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Expository Preaching

homiletics_term theological_term standard

Preaching that explains the meaning of a biblical passage and applies that meaning faithfully to hearers.

At a Glance

A sermon method that draws its main point from a specific biblical text, explains that text in context, and applies it faithfully.

Key Points

Description

Expository preaching is the practice of preaching in which the sermon is governed by the meaning of a biblical text. The preacher explains the passage in context, identifies its intended sense, and then applies that meaning to the hearers with clarity and pastoral force. In conservative evangelical theology, expository preaching reflects the conviction that Scripture is God’s authoritative Word, so preaching should derive its content and thrust from the text rather than from the preacher’s agenda. Christians differ on whether the term should be reserved for strict verse-by-verse preaching or used more broadly for any sermon that remains text-controlled, but the central concern is the same: faithful proclamation that brings out what the passage says and presses it upon the church.

Biblical Context

Scripture presents examples of public reading and explanation of God’s Word. In Nehemiah 8, the Law is read and given the sense so the people understand. Ezra is also described as devoted to study, practice, and teaching. In the New Testament, Jesus and the apostles proclaim, explain, and apply the Scriptures as part of their ministry.

Historical Context

The term itself is a modern homiletics label, but the practice has deep roots in Jewish synagogue reading and Christian preaching. It has been especially emphasized in Reformation and evangelical traditions that stress the authority, clarity, and sufficiency of Scripture.

Jewish and Ancient Context

Second Temple and synagogue settings included public reading of Scripture and explanation for the hearers. Nehemiah 8 is the clearest biblical picture of reading followed by interpretation so that the people understand the sense of the text.

Primary Key Texts

Secondary Key Texts

Original Language Note

No single biblical word corresponds exactly to the modern phrase. The idea is expressed through biblical patterns of reading, explaining, teaching, proclaiming, and exhorting God’s Word.

Theological Significance

Expository preaching serves the doctrine of Scripture by treating the biblical text as the controlling authority for proclamation. It supports the church’s confidence that God addresses his people through his written Word and that sound preaching should make the meaning of that Word plain.

Philosophical Explanation

The method assumes that meaning is found in the text as intended by the author in context, not in the preacher’s imagination or the hearer’s preferences. It therefore prioritizes grammatical-historical interpretation and aims to move from meaning to application without bypassing either step.

Interpretive Cautions

Expository preaching is not merely reading a passage and then talking about a preferred topic. Nor does it require a rigid verse-by-verse format in every sermon. The key issue is whether the sermon’s main thrust is controlled by the passage’s meaning and whether application remains faithful to that meaning.

Major Views

Some define expository preaching narrowly as sequential exposition of a book or passage; others use it more broadly for any sermon that is text-driven and text-governed. The broader and narrower uses overlap in their shared commitment to letting Scripture shape the sermon.

Doctrinal Boundaries

This term concerns method of preaching, not a separate doctrine of salvation or church order. It should not be used to imply that every non-expository sermon is invalid, but it does affirm the norm that preaching ought to be rooted in Scripture’s meaning and not in human novelty.

Practical Significance

Expository preaching helps congregations hear the whole counsel of God, understand difficult texts in context, and receive application that is tied to Scripture rather than to trends or personalities. It also trains listeners to read the Bible carefully and biblically.

Related Entries

See Also

Data

Machine-readable JSON for Expository Preaching

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