Abstract
In this theologically rich and eminently pastoral study, Andrew Hofer presents the rhetorical genius of the early church that speaks across the centuries. Focusing on major homilists of the Greek, Latin, and Syriac traditions, H. shows how their expositions of Christian virtue and union with God can still inspire modern congregations. This is a valuable tool for those who want to make the treasury of early preaching available to those involved in ministry today.
The introduction outlines the volume’s assumptions and aims. Informed by the conviction that “in patristic preaching, we find the Word in our flesh” (3), H. underscores the Christocentrism in the homilies of the church’s first six centuries. Each case study, comprising a chapter, is used to exemplify a specific facet of the Christian life. In brief: Origen speaks to holiness, Ephrem to humility, Gregory of Nazianzus to purification in faith, John Chrysostom to hope, Augustine to love, Leo to care for the poor, and Gregory the Great to God’s mercy. By following a sequence that is both chronological and thematic, H. attends to the historical context of each preacher and to his distinctive response to a central pastoral question.
Each chapter offers a brief biographical sketch of the preacher before exploring his sermonic strategies. The sketches are clear and accessible, and H. avoids technical jargon and debates over details. Moreover, H. selects especially compelling passages from these preachers that speak for themselves. By letting us hear the preachers’ words for ourselves, H. encourages us to put on the “power” of their oratory. Moreover, by using homiletics to link theologians across a range of cultural and linguistic contexts, H. introduces early Christian thought with less concern for doctrinal dispute than for the faith that believers encountered in their communities.
H.’s impressive learning is always just below the surface of the exposition. The footnotes and valuable bibliography reflect his mastery of contemporary scholarship. Although he aims for a broad readership, he is also ready to cite problems in interpretation and ambiguities in message. Certain chapters on the figures he has researched extensively elsewhere, such as Gregory of Nazianzus and Augustine, stand out for their erudition and insight. We find that Gregory’s concern for purification, closely linked to sacramental initiation, applies above all to the preacher himself. H. keenly observes that, in On Christian Teaching, Augustine presents God as “the most persuasive speaker, who wins us back through delight” (217).
As he stresses continued relevance of patristic preaching, H. makes a direct link to the contemporary context by bookending each chapter with the words of a modern homilist. The list is ecumenical, ranging from three popes (Benedict XVI, John Paul II, and Francis) to Billy Graham to Ignatius Sakka I, who was the Syrian Orthodox Patriarch of Antioch. Such links reflect H.’s conviction that the genius of early Christian oratory echoes in the words of modern preachers across denominations.
H.’s love for his subject infuses every page. Origen, for instance, whose status as an ecclesiastical authority has been contested over the centuries, is presented as a model of sanctity and perseverance. To be sure, H.’s esteem for his subjects does not blind him to their limitations. In valuable discussions he both acknowledges and contextualizes Ephrem’s anti-Judaism and John Chrysostom’s harsh rebukes of women considered “scandalous.” Scholars will no doubt debate the merits of such contextualization. But, just as much as ancient orators relied on unambiguously positive exempla to inspire their audiences, so preachers today can profit from ideal models who can guide them in their efforts to share the word of God.
In short, The Power of Patristic Preaching, is an exemplary contribution to Catholic University of America Press’s new Patristic Theology series. H. provides not only a careful and learned account of the individual pastors in their own context, but he also draws out from their words perennial wisdom for our world. I hope that the volume will be widely adopted by those charged with training in homiletics at seminaries and divinity schools. I would also commend the volume to all readers interested in early Christian thought.