Abstract

SNYMAN, A.H.. A text-centred rhetorical analysis of 1 Corinthians 4. In Skriflig (Online) [online]. 2011, vol.45, n.2-3, pp.449-466. ISSN 2305-0853.

The traditional approach in rhetorical analyses of Paul's letters is to apply categories derived from the Greek-Roman rhetorical system to make sense of his persuasive strategy. The problem with this approach is that the categories were intended for the production of speeches and not for the analysis of letters. In order to address the problem, scholars have developed alternative approaches to the analysis of his letters - one of them is the so-called text-centred approach. By analysing 1 Corinthians 4 through a text-centred approach, I intend to provide additional evidence that it is unnecessary to force ancient rhetorical categories (from outside) on the chapter to make sense of Paul's persuasive strategy. It can be reconstructed fairly accurately from the text itself, provided that the chapter is studied carefully and systematically.

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