This volume is designed as a resource for using rhetorical criticism as a methodology for interpreting the Bible. Rhetorical criticism is treated in the broader context of the growing interest in the study of the literary character of the Bible. The volume is divided into two parts to accommodate both the Old and New Testaments. Each part begins with a discussion of the history and methodology of rhetorical criticism pertinent to that Testament. Here special emphasis is given to the current state and trends of the discipline and its impact on biblical interpretation. These discussions are followed by extensive bibliographies categorized to facilitate working with the published research on specific biblical texts, books, or categories of books.

Now in its second edition, Rhetorical Criticism: Perspectives in Action presents a thorough, accessible, and well-grounded introduction to contemporary rhetorical criticism. Systematic chapters contributed by noted experts introduce the fundamental aspects of a perspective, provide students with an example to model when writing their own criticism, and address the potentials and pitfalls of the approach. In addition to covering traditional modes of rhetorical criticism, the volume presents less commonly discussed rhetorical perspectives, exposing students to a wide cross-section of techniques.

In this book, Emmanuel Mbennah argues that Christian spiritual maturity is the bridge between the new identity of the Christian, articulated in Ephesians 1-3, and the moral code of the Christian life commensurate with the new identity, presented in Ephesians 4:17--6:20. From an interpretation of Ephesians 4:13, Mbennah brings to the fore what Christian spiritual maturity is and why it is imperative. He argues that Ephesians 4:1-16 is about spiritual maturity, and not about Christian unity, except unity as a by-product of maturity. A case study in which the meaning of spiritual maturity is used as a critical standard to evaluate the spiritual maturity of a church in a particular context further clarifies the meaning of spiritual maturity and demonstrates what a sad state of immaturity a church could be in. Mbennah calls for the Church's return to the pursuit of maturity and a return to the subject in New Testament scholarship.

Rhetorical criticism promised to bring New Testament studies into a new era that approached the Bible as a document of persuasive discourse. Major proponents of this approach suggested that its potential lies in its democratization of biblical interpretation. To date, that promise has never been fulfilled. The reasons can be found by exploring the rhetoric of these rhetorical critics. Such an exploration uncovers systems of disciplinary constraints and discursive habits that keep rhetoric firmly within traditional units of academic biblical interpretation. The promise of rhetoric can only be fulfilled by shattering all notions of a rhetorical 'programme' of biblical interpretation.

Rhetorical Interaction in 1 Corinthians 8 and 10 is a formal analysis of Paul's rhetorical interaction with the Corinthians over the issues of participation in the cultic meal (1 Cor. 10:1-22) and the eating of idol food (1 Cor. 8:1-13, 10:23-11:1). The thesis is that Paul's theology and rhetoric are predicated on knowledge and love. Major portions of the book employ rhetorical, sociological, archaeological, and historical-critical approaches to examine the triangular interaction between Paul, the Corinthians, and the biblical texts, paying particular attention to the complex configuration of the Corinthian congregation, including the influence of proto-Gnosticism, as well as the ways Paul responded to the shifting situation and different issues. The two chapters on rhetorical-hermeneutical theory and criticism are especially creative as the author suggests a Chinese hermeneutic for cross-cultural dialogues, the issue of ancestor worship being a specific example.

This book is the rhetorical approach to 1 Thessalonians, particularly on funeral orations. Though many scholars have interpreted 1 Thessalonians in light of a thematic perspective, mirror reading, and epistolary approach, the author asserts that Paul employs elements of epideictic funerary oratory to persuade his audience. Encountering the growing persecution, sufferings, and even death of members, the believers of Thessalonica needed encouragement. As a rhetorical strategist, Paul needed effective methods to answer these problems, which he did so with Greco-Roman funeral orations. Moreover, this book delves into the funerary language with the paradoxical concepts Paul uses to illustrate topoi and the purpose of funeral oration in 1 Thessalonians. Consequently, this book proves these ideas by showing how funeral orations shed light on the whole of 1 Thessalonians in the exordium (1 Thess 1:2–3), the narratio (1:4—3:10), the consolation and exhortation (4:1—5:15), and peroratio with prayer (5:16–28).

This introductory textbook unites the study of rhetoric with the persuasive potential of today's 'texts' in popular culture. By providing students with a means by which to understand why popular texts are important to study-as well as how to examine these texts' underlying messages from a variety of rhetorical perspectives-Deanna Sellnow helps readers become critical consumers of the many popular culture texts that influence them in their daily lives.Features &BAD:amp; Benefits:This textbook unites rhetorical criticism with mediated popular cultural texts (e.g., film, television, rap music) in ways that relate directly to the experiences of people in society today. Each chapter is devoted to one theoretical perspective (e.g., narrative, dramatistic, Marxist, feminist, illusion of life, visual pleasure, media effects) Each chapter provides (a) an explana¡tion of a particular rhetorical theory, (b) examples of messages the theory reveals when applied to vari¡ous contemporary popular culture texts, (c) embedded ôapplying what youÆve learnedö opportuni¡ties for students to practice examining a specific film, television program, song, or adver¡tisement using the theory, (d) one or two scholarly articles that use the theory to examine a popular culture text, (e) one or two sample student papers that use the theory to examine a popu¡lar culture text, and (f) an end-of-chapter challenge posed to students to examine in depth a contempo¡rary artifact using the concepts described in the chapter Each chapter opens with reflective questions to guide students to about specific examples as read the chapter.

This edited volume fills a void in the literature concerning the purpose, practice, and pedagogy associated with performing rhetorical criticism. Literature regarding these issues—predominantly purpose—exists primarily as scattered journal articles and as sections within chapters of textbooks on rhetorical criticism. This book brings together 15 established rhetorical critics, each of whom offers well thought out and argued opinion pieces that stress the more personal nature of criticism. The purpose of this book is to serve as a disciplinary resource, and as a teaching and learning aid. Accessibility across areas of expertise and experience is stressed in this book. Critics range from junior faculty to emeritus, and represent a broad spectrum of views on criticism. In this sense the book offers a snapshot of the views of a wide swath of successfully practicing, contemporary rhetorical critics.

This volume is the fifth in a series that explores the use of rhetoric in the study of biblical literature. Contributions from scholars in North America, Britain, Continental Europe and South Africa focus here on four major categories: The Theory of Rhetoric and Biblical Interpretation, Rhetorical Interpretation of Luke's Gospel and Acts, The Rhetorical Interpretation of Paul's Writings, and Rhetorical Interpretation of Hebrews and Ignatius. Author include Tom Olbricht, Douglas Campbell, Arthur Gibson, Craig Evans, Vernon Robbins, Greg Bloomquist, Pieter Botha, Paul Danove, Gerrie Snyman, Anders Eriksson, K. K. Yeo, Lauri Thuren, G. A. van den Heever, Marc Debanne, J. N Vorster, and the editors.