Of the many themes that Classical Antiquity and Early Christianity had in common, for all their profound differences, none was more influential than their love of language. It was the Greek and Roman rhetorical theorists who called the attention of later generations to the importance of speech and language. Likewise, when the author of the Fourth Gospel needed a comprehensive metaphor to describe the eternal significance of Jesus Christ, he turned to speech, calling him the Logos -- the Word and Reason of God, through whom the universe was made and by whom it was upheld. What would happen when these two systems of interpreting persuasive language collided -- and yet in some sense converged? To answer that question, this book examines three interpretations of the most universally acknowledged piece of rhetoric in the history of the West, the Sermon on the Mount: from the Latin and Catholic tradition (St Augustine), the Greek and Orthodox tradition (St John Chrysostom), and the Reformation and Protestant tradition (Martin Luther). Each is acknowledged in his tradition as a "prince of the pulpit." Together and yet separately, they illuminate both the Sermon and the Speaker for anyone who still takes the challenge of the faith -- and of language -- seriously.

Reformed theology speaks of the divine act that leads to conversion in terms of the effectual call. In this lucidly written and carefully researched study, Jonathan Hoglund provides a constructive treatment of effectual calling, interpreting divine calling to salvation as an act of triune rhetoric in which Father, Son, and Holy Spirit work in a personal way to communicate new life.

In scholarly study of the New Testament and early Christian rhetoric, one key element is often overlooked: the sublime. To address this omission, contributors to this volume explore how the awe-inspiring, dislocating, and sometimes horrifying language that characterizes sublime rhetoric exerts cognitive, emotional, and physiological force on its audiences, transporting them to new realities as they go along. The essays lay a foundation for scholars and students to identify and interpret sublime rhetoric in biblical literature. Contributors include Murray J. Evans, Alan P. R. Gregory, Christopher T. Holmes, Roy R. Jeal, Harry O. Maier, Erika Mae Olbricht, Thomas H. Olbricht†, Vernon K. Robbins, and Jonathan Thiessen.

Focusing on texts in the Hebrew Bible, and using feminist hermeneutics, Phyllis Trible brings out what she considers to be neglected themes and counter literature. After outlining her method in more detail, she begins by highlighting the feminist imagery used for God; then she moves on to traditions embodying male and female within the context of the goodness of creation. If Genesis 2-3 is a love story gone awry, the Song of Songs is about sexuality redeemed in joy. In between lies the book of Ruth, with its picture of the struggles of everyday life.

In recent years, keen interest has arisen among scholars regarding the connection between rhetoric and religion. This phenomenon could be due to the idea of universality that underlies these two topics or simply because of the crucial relevance theyhold for the human condition. Biblical rhetorical criticism has been particularly active since 2009. The debate serves as a foundation for Eloquence Divine, which is grounded in a moderate and detached point of view that becomes helpful in seeing God as a 'mere' agent. In this fascinating study, God and Jesus are intended as rhetoricians who applied their own rhetoric tools in order to influence humanity's behaviour, acts and decisions. As an agnostic English teacher, Philip Arrington traces paths across different episodes of the Scriptures with the aim to explore basic issues, such as identifying the difference between God's rhetoric and human persuasion, as well as the effectiveness that divine eloquence demonstrates in the narration of the Bible.

Modern approaches to preaching today are largely fixated on "how-to's"--how to make preaching more relevant, more interesting, more entertaining. Michael Pasquarello suggests that this fixation may stem from a preaching imagination more beholden to technical, scientific reason than theological wisdom. Rather than devising new techniques or strategies for effective speaking, Pasquarello offers something more salutary--portraits of ten exemplary preachers from the Christian tradition.Included in Pasquarello's gallery are Augustine of Hippo, Gregory the Great, Benedict, Bernard of Clairvaux, Bonaventure, Thomas Aquinas, Erasmus, Hugh Latimer, Martin Luther, and John Calvin. These excellent preachers conceived of Christian speech as a unique theological practice learned through prayerful attention to the Bible and aimed at communion with God.Sacred Rhetoric invites readers to join an extended conversation with the past in order to become faithful preachers of the gospel in a post-Christian society. Preachers, seminarians, and students of Christian history will find much to learn from Pasquarello's fresh perspective and passion for the past.

Accompanying CD contains ... "The case of Hezekiah and the messengers (Sermon 17) / performed by Patrick Wildgust in Saint Michael's Church, Coxwold, Yorkshire on January 4, 2008"--CD label.

This book offers a fresh and accessible approach to Bible study. Divine Symmetries engages thoughtful readers by revealing the astonishing symmetrical patternings and shaping techniques of the biblical writers. It invites the Bible to speak on its own terms, offering the key to remembering and interpreting Scripture. It asks and answers these questions: How did the oral world communicate? With what mnemonic conventions was Scripture conveyed in a largely oral world, and can those methods still be effective? The Bible was fashioned for the ear using popular symmetrical patterns and rhetorical devices that helped listeners remember without a ready "text" for reference. These astonishing literary "shapes" are both mnemonic devices and interpretative aids. They offer ideal paradigms for teaching the books, yet they have remained largely dormant under the guise of an alien medium--the printed page. This book offers a captivating and highly visual approach that represents the cutting edge of contemporary biblical study.

"Explores prayer as a rhetorical art, examining situations, strategies, and performative modes of discourse directed to the divine"--Provided by publisher.