A History Of Preaching (Volume I) From The Apostolic Father To The Great Reformers A.D. 70-1872

Sermoncraft through the centuries revealed. Edwin C. Dargan’s A History of Preaching (Volume I) offers a sweeping account of homiletic life from the apostolic fathers teachings of the early church era through medieval Christianity and into the upheavals of the Reformation. Written with scholarly care and readable pace, the work combines historical narrative with critical sense to trace the evolution of sermons - how theology, rhetorical art and pastoral need shaped the voice of preaching across generations. Dargan pays attention to form as much as content, surveying shifts in delivery, scriptural exposition and the role of the pulpit. Rich in context rather than jargon, it functions as both a preaching anthology and a dependable church history reference, equally useful to students of classic homiletics and to anyone pursuing protestant reformation studies or the broader history of christian preaching.Republished by Alpha Editions in a careful modern edition, this volume preserves the spirit of the original while making it effortless to enjoy today - a heritage title prepared for readers and collectors alike. Useful as a seminary textbook and a practical clergy resource book, it supplies historical perspective for sermon preparation, lecture syllabuses and comparative modules, while remaining accessible to casual readers intrigued by ecclesiastical history. Classic-literature collectors will value the restored scholarship and period voice; scholars of protestant reformation studies and those mapping the evolution of sermons will find Dargan a readable philip schaff companion that rewards both study and display.It suits theology students, ministers preparing sermons, cultural historians tracing Christian practice, and collectors of classic literature. As both a preaching anthology and a reliable church history reference, it lays out continuities and ruptures so readers can follow how sermon form responded to liturgy and crisis. Suitable as a seminary textbook or a clergy resource book, the volume remains of interest to those studying the early church era, medieval christianity and the wider history of christian preaching.