Jefferson Davis Ray: A 'forgotten man' in the matter of preaching

This dissertation argues that although Jeff Ray was a relatively obscure Texas pioneer preacher, he made a lasting contribution to the legacy of expository preaching among Southern Baptists as a teacher of preachers for thirty-seven years at Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary by establishing a foundation upon which advocates for "text-driven preaching" stand at Southwestern today.;Chapter 1 introduces the thesis and the life of Jefferson Davis Ray. Chapter 2 presents and evaluates Ray's theology and practice of preaching in order to illuminate the driving force behind his decision to champion expository preaching.;Chapter 3 defines and critiques Ray's definition of expository preaching by summarizing and analyzing his book, Expository Preaching. This chapter also compares Expository Preaching with other works on exposition in order to illuminate the historical significance of Ray's volume.;Chapter 4 situates Ray in the history of preaching and provides the historical context for his contributions to expository preaching.;Chapter 5 crystalizes Ray's impact on expository preaching by tracing the trajectory of homiletical instruction he initiated at Southwestern Seminary. This chapter also provides plausible answers for Ray's obscurity.