Zugl.: Bochum, Univ., Diss., 2007

How can we preach on current political and social issues without simply adding Christ’s name to a political philosophy? More precisely, how can those who claim the heritage of Luther and the early Reformation do this? Luther withdrew from advocacy for the poor around 1525, and central parts of his theology (and the tradition that bears his name) emerged only after this withdrawal. This article argues that Luther’s theology of preaching, which conceived of proclamation as part of the Trinitarian economy, provides a doctrinally sound method for preaching on matters of social justice. After establishing the early Luther’s record on advocacy founded in the commandment to love neighbor and assessing reasons for Luther’s about face on poor relief in 1525, the article examines Luther’s understanding of preaching as “perichoretic,” part of the movement of the Trinity. As such, preaching joins in God’s mission to move people to acts of love of neighbor, sometimes acts that constitute great personal or material risk.

This paper examines a new English translation of John Calvin’s sermon on Micah 2:1 by the author, and it explores the sermon’s themes of justice and equity within Calvin’s historical context of Geneva in 1550. An exploration of homiletical influences on the sermon includes consideration of Calvin’s development of “plain sense” preaching. “Plain sense” preaching in Calvin’s writing denotes a rhetorical and exegetical style that draws upon his careful study of John Chrysostom’s sermons, and his attempt in his French-language 1541 Institutes to relate covenant theology to preaching of Old Testament texts. The judgments of the prophet Micah demand the same repentance from ancient Israel, sixteenth-century Geneva, and even contemporary hearers. The paper concludes with reflection on how Calvin’s “plain sense” preaching speaks to matters of justice with respect to mistreatment of immigrants and refugees in a contemporary North American context.

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Zugl.: Gießen, Univ., Diss., 2006

Univ., Diss.--Graz, 2002.

Überarb. Fassung der Diss. Frankfurt am Main.

Univ., Diss.--Vaux-sur-Seine, 2007.

Univ., Diss.--Zürich, 2006.