Blowers, Paul M. 1955- creator author. text ctu New Haven ICCS Press 2025 monographic eng

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76 p "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"-- Paul M. Blowers. BV 4222 .B56 2025 9781624281006 9781624281013 2025941543 DLC 250618 20251104122329.0 in00024273552 eng