An Analysis of Rhetorical Criticism as Exemplified by Hebrews Chapter 11

Authors

  • Vyacheslav KIRILLOV West Siberian Bible College in Omsk, Russian Federation

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.29357/issn.2521-179X.2014.15.110

Keywords:

Rhetorical Criticism, Hebrews Chapter 11, New Testament, Epistles rhetorical effect, Rhetorical analysis, Methods of studying the Bible

Abstract

This article is an attempt to learn the ba sics of rhetorical analysis of the biblical text as one of the methods for studying the Bible, to see its strengths and weaknesses. Is this method of “hermeneutical sophisti cation” far from actual practice, or can it make a real contribution to understanding the meaning attached to the text by the author? To achieve this goal, a brief over view of the history of rhetorical criticism of the New Testament is given, the gener al scheme of rhetorical analysis is present ed, and then, using this approach, a study of the 11th chapter of Hebrews is made. Rhetorical analysis of Hebrews 11 shows that the author uses the kind of rhetoric and strategy that would be effective in the given situation. The dominant rhetorical method used by the author in chapter 11 is anaphora the repetition of initial words.

This method allowed the author to show a large number of examples of heroic expres sions of faith throughout salvation history. The author also uses paronomasia, staccato effect, asyndeton, and polysyndeton, izokolon, chiasmus, a rhetorical question, contrast and a statement about the lack of time. These techniques are aimed at main taining the basic rhetorical method (anaphora) and serve to achieve the main objective by creating the impression of a large number of similar examples that could be cited to confirm the author's words. In addition, rhetorical analysis is helpful in determining the author's purpose in establishing the boundaries of semantic passages within the chapter, and shows exactly how the author presented and proved his main assertion (11:12). Despite the prevailing view that in the New Testament epistles rhetorical effect was achieved largely through compositional techniques, it is observed that the author of the book of Hebrews actively uses phonetic techniques. In addition, rhetorical analysis confirms the high quality and beauty of the literary style of the author of Hebrews.

Author Biography

Vyacheslav KIRILLOV, West Siberian Bible College in Omsk

Vyacheslav Kirillov. He was first educated as a lawyer. in 2005 graduated from the Theological Faculty of St. Petersburg Christian University. In the same year he became a teacher at the West Siberian Bible College in Omsk. He specializes in the Old Testament and hermeneutics. In 2010 he received a Master's degree in Old Testament Biblical Studies (program accreditation SPbCU University of Wales, UK). He is a member of the Baptist Church in Omsk, where he leads Bible studies in the adult Sunday school. He is the author of several articles published in the International Christian Newspaper.
Principal contact for editorial correspondence.

References

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  3. Asensio M. Gustavo (1996). Halliday’s Functional Grammar as Heir to New Testament Rhetorical Criticism // The rhetorical interpretation of Scripture: Essays from the 1996.
  4. Malibu conference. Ed. Stanley E. Porter; Dennis L. Stamps. Pp. 84 – 107. Sheffield Academic Press, England.
  5. Cosby R. Michael (1988). The rhetorical composition and function of Hebrews 11. In light of example list in antiquity. MERCER.
  6. Olbricht H. Thomas (1996).Classical rhetorical criticism and historical reconstruction: a critique // The rhetorical interpretation of Scripture: Essays from the 1996 Malibu conference. Ed. Stanley E. Porter; Dennis L. Stamps. Pp. 108 – 124. Sheffield Academic Press, England.
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  8. Watson F. Duane (2003). Rhetorical criticism / / Jesus and the Gospel. Ed. Green. J. McKnight; Marshall G. 528-531. M.: BBI.
  9. Watson F. Duane (1996). The contributions and limitations of Greco-Roman rhetorical theory for constructing the rhetorical and historical situations of a Pauline epistle // The rhetorical interpretation of Scripture: Essays from the 1996 Malibu conference. Ed. Stanley E. Porter; Dennis L. Stamps. Pp. 125 – 151. Sheffield Academic Press, England.
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THEOLOGICAL REFLECTIONS

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How to Cite

KIRILLOV, Vyacheslav. 2014. “An Analysis of Rhetorical Criticism As Exemplified by Hebrews Chapter 11”. Theological Reflections: Eastern European Journal of Theology, no. 15 (May):110-41. https://doi.org/10.29357/issn.2521-179X.2014.15.110.

Issue

No. 15 (2014): Theological Reflections: Euro-Asian Journal of Theology

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Articles

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Copyright (c) 2020 Vyacheslav KIRILLOV

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