A Linguistic Investigation into the Rhetoric of the Epistle to the Hebrews. MA Thesis (original) (raw)
Revealed: the New Testament's Rhetorical Table
My paper will focus on the rules of ancient rhetoric, on 'idea', 'structure', 'style', 'memory' and 'delivery', and with plenty of illustrations demonstrate how these rules guided and constrained the writers of the Greek texts of the New Testament. All the texts are 'simply structured'. The writer's 'idea(s)', his text's purpose(s) and its meaning(s) are all served by his use of 'structure'. Without this structural information all exegesis fails. Writing 'style' defines the limits of every piece of text; it separates the text into its pieces and shows the association of pieces, how they work together. It gives punctuation to the texts. Further, 'style' essentially aids 'delivery', how a reader is to present a text to his/her audience. 'Structure' and 'style' work together to aid 'memory' and to provide a whole text with its own built-in self-referencing system. Chapter and verse was never needed. Rhetorical devices abound in the New Testament texts and include significant word repetitions, dualities and repeating grammatical constructions. One further feature is common to the four gospels, where a number is given a double function, firstly in the text itself and secondly in identifying the 'structural' part, or the parts that make up the whole. This device assists 'memory' and gives the reader a chance to check that she/he is reading the text 'correctly'. New Testament scholarship today does not easily engage with the discipline of ancient rhetoric. It didn't in the third and fourth centuries! Then, church leaders began translating the New Testament's Greek texts into Latin, in blissful ignorance of the many reading helps they were destroying. The New Testament texts are works of ancient rhetoric. Any reading of a New Testament text, therefore, needs to be informed by the 'rules' that governed its creation. Five-hundred years to the year of the Reformation, we may yet get to read these works for the first time in the ways that their rhetors intended.
Does "authorship" still have a place in the study of the Hebrew Bible? Historical criticism has long sought to uncover the human authors behind the biblical texts. But how might the "death of the author," so forcefully declared by Roland Barthes over fifty years ago, change the contours of this search? This volume brings together leading experts in the Hebrew Bible, the Dead Sea Scrolls, cuneiform texts and cognate literature to reimagine the literary and discursive functions of "authorship" in ancient Israel. Bridging the gap between theoretical reflection and exegetical practice, the volume explores key features of biblical texts, from anonymity to divine speech, scribal editing to textual fluidity, to reveal the complex and varied author functions that shaped biblical literature. Reviewed in: Catholic Biblical Quarterly 86 (2024): 400–3. https://doi-org.ezp-prod1.hul.harvard.edu/10.1353/cbq.2024.a924388 Review of Biblical Literature (03/2024) https://www.sblcentral.org/home/bookDetails/1002218?search=Rhyder&type=0 Svensk exegetisk årsbok, 88, no. 1 (2023): 225–77. https://publicera.kb.se/sea/article/view/12895 Theologische Literaturzeitung, 148 (2023): 818–19 https://www.thlz.com/artikel/23769/?recherche=%26o%3Da%26autor%3Drhyder%26s%3D1%23r2 Zeitschrift für die alttestamentliche Wissenschaft 135, no. 1 (2023): 130–31 https://www-degruyter-com.ezp-prod1.hul.harvard.edu/document/doi/10.1515/zaw-2023-1007/html
This is the “Table of Contents” and “Introduction” to the book, The New Testament Writers: Why They Wrote How They Wrote." The book examines New Testament writers thought and language based on ancient, recent, current and futuristic models from which reasonable deductions can be made to moderate discussions on New Testament authorship and theology and also to reasonably assess innovative trends in the application of ultra-modern technology to areas of study that combine psycho-linguistics and the Christian scriptures together for balanced views in related discussions.
