Kingdom Rhetoric

This book, written to honor Ben Witherington III, is a collaborative effort from the New Testament department at Asbury Theological Seminary. Essays are offered by five New Testament faculty and five New Testament students who have completed or are currently in the process of completing the PhD program. It is our hope that readers of this volume, which is divided into five sections and covers the breadth of the New Testament canon, will be encouraged in their own explorations and research of the New Testament, much as Ben and his works have encouraged us. For those who know Ben, they will know the last year or so has been quite a difficult one for him and his family. On Wednesday, January 11, 2012, Christy Ann, the daughter of Ben and Ann, passed on unexpectedly. Today, there exists a scholarship fund in Christy's name, The Christy Ann Witherington Scholarship Fund, at Asbury Theological Seminary, and readers should be aware that 100 percent of the proceeds from this book will go to that scholarship fund to assist female students in Asbury's biblical studies program. Contributors: David R. Bauer Joseph R. Dongell T. Michael W. Halcomb Craig S. Keener Robert Brian Kidwell Susann Liubinskas Fredrick J. Long Jason A. Myers Judith Odor Ruth Anne Reese

Young and Strickland analyze the four largest discourses of Jesus in Mark in the context of Greco-Roman rhetoric in an attempt to hear them as a first-century audience would have heard them. The authors demonstrate that, contrary to what some historical critics have suggested, first-century audiences of Mark would have found the discourses of Jesus unified, well-integrated, and persuasive. They also show how these speeches of the Markan Jesus contribute to Mark‘s overall narrative accomplishments.

This book, written to honor Ben Witherington III, is a collaborative effort from the New Testament department at Asbury Theological Seminary. Essays are offered by five New Testament faculty and five New Testament students who have completed or are currently in the process of completing the PhD program. It is our hope that readers of this volume, which is divided into five sections and covers the breadth of the New Testament canon, will be encouraged in their own explorations and research of the New Testament, much as Ben and his works have encouraged us. For those who know Ben, they will know the last year or so has been quite a difficult one for him and his family. On Wednesday, January 11, 2012, Christy Ann, the daughter of Ben and Ann, passed on unexpectedly. Today, there exists a scholarship fund in Christy's name, The Christy Ann Witherington Scholarship Fund, at Asbury Theological Seminary, and readers should be aware that 100 percent of the proceeds from this book will go to that scholarship fund to assist female students in Asbury's biblical studies program.Contributors:David R. Bauer, Joseph R. Dongell, T. Michael W. Halcomb, Craig S. Keener, Robert Brian Kidwell, Susann Liubinskas, Fredrick J. Long, Jason A. Myers, Judith Odor, Ruth Anne Reese

Rhetoric has returned vigorously to the agenda of a number of academic disciplines. Aristotle defended the art of rhetoric, while Plato was suspicious of its manipulative power to persuade. This study examines rhetoric in the context of different kinds of religious texts, from sacred scripture, to liturgy, to contemporary and postmodern writing and religion. How does the believing community negotiate rhetorical power-games which may be exercised upon it, and do we have to be bold to see the ironies and the joke which may be played upon us in the name of the truth of religion? This book is an exercise in rhetoric which is itself suspicious of the rhetorical arts. Its concerns are profoundly theological, though perhaps offensive to theology as it is often practiced in the church and the academy. It offers no conclusion, but perhaps a way of exploring and of looking afresh.

Meghan Henning explores the rhetorical function of the early Christian concept of hell, drawing connections to Greek and Roman systems of education, and examining texts from the Hebrew Bible, Greek and Latin literature, the New Testament, early Christian apocalypses and patristic authors.

This book examines the political oratory, rhetoric and persona of Margaret Thatcher as a means of understanding her justifications for ‘Thatcherism’. The main arenas for consideration are set piece speeches to conference, media engagements, and Parliamentary orations. Thatcher’s rhetorical style is analysed through the lens of the Aristotelian modes of persuasion (ethos, pathos, logos). Furthermore, the classical methods of oratorical engagement (deliberative, epidictic, judicial) are employed to consider her style of delivery. The authors place her styles of communication into their respective political contexts over a series of noteworthy issues, such as industrial relations, foreign policy, economic reform, and party management. By doing so, this distinctive book shines new light on Thatcher and her political career.

Witherington and Myers provide a much-needed introduction to the ancient art of persuasion and its use within the various New Testament documents. More than just an exploration of the use of the ancient rhetorical tools and devices, this guide introduces the reader to all that went into convincing an audience about some subject. Witherington and Myers make the case that rhetorical criticism is a more fruitful approach to the NT epistles than the oft-employed approaches of literary and discourse criticism. Familiarity with the art of rhetoric also helps the reader explore non-epistolary genres. In addition to the general introduction to rhetorical criticism, the book guides readers through the many and varied uses of rhetoric in most NT documents—not only telling readers about rhetoric in the NT, but showing them the way it was employed. “This brief guide book is intended to provide the reader with an entrance into understanding the rhetorical analysis of various parts of the NT, the value such studies bring for understanding what is being proclaimed and defended in the NT, and how Christ is presented in ways that would be considered persuasive in antiquity.” – from the introduction

Immanuel Kant is rarely connected to rhetoric by those who study philosophy or the rhetorical tradition. If anything, Kant is said to see rhetoric as mere manipulation and as not worthy of attention. In Kant and the Promise of Rhetoric, Scott Stroud presents a first-of-its-kind reappraisal of Kant and the role he gives rhetorical practices in his philosophy. By examining the range of terms that Kant employs to discuss various forms of communication, Stroud argues that the general thesis that Kant disparaged rhetoric is untenable. Instead, he offers a more nuanced view of Kant on rhetoric and its relation to moral cultivation. For Kant, certain rhetorical practices in education, religious settings, and public argument become vital tools to move humans toward moral improvement without infringing on their individual autonomy. Through the use of rhetorical means such as examples, religious narratives, symbols, group prayer, and fallibilistic public argument, individuals can persuade other agents to move toward more cultivated states of inner and outer autonomy. For the Kant recovered in this book, rhetoric becomes another part of human activity that can be animated by the value of humanity, and it can serve as a powerful tool to convince agents to embark on the arduous task of moral self-cultivation.