Exploring Prosperity Preaching: Biblical Health, Wealth, & Wisdom

¿Beloved, I pray that you may prosper in all things and be in health.¿ The words from 3 John 1:2 are a familiar refrain in many black churches today. What are the seeds of truth in prosperity preaching? Why is it so popular, especially in today¿s African American church? Homiletics professor Debra Mumford begins by tracing the roots of prosperity preaching to its Word of Faith origins. Then she examines its common teachings, carefully weighing biblical proof texts against the larger scriptural testimony concerning our health, wealth, and spiritual wisdom.

Debra J. Mumford, PhD, MDiv, is the Frank H. Caldwell Associate Professor of Homiletics and Associate Dean of Student Academic Affairs at Louisville Presbyterian Theological Seminary, Louisville, Kentucky. She is ordained in the American Baptist Churches USA and holds degrees from Howard University, the American Baptist Semi-nary of the West, and the Graduate Theological Union.