By Command of God Our Savior: A Defense of the Pauline Authorship of the Pastoral Epistles
Diligence: Journal of the Liberty University Online Religion Capstone in Research and Scholarship, 2016
Unbelieving biblical scholars like Bart Ehrman leverage the science of historical criticism to cast doubt on the reliability of Scripture by calling into question the traditionally accepted authorship of biblical books. For example, Ehrman argues that the Pastoral Epistles—1 and 2 Timothy, and Titus—are pseudepigrapha, letters falsely attributed to Paul by anonymous authors, and he claims something of a scholarly consensus as support, even from among believing scholars. However, their conclusions by no means go unchallenged by defenders of Pauline authorship, and the debate rages on. This paper analyzes and compares evidence offered for and against Pauline authorship of the Pastoral Epistles, and concludes that the apostle Paul is likely to have written them.
- New York , Chicago , Toronto :: Fleming H. Revell Company + the New Alexandria Library of Texas , 1868
This comprehensive guide, written by Joseph Angus and revised by Samuel G. Green, offers a systematic exploration of biblical study. It addresses textual, historical, theological, and interpretative aspects of the Bible. The book is structured into eight chapters, each focusing on key dimensions of biblical scholarship, making it a valuable resource for both students and theologians. • New Testament Text and Manuscripts: Discusses the Hellenistic Greek dialect of the New Testament, delineates uncial and cursive manuscripts, and reviews ancient versions such as Syriac, Armenian, and Latin (including the Vulgate). It examines early quotations and textual variations, providing insights into the principles of textual criticism. • The Old and New Testament Text: Explores the methodology of textual criticism, addressing external and internal evidence, textual variations (accidental and intentional), and the application of critical canons, with examples such as the Johannine Comma. • Bible's Authority and Claims: Reviews the self-claims of Scripture, including its testimony to moral and theological truths. It categorizes evidence into external (miracles, prophecy) and internal (moral and spiritual harmony), emphasizing the Bible's enduring credibility. • Inspiration and Revelation: Examines the dual divine-human nature of Scripture, the progression of revelation, and its unsystematic yet universal character. The text highlights the unity and diversity of biblical revelation and its role as authoritative in religious life. • Bible Translation: Chronicles the history of biblical translations, from Latin versions to the Authorized (King James) and Revised Versions in English. It analyzes translation features, including italics, marginal notes, and textual subdivisions, while offering comparisons to original languages. • Interpretation of Scripture: Provides a detailed hermeneutical framework, emphasizing grammatical, contextual, and theological analysis. It delves into figurative language (e.g., allegory, type, parable) and interprets prophetic texts, Old Testament quotations in the New, and foreshadowings of the Gospel. • Scriptural Difficulties: Addresses anticipated challenges, including complex phrases, cultural allusions, and apparent contradictions, offering guidance for resolution. It places biblical difficulties within the broader context of divine revelation. This book integrates linguistic, historical, and theological dimensions, advocating a rigorous and informed approach to Scripture. Its detailed methodologies and practical insights make it a foundational text for understanding the Bible's construction, claims, and interpretation. The work remains a valuable academic and devotional resource, bridging historical critical scholarship and spiritual inquiry. TAGS- Bible, sacred scripture, textual criticism, hermeneutics, theology, divine inspiration, biblical authority, translation history, biblical ethics, prophecy, miracles, faith, revelation, ancient manuscripts, uncial manuscripts, cursive manuscripts, Textus Receptus, critical editions, Syriac, Coptic, Armenian, Vulgate, Old Latin, ecclesiastical texts, lectionaries, Gospels, Pauline epistles, apostles, New Testament, Old Testament, Hebrew Bible, Septuagint, Dead Sea Scrolls, codices, manuscript preservation, scriptural authenticity, textual variations, biblical canon, moral philosophy, divine revelation, doctrinal debates, spiritual truth, biblical history, biblical geography, biblical chronology, ancient Near East, ancient languages, Hellenistic Greek, biblical prophecy, typology, allegory, parables, scriptural interpretation, historical criticism, theological ethics, miracles in Scripture, prophecy fulfillment, biblical morality, church history, reformation theology, inspiration 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