02198nam a22003015i 4500 in00024273552 OSt 20251104122329.0 250618s2025 ctu 000 0 eng 2025941543 9781624281006 (paperback) 9781624281013 9781624281020 (kindle edition) 9781624281075 (epub) 24253994 DLC eng rda DLC pcc BV 4222 .B56 2025 Blowers, Paul M., 1955- author. 58794 Theatrics in patristic preaching and biblical exposition / Paul M. Blowers. New Haven ICCS Press 2025 76 p The chadwick-oden lectures; 3 "In this stimulating volume, Paul M. Blowers explores how the early Christian preachers transformed biblical interpretation into theatrical performance, captivating congregations with dramatic retellings of sacred stories. Theatrics in Patristic Preaching and Biblical Exposition, drawn from the 2025 Chadwick-Oden Lectures, reveals how Church Fathers such as Chrysostom, Basil, and Romanos the Melodist employed vivid rhetorical strategies-like impersonation, characterization, and ekphrasis-to bring Scripture to life. Blowers uncovers a rich tradition of preaching that was not merely doctrinal instruction but dynamic theater designed to provoke, console, and transform. With scholarly precision and pastoral insight, Blowers demonstrates how patristic homilists viewed Scripture as inherently dramatic and understood preaching as a sacred performance meant to engage both mind and heart. From tragic portrayals of Cain and Abel to poetic reinventions of the Prodigal Son, these early sermons did more than interpret texts-they invited listeners into the living drama of salvation history. A compelling resource for theologians, pastors, and anyone interested in the art of homiletics, this book argues that the early Church's theatrical preaching holds profound lessons for revitalizing Christian proclamation today"-- 0 ibc orignew 2 epcn 20 y-gencatlg lcc BK 68723 68697 0 0 lcc 0 0 GEN CPL CPL PROC 2025-10-09 Donation - Michael... 10.00 0 BV 4222 .B56 2025 T01413W3232 2025-11-04 12:29:27 1 10.00 2025-11-04 BK