Preaching communicates truth. For truth to enter the ears of listeners in the pews and to cast light over the shadows of the heart, truth comes through the medium of words. Ancient texts tell us the meaning of words. The words penetrate a particular historical setting.

For example, the old English word conversation in the KJV does not do justice to Paul's instruction to the church at Philippi in Philippians 1:27: "Only let your conversation be as it becometh the Gospel of Christ...." The more familiar NIV phraseology appears to suffice, "Whatever happens, conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of the Gospel of Christ...." Knowing, though, that Paul uses the word politeuomai (our English word polity) adds color to the dull word conduct. Paul instructs the Christians at Philippi to conduct themselves as citizens. Hearers understood what it meant to serve in a city as a good citizen. The transfer of the meaning implies conduct worthy of the Gospel as a good citizen in God's polity or city.

Ancient texts create meaning from a given word context. A primary failure in preaching today ignores the contextual meaning of a word. The result produces preaching that throws dim light into the darkness, like shining a flashlight into a huge cave when what you really need is a spotlight. Research takes you into the spirit of the biblical passage, allowing you as preacher to shine a spotlight rather than a low-charged flashlight.

An Old Testament example speaks to the prophet Jeremiah's peace in his temple courtyard address of Jeremiah 8:11, those powerful words, "peace, peace, when there is no peace." The overuse of the word peace dulls its meaning in our culture: wild demonstrations where protest marchers plead for world peace; peace as the one thing a husband and wife seek as they receive counsel to save their marriage on the brink of divorce; what a job hunter looks for when he or she seeks a new job out of the chaos and turmoil of their present job. How much stronger to speak of shalom, as more than tranquility but welfare and a sense of wholeness, life linking together in its many facets with completeness. The word became in ancient days a common greeting. A comprehensive understanding of peace flows out of an investigation of the ancient text. Who knows that a story of greeting might not serve as a way to introduce or clarify the meaning of shalom?

Technological Tools

You might wish for Erasmus' brain about now. If scientists displayed Erasmus' brain, it would appear as a three pound glob of jelly like yours. It might not, though, connect well with scripted Hebrew or Greek letters or conjugated verbs or the interpretive tools of genitive absolutes and particular parsing, whatever those might be. Then again, digging for gold nuggets in the ancient texts just might be your cup of tea.

Regardless, you do not have to stay in a dark dungeon by midnight candle light to find the preaching gold laboring over hard to read texts (although it can be rewarding). Computer technology, Bible programs like Biblesoft and Internet hookups like Perseus.com, supply you with the tools for research. Erasmus' brain functions gloriously in your computer, but digging for the preaching gold still requires the diligence, discipline and determination of Erasmus' late night vigils. Your listeners will appreciate the extra work.