Homiletics Warning: You are not logged in. Your IP address will be publicly visible if you make any edits. If you log in or create an account, your edits will be attributed to your username, along with other benefits.Anti-spam check. Do not fill this in! == Explanation == Homiletics, the art of preaching, studies both the composition and the delivery of religious discourses. It includes all forms of preaching, including [[Sermon|sermons]], [[homily|homilies]] and [[catechetical]] instruction. Homiletics may be further defined as the study of the analysis, classification, preparation, composition, and delivery of sermons.<ref name=EB1911/> The formation of the [[Lyman Beecher]] course at [[Yale University]] resulted in an increased emphasis on homiletics. The published volumes of this series include information regarding the history and practice of the discipline.<ref name=EB1911/> === Branch of pastoral theology === The ''Catholic Encyclopedia'' defines homiletics as "that branch of rhetoric that treats of the composition and delivery of sermons or homilies".<ref name=CE>{{Catholic Encyclopedia|wstitle=Homiletics |volume=7 |first=Patrick A. |last=Beecher |inline=1}}</ref> This definition was influential in the 19th century among thinkers like [[John Broadus]] and [[Karl Barth]]. Karl resisted this definition of the term, saying that homiletics should retain a critical distance from [[rhetoric]]. The homiletic-rhetorical relationship has been a major issue in homiletic theory since the mid-20th century.<ref>See Robert Reid, Andre Resner, Lucy Lind Hogan, John McClure, James Kay</ref> The first form of preaching was largely the [[homily]].<ref name=CE/> === Christian tradition: The preaching of Jesus === [[Jesus]] preached and commissioned his [[Apostles in the New Testament|apostles]] to do so. His preaching included two forms of the sermon, the missionary and the ministerial. Missionary sermons are given to outsiders and correspond the Catholic ''[[magisterium]].'' Ministerial sermons are given to those already part of the movement, corresponding to the Catholic ''[[ministerium]]''. For example, Jesus' [[Sermon on the Mount]] is a missionary sermon. By contrast, his discourse after the [[Last Supper]] ({{bibleverse||John|14-16|KJV|}}) is ministerial.<ref name=CE/> It cannot be said that Jesus' preaching took any definite, rounded form, in the sense of a modern sermon. His aim was to sow the seed of the word, which he scattered abroad, like the sower in the [[Parable of the sower|parable]]. His commission to his Apostles included both missionary and ministerial sermoning. For examples of missionary sermoning, see {{bibleverse||Matthew|28:19|KJV|}}, {{bibleverse||Mark|16:15|KJV|}}, {{bibleverse||Mark|3:14|KJV|}}, {{bibleverse||Luke|9:2|KJV|}}For examples of ministerial sermoning, see [[Paul the Apostle|Paul the Apostle's]] sermon in {{bibleverse||Acts|20:7-11|KJV|}}. In this sermon, the apostles were supported by assistants who were elected and consecrated for a purpose (e.g. Timothy and Titus). Some of these assistants had been favored with [[charismata]]. === Missionary preaching === [[File:V&A - Raphael, St Paul Preaching in Athens (1515).jpg|thumb|St Paul preaching his ''[[Areopagus sermon]]'' in Athens, by [[Raphael]], 1515]] In missionary preaching the apostles were also assisted, but informally, by the laity, who explained the Christian doctrine to their acquaintances amongst unbelievers who, in their visits to the Christian assemblies, must have heard something of it, e.g., cf. I Cor., xiv, 23-24. This is particularly true of [[Justin Martyr]], who, wearing his philosopher's cloak, went about for that purpose. The sermons to the faithful in the early ages were of the simplest kind, being merely expositions or paraphrases of the passage of scripture that was read, coupled with ''extempore'' effusions of the heart. This explains why there is little or nothing in the way of sermons or homilies surviving from that period. It also explains the strange statement made by [[Sozomen]] (Hist. Eccl., VII, xix), and by [[Cassiodorus]] in his "Tripartite History", which Duchesne <ref>(Christian Worship, p. 171, tr. London, 1903)</ref> apparently accepts, that no one preached at Rome. (Sozomen wrote about the time of Pope [[Xystus III]], in office 432-440) Thomassin's explanation<ref>(Vetus et Nova Eccl. Disciplina, II, lxxxii, 503)</ref> of Sozomen's statement is that there was no preaching in the sense of an elaborate or finished discourse before the time of [[Pope Leo I|Pope Leo]], with the exception, perhaps, of the address on virginity by [[Pope Liberius]] (in office 352-366) to [[Saint Marcellina|Marcellina]], sister of [[Ambrose]], on the occasion of her taking the veil, which is regarded as a private discourse.<ref name=CE/> And the reason for this he attributes to the stress of persecution. Neander (I, 420, note) says of Sozomen's statement: "The remark could not extend to the early times; but suppose it did, it meant that the sermon was only secondary. Or the fact may have been that this Eastern writer was deceived by false accounts from the West, or it may have been that the sermon in the Western Church did not occupy so important a place as it did in the Greek Church."<ref name=CE/> === Homiletics in the Jewish tradition === Preaching as a regular part of worship services in Judaism can be traced back to the time of [[Ezra]], who instituted the custom of reading a portion of the [[Torah]], written in [[Hebrew language|Hebrew]], and then paraphrasing or explaining it in the vernacular, which at the time was [[Aramaic]].<ref name=":0">{{Cite web|title=HOMILETICS - JewishEncyclopedia.com|url=http://www.jewishencyclopedia.com/articles/7842-homiletics|access-date=2020-09-19|website=www.jewishencyclopedia.com}}</ref> This tradition was well established by the fourth century BCE.<ref name=":0" /> After the [[Siege of Jerusalem (70 CE)|destruction of the temple]], synagogues became central to Jewish worship and the role of the sermon increased. A regular structure arose: the speaker first quoted a verse from the [[Hebrew Bible|Bible]], then expounded on it, and finally closed with a summary and a prayer of praise.<ref name=":0" /> Sermons from highly regarded rabbis of this period have been preserved in the [[Midrash]], forming part of the [[Talmud]]. Homiletics is taught as part of the typical curriculum at modern-day rabbinical seminaries.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Course of Study|url=http://huc.edu/academics/become-rabbi/course-study|access-date=2020-09-21|website=Hebrew Union College - Jewish Institute of Religion|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=Curriculum: Become a Rabbi|url=https://hebrewcollege.edu/graduate-leadership-programs/become-a-rabbi/curriculum/|access-date=2020-09-21|website=Hebrew College|language=en-US}}</ref> Summary: Please note that all contributions to Christianpedia may be edited, altered, or removed by other contributors. 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