Baker’s Dictionary of Practical Theology
Overview
Neither an encyclopedia or a history, Baker’s Dictionary of Practical Theology lies between the two as a source book for pastors and students. A dictionary by title, this book takes on a different form as only ten divisions of the minister’s work are given classification. Within each division are articles of a longer exposition written by an authority on the subject. Those divisions are: Preaching, Homiletics, Hermeneutics, Evangelism-Missions, Counseling, Administration, Pastoral, Stewardship, Worship, and Education.
Contributors, coming from all branches of the Christian Church and from several countries, were readily cooperative when invited to participate. This collaboration resulted in a book that helps to bring understanding of the tasks and difficulties involved in a minister’s work.
Top Highlights
“The Bible, then, becomes the preacher’s charter. It is as the Bible is preached that God’s Word is preached. It is not the preacher’s skill in speaking, nor his own observations on life, nor his own religious thoughts, nor his own powers of persuasion which make a sermon a sermon. It is only when the preacher becomes the contemporary instrument through which the ancient word of prophet, or apostle, or Jesus speaks, that a sermon is a sermon.” (Page 2)
“The first of these is materialism. It is basically the idea that material and physical satisfactions are the final goal and end of life.” (Page 332)
“The prophets were not so much speaking about God as they were men through whom God himself spoke.” (Page 2)
“It is only when the living God, who himself spoke in the history recorded in the Bible, speaks again through the preaching of the Bible that a sermon becomes a sermon. Otherwise, it is a speech or an address on a religious topic; the speech of a man about God, not God speaking of himself to man.” (Page 2)
“Preaching searches for the eternal values in the Scriptures in order to relate them helpfully to life.” (Page 6)
Product Details
- Title: Baker’s Dictionary of Practical Theology
- Author: Ralph G. Turnbull
- Publisher: Baker
- Publication Date: 1967
- Pages: 491
About Ralph G. Turnbull
Born and raised in Scotland, Ralph G. Turnbull (1901-1985) served the church in Great Britain, Canada and finally the United States. With a great appreciation and expertise in the history of preaching, he taught at Western Theological Seminary, Pittsburgh, for ten years. His “retirement” left him no less involved in teaching and preaching as he was Professor of Religion in Residence at Warner Pacific College, Portland, OR, and Adjunct Professor of Preaching at Bethel Theological Seminary, San Diego, CA.
Best known for his prolific authorship, Turnbull wrote and edited many books with emphasis on ministers, evangelicals and practical theology. Many of his writings were initially presented from his pulpit and others from various conferences and lectures for ministers. His favorite subject, within the history of preaching, was Jonathan Edwards, and so when he arrived to the United States, he took a special interest in Edwards to learn more about American preaching.
