New Testament Interpretation Through Rhetorical Criticism

Nonfiction, Religion & Spirituality, Bible & Bible Studies, New Testament, Criticism & Interpretation
Cover of the book New Testament Interpretation Through Rhetorical Criticism by George A. Kennedy, The University of North Carolina Press
View on Amazon View on AbeBooks View on Kobo View on B.Depository View on eBay View on Walmart
Author: George A. Kennedy ISBN: 9781469616254
Publisher: The University of North Carolina Press Publication: February 1, 2014
Imprint: The University of North Carolina Press Language: English
Author: George A. Kennedy
ISBN: 9781469616254
Publisher: The University of North Carolina Press
Publication: February 1, 2014
Imprint: The University of North Carolina Press
Language: English

New Testament Interpretation through Rhetorical Criticism provides readers of the Bible with an important tool for understanding the Scriptures. Based on the theory and practice of Greek rhetoric in the New Testament, George Kennedy's approach acknowledges that New Testament writers wrote to persuade an audience of the truth of their messages. These writers employed rhetorical conventions that were widely known and imitated in the society of the times. Sometimes confirming but often challenging common interpretations of texts, this is the first systematic study of the rhetorical composition of the New Testament.

As a complement to form criticism, historical criticism, and other methods of biblical analysis, rhetorical criticism focuses on the text as we have it and seeks to discover the basis of its powerful appeal and the intent of its authors. Kennedy shows that biblical writers employed both "external" modes of persuasion, such as scriptural authority, the evidence of miracles, and the testimony of witnesses, and "internal" methods, such as ethos (authority and character of the speaker), pathos (emotional appeal to the audience), and logos (deductive and inductive argument in the text).

In the opening chapter Kennedy presents a survey of how rhetoric was taught in the New Testament period and outlines a rigorous method of rhetorical criticism that involves a series of steps. He provides in succeeding chapters examples of rhetorical analysis, looking closely at the Sermon on the Mount, the Sermon on the Plain, Jesus' farewell to the disciples in John's Gospel, the distinctive rhetoric of Jesus, the speeches in Acts, and the approach of Saint Paul in Second Corinthians, Thessalonians, Galatians, and Romans.

View on Amazon View on AbeBooks View on Kobo View on B.Depository View on eBay View on Walmart

New Testament Interpretation through Rhetorical Criticism provides readers of the Bible with an important tool for understanding the Scriptures. Based on the theory and practice of Greek rhetoric in the New Testament, George Kennedy's approach acknowledges that New Testament writers wrote to persuade an audience of the truth of their messages. These writers employed rhetorical conventions that were widely known and imitated in the society of the times. Sometimes confirming but often challenging common interpretations of texts, this is the first systematic study of the rhetorical composition of the New Testament.

As a complement to form criticism, historical criticism, and other methods of biblical analysis, rhetorical criticism focuses on the text as we have it and seeks to discover the basis of its powerful appeal and the intent of its authors. Kennedy shows that biblical writers employed both "external" modes of persuasion, such as scriptural authority, the evidence of miracles, and the testimony of witnesses, and "internal" methods, such as ethos (authority and character of the speaker), pathos (emotional appeal to the audience), and logos (deductive and inductive argument in the text).

In the opening chapter Kennedy presents a survey of how rhetoric was taught in the New Testament period and outlines a rigorous method of rhetorical criticism that involves a series of steps. He provides in succeeding chapters examples of rhetorical analysis, looking closely at the Sermon on the Mount, the Sermon on the Plain, Jesus' farewell to the disciples in John's Gospel, the distinctive rhetoric of Jesus, the speeches in Acts, and the approach of Saint Paul in Second Corinthians, Thessalonians, Galatians, and Romans.

More books from The University of North Carolina Press

Cover of the book City of Second Sight by George A. Kennedy
Cover of the book The Country Ham Book by George A. Kennedy
Cover of the book Grand Designs and Visions of Unity by George A. Kennedy
Cover of the book The Road to Confrontation by George A. Kennedy
Cover of the book Sweet Chariot by George A. Kennedy
Cover of the book The Voyage of the Slave Ship Hare by George A. Kennedy
Cover of the book My Southern Home by George A. Kennedy
Cover of the book The Color of the Land by George A. Kennedy
Cover of the book Never Just a Game by George A. Kennedy
Cover of the book The Cold War at Home by George A. Kennedy
Cover of the book Creating a Common Table in Twentieth-Century Argentina by George A. Kennedy
Cover of the book Coming Out Under Fire by George A. Kennedy
Cover of the book Rethinking Slave Rebellion in Cuba by George A. Kennedy
Cover of the book Every Nation Has Its Dish by George A. Kennedy
Cover of the book Virginia 1619 by George A. Kennedy
We use our own "cookies" and third party cookies to improve services and to see statistical information. By using this website, you agree to our Privacy Policy