Listening to the text

by Harvey, John D

Scholars concerned to relate the New Testament writings to their first-century context have long been intrigued by the insights of comparative studies. In particular, there has been a concentrated effort to uncover parallels between Scripture and contemporary secular works, especially through the application of rhetorical criticism and the analysis of other epistolary literature. A significant but often overlooked aspect of these studies involves identifying the methods of communication adopted by writers in a predominantly oral culture. John Harvey offers here a comprehensive study of these methods as they appear in the Pauline Epistles. The first two sections offer a useful introduction to the field as well as a historical survey of the growth of interest in rhetorical studies and the investigation of oral patterning. In particular, the author explores their application to Greco-Roman literature and the Old Testament. Harvey describes and illustrates eight rhetorical forms: chiasmus,