Homiletics (Classic Reprint): Or, The Theory of Preaching

by Alexandre-Rodolphe Vinet

A complete guide to the theory and practice of preaching from a leading 19th‑century theologian.

This second edition of Homiletics offers a thorough, editor‑augmented look at how to craft sermons that connect truth with hearts and lives. Rich with notes from the editor and comparisons to other classic works, it helps pastors and students understand the craft from invention to delivery.

The volume surveys what makes a sermon selecting worthy subjects, choosing text, structuring the discourse, and presenting ideas with clarity and persuasion. It balances theological depth with practical method, showing how to keep gospel truth relevant in changing times. The edition updates language for English readers and adds illustrative notes drawn from a wide range of authorities in rhetoric and ministry.

Invention and subject how to spark originality and align topics with a Christian aim. Text selection and guidelines for using Scripture to ground a sermon while allowing for varied topics. Structure and principles of unity, progression, and effective exordium and conclusion. Explanation, proof, motive, and methods to engage understanding, move will, and confer credibility. Ideal for students of homiletics, pastors, and scholars seeking a clear, practical philosophy of preaching.

468 pages, Paperback

First published October 1, 2011

About the author

Alexandre Rodolphe Vinet (June 17, 1797 – May 4, 1847), was a Swiss critic and theologian. He was born near Lausanne in Switzerland. Educated for the Protestant ministry, he was ordained in 1819, when already teacher of the French language and literature in the gymnasium at Basel; and throughout his life he was as much a critic as a theologian. His literary criticism brought him into contact with Charles Augustin Sainte-Beuve, for whom he obtained an invitation to lecture at Lausanne, which led to his famous work on Port-Royal.