS IN TOPICAL