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The Apostolic Preaching And It's Developments: Three Lectures with an Appendix on Eschatology and History
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
June 11, 2025
C.H. Dodgy
August 15, 2019
This is an excellent book for those interested in the new perspective on Paul. Dodd was one of the pioneers of that perspective and he touches on the subject in this book. The second essay is inferior to the other two and he is somewhat a product of his times - the well read reader can believe that he studied under Adolf von Harnack. But the overall message of the book, that the primitive Gospel was not lost during the course of ecclesiastical development, is clear. And his call to restore this Gospel presentation to the diet of the modern church is still timely.
July 3, 2021
Quarantine-Book #53:
I just finished "The Apostolic Preaching and its Developments," by C.H. Dodd.
Highlights only because I'm not sure what to expect, and its biblical scholarship rather than systematic theology so I doubt I'm going to pick a fight with Dodd. EDIT: I should have spent some time researching "realized eschatology" rather than treating this slim book like a rollercoaster: "Take me where you want" [hands in the air].
Paul's Kerygma (Gk. For "proclamation") points to the death and resurrection of Christ in an eschatological setting which marks the transition from "this evil age" and "the age to come." "According to scripture" points to its fulfillment of the Old Testament found in Christ and the "age to come" is in-breaking.
When one sees PS. 110:1 as a key (and it should be seen as such due to the widespread quoting it gets in the NT) to shine a light on the Kerygma and hence the Gospel it makes more sense.
Acts has similar Kerygmatic structure as Paul showing that Paul would have gotten his Gospel framework from Peter, James and John and not nuanced it heavily: the age of prophetic fulfillment has dawned. This fulfillment has taken place in the teachings/ministry, death and resurrection of Jesus, a descendent of David, from Nazareth (specifying his works of power). Post resurrected Jesus was enthroned at the right hand of God having been made both Lord and Christ. The Pentecostal presence of the Spirit is a sign of Christ's present power and glory. The Messianic age will soon reach its age of consummation at the second coming. Finally these speeches are topped off with an appeal: repentance, forgiveness and receive the Spirit for salvation (the life of the age to come).
But there are three points that do not align between the Pauline and the Jerusalem Kerygma: Paul had "Son of God" as a title; Jerusalem didn't have that Christ died "for our sins"; Jerusalem doesn't have Christ as intercession for us. Jerusalem did have the life, teachings and miracles of Jesus while Paul is almost totally silent on this front with the exception of "that which I received I passed on...".
Dodd then compares how 1Thes. (Our first-written Christian writing) compares to 1Jn. (one of our last) as far as eschatological expectation goes. We see in Mt. and Lk. that the Kingdom is already "upon you", so the further reflections in the church would have been that the eschaton had begun.
Well stated: when talking about how the Kerygma (=Gospel) is stated Dodd says "Observe how subtly the story of the Passion is set within the framework of Glory," p 50. So when you hear "Cross" see your King enthroned.
This was my first taste of realized eschatology and it was interesting. I am going to have to pick up a more recent account by a more recent scholar for further thought out concepts. But yeah, this was really interesting.
#CHDodd #ApostolicPreaching #BiblicalScholarship #RealizedEschatology
I just finished "The Apostolic Preaching and its Developments," by C.H. Dodd.
Highlights only because I'm not sure what to expect, and its biblical scholarship rather than systematic theology so I doubt I'm going to pick a fight with Dodd. EDIT: I should have spent some time researching "realized eschatology" rather than treating this slim book like a rollercoaster: "Take me where you want" [hands in the air].
Paul's Kerygma (Gk. For "proclamation") points to the death and resurrection of Christ in an eschatological setting which marks the transition from "this evil age" and "the age to come." "According to scripture" points to its fulfillment of the Old Testament found in Christ and the "age to come" is in-breaking.
When one sees PS. 110:1 as a key (and it should be seen as such due to the widespread quoting it gets in the NT) to shine a light on the Kerygma and hence the Gospel it makes more sense.
Acts has similar Kerygmatic structure as Paul showing that Paul would have gotten his Gospel framework from Peter, James and John and not nuanced it heavily: the age of prophetic fulfillment has dawned. This fulfillment has taken place in the teachings/ministry, death and resurrection of Jesus, a descendent of David, from Nazareth (specifying his works of power). Post resurrected Jesus was enthroned at the right hand of God having been made both Lord and Christ. The Pentecostal presence of the Spirit is a sign of Christ's present power and glory. The Messianic age will soon reach its age of consummation at the second coming. Finally these speeches are topped off with an appeal: repentance, forgiveness and receive the Spirit for salvation (the life of the age to come).
But there are three points that do not align between the Pauline and the Jerusalem Kerygma: Paul had "Son of God" as a title; Jerusalem didn't have that Christ died "for our sins"; Jerusalem doesn't have Christ as intercession for us. Jerusalem did have the life, teachings and miracles of Jesus while Paul is almost totally silent on this front with the exception of "that which I received I passed on...".
Dodd then compares how 1Thes. (Our first-written Christian writing) compares to 1Jn. (one of our last) as far as eschatological expectation goes. We see in Mt. and Lk. that the Kingdom is already "upon you", so the further reflections in the church would have been that the eschaton had begun.
Well stated: when talking about how the Kerygma (=Gospel) is stated Dodd says "Observe how subtly the story of the Passion is set within the framework of Glory," p 50. So when you hear "Cross" see your King enthroned.
This was my first taste of realized eschatology and it was interesting. I am going to have to pick up a more recent account by a more recent scholar for further thought out concepts. But yeah, this was really interesting.
#CHDodd #ApostolicPreaching #BiblicalScholarship #RealizedEschatology
May 13, 2019
Great book. Dodd's work on the sermon summaries of Acts is exceptional. However, there were a few points of contention I had with him pertaining to the composition of the Gospels. All in all, "The Apostolic Preaching" is a wonderful book.
October 25, 2016
Justly a classic. While one might not agree with Dodd at every turn, his historical sketch of the earliest years of Christianity makes for an engaging read.
April 8, 2021
Short, older book that compares and contrasts the preaching of the apostles. Very helpful chart that folds out to large size included at the end of the book.
January 5, 2016
A landmark of NT scholarship. Easily the best part is the appendix on eschatology. Pretty interesting how little things have changed since the first century when it comes to millenarianism and ethics. Dodd says quite a lot in a miniscule amount of words. His economy of language should serve as a benchmark for modern NT scholars. It's an easy read, but profound and thought-provoking. Dodd was a big fan of the Fourth Gospel. His take on realized eschatology was controversial in the seminary I attended, but I don't see a reason to doubt what he says given the bounds of his argument.
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews