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! === 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/> Summary: Please note that all contributions to Christianpedia may be edited, altered, or removed by other contributors. If you do not want your writing to be edited mercilessly, then do not submit it here. You are also promising us that you wrote this yourself, or copied it from a public domain or similar free resource (see Christianpedia:Copyrights for details). Do not submit copyrighted work without permission! Cancel Editing help (opens in new window) Discuss this page