Preaching Christ from the Old Testament
A couple of helpful resources, the first of which I found by way of recommendation many moons ago, and the second of which I just found today.
While I would recommend tracking down audio of this material (which I think he has preached at a Banner of Truth Conference in the US), Ted Donnelly has given nine directives (the first version I heard had only six, so he is obviously developing this as he goes) that help us to preach Christ from the Old Testament:
- Face up to the predispositions.
- Follow the pattern.
- Cultivate the perspective.
- Grasp the plot.
- Look for the promise.
- Explore the parallels.
- Apply the precedents.
- Watch the pendulum.
- Love the person.
Sinclair Ferguson has also written a Proclamation Trust pamphlet on this topic, subtitled “Developing a Christ-centred instinct.” Insisting that you need an instinct for this rather than a formula, he provides four pointers:
- The relationship between promise and fulfilment.
- The relationship between type and antitype.
- The relationship between the covenant and Christ.
- Proleptic [anticipatory] participation and subsequent realisation.
Having preached yesterday on Exodus 17, I am at once corrected and directed and encouraged by the insights of these masters of their craft.
Jeremy,
Those are both useful. I had read that PT document before but not Pr. Donnelly’s…the latter’s points about overemphasis, and pendulum swinging are important.
For what its worth, I have found Sidney Greidanus’ “Preaching the OT as Christian Scriptures” very helpful, though I believe Ted’s caveats need to be carefully observed even in the read of this book. I think Greidanus’ 7 ways of finding Christ are excellent, and his material on typology is superb in my opinon.
P
Paul
Monday 24 August 2009 at 12:55
Thanks, Paul. I think I recall you commending Greidanus back when you were blogging. Good to hear from you, and thanks for the encouragement. I think I will have to have a look at Greidanus at some point.
Jeremy Walker
Monday 24 August 2009 at 22:50
Actually I think I was sleeping when I typed yesterday…right author name wrong book name…the book I should have referred you to was “Preaching Christ from the Old Testament”. The one I gave you yesterday was a mixed up reference to Graeme Goldsworthy’s volume Preaching the Whole Bible as Christian Scripture. That to is a useful volume, but I think there is a clearer covenantal understanding and emphasis in Griedanus.
Paul
Tuesday 25 August 2009 at 09:12
I saw Greidanus’ volume (he actually has several dealing with this and related issues) when I was sorting out this post, so I knew which one you meant. For anyone interested, this is it.
Jeremy Walker
Tuesday 25 August 2009 at 10:39
I really like it Jeremy, I used it as the main source for a recent 9 or 10 week Sunday School class, obviously from a reader rather than a preacher perspective. The folks really appreciated it.
Paul
Tuesday 25 August 2009 at 21:44