The Christ-Centered Homiletics of Edmund Clowney and Sidney Greidanus in Contrast With the Human Author-Centered Hermeneutics of Walter Kaiser

Abstract

This dissertation examines the Christ-centered homiletics of Edmund Clowney and Sidney Greidanus in contrast with the human author-centered hermeneutics of Walter Kaiser. Chapter 1 frames the dissertation by presenting the consequence of preaching and the marks of redemptive-historical preaching.

Chapter 2 presents Walter Kaiser's author-centered hermeneutic. Kaiser's hermeneutic is presented because it is used as a plumb line to assess if and how redemptive-historical preaching drifts from an author-centered hermeneutic.

Chapter 3 introduces Edmund Clowney as one of the seminal thinkers in redemptive-historical preaching. It considers Clowney's Christ-centered biblical theology and how that informs his use of symbolism and typology to preach Christ.

Chapter 4 juxtaposes Greidanus' seven ways of preaching Christ from the Old Testament alongside Kaiser's author-centered hermeneutic. Attention is also given to Greidanus' sermons from the Old Testament.

Chapter 5 presents summary conclusions, documenting some of the frequent cleavages between Kaiser and redemptive-historical preaching. It concludes with ways to implement the dissertation findings for preaching the Old Testament.