What Has Aristotle To Do With Paul? Rhetorical Criticism And 1 Thessalonians -- By: Steve Walton

Journal: Tyndale Bulletin
Volume: TYNBUL 46:2 (NA 1995)
Article: What Has Aristotle To Do With Paul? Rhetorical Criticism And 1 Thessalonians
Author: Steve Walton


What Has Aristotle To Do With Paul? Rhetorical Criticism And 1 Thessalonians

Steve Walton

Summary

This article considers the application of rhetorical critical methods to 1 Thessalonians, summarising the approaches of significant scholars before considering the rhetorical genre of the letter. After considering the options, a key issue is identified: the question of whether Paul faced opponents in the church at Thessalonica. The evidence favours a negative conclusion, and the rhetorical genre is concluded to be epideictic, because of the focus of the letter on praise and blame.

I. Introduction

In recent times a growing number of studies have appeared using the tools provided by rhetoric, both ancient and modern, to analyse and understand the biblical documents.1 In New Testament studies, Betz’ work on Galatians launched this new era,2 followed by the highly influential work of Kennedy,3 who has provided a classicist’s perspective to the development of the discipline.

What these modern scholars are doing is not, of course, a new procedure. Fairweather draws attention to Chrysostom’s use of rhetorical categories in his commentary of Galatians,4 as does Kennedy to Augustine working in similar manner (in On Christian Doctrine),5 and Classen to Philip Melanchthon’s use of rhetoric in his works on Biblical Studies.6

This paper will outline recent rhetorical work on 1 Thessalonians, and consider issues in the study of 1 Thessalonians from a ‘rhetorical’ perspective, particularly the question of the rhetorical genre of the letter.

II. Rhetorical Approaches To 1 Thessalonians

Scholarly study of 1 Thessalonians moved in a rhetorical direction with an influential article by A. Malherbe,7 in which he argued that 1 Thessalonians 2:1-12 should be understood against the background of Dio Chrysostom’s writings about the popular philosophers of his day, especially the Cynics.8 Whilst Malherbe’s conclusions have been challenged,9 the general approach he took, of attempting to understand Paul against the backcloth of other writers of his t...

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