Ancient Rhetoric and Paul's Apology: The Compositional Unity of 2 Corinthians

by Fredrick J. Long

• ISBN13: 9780521842334
• ISBN10: 0521842336
• Format: Hardcover
• Copyright: 2004-11-15
• Publisher: Cambridge University Press

Summary

Second Corinthians is Paul's apology to the Corinthians for failing to visit them, using rhetorical persuasion in his letters, and appearing unapproved for the collection. The scholarly consensus maintains that 2 Corinthians is a conglomeration of letters due to its literary and logistical inconsistencies. Consequently, most interpretations of 2 Corinthians treat only parts of it. However, a new consensus is emerging. Fredrick Long situates the text within Classical literary and rhetorical conventions and argues for its unity based upon numerous parallels with ancient apology in the tradition of Andocides, Socrates, Isocrates and Demosthenes. He provides a comprehensive survey and rigorous genre analysis of ancient forensic discourse in support of his claims, and shows how the unified message of Paul's letter can be recovered. His study will be of relevance to Classicists and New Testament scholars alike.

Table of Contents

List of figures	xii
List of tables	xiii
Preface	xv
List of abbreviations	xvii
1 An apology for the unity of 2 Corinthians	1	(16)
Part 1 A survey of ancient forensic discourse
2 The anatomy of a genre: sources, nature, and features of forensic rhetoric	17	(19)
2.1 Sources for forensic rhetoric and theory	17	(6)
2.2 Profusion of forensic rhetoric in Greco-Roman cultures	23	(8)
2.3 Written or spoken rhetoric: oratory and orality	31	(2)
2.4 Features that identify forensic discourse	33	(3)
3 Forensic exigency	36	(5)
3.1 Alleged wrongdoing in the past	36	(1)
3.2 Judicial setting	37	(2)
3.3 Designation as defense or accusation	39	(2)
4 Forensic invention	41	(30)
4.1 Essential issue and stasis theory	41	(6)
4.2 Inartificial proofs: use of witnesses, other evidences, and laws	47	(3)
4.3 Artificial proofs: pathos, ethos, and logos	50	(12)
4.4 Topoi of forensic argumentation	62	(9)
5 Forensic disposition	71	(26)
5.1 Discernible rhetorical disposition	71	(11)
5.2 Narratio	82	(3)
5.3 Partitio	85	(4)
5.4 Refutatio	89	(2)
5.5 Self-adulation	91	(4)
5.6 Conclusion	95	(2)
6 Apologetic letters	97	(20)
6.1 Introduction: the problem of Paul's letters and epistolary speeches	97	(4)
6.2 Apologetic letters: forensic and demegoric	101	(11)
6.3 Second Corinthians as a propagandistic apologetic letter	112	(5)
Part 2 A rhetorical analysis of 2 Corinthians as ancient apology
7 The rhetorical exigency of 2 Corinthians	117	(26)
7.1 Introduction to the problem	117	(1)
7.2 Formal designation and alleged wrongdoing	118	(19)
7.3 Court setting	137	(4)
7.4 Conclusion	141	(2)
8 The rhetorical disposition of 2 Corinthians	143	(56)
8.1 Introduction	143	(1)
8.2 Discernible disposition	143	(2)
8.3 Prooemium: 1.3-7	145	(6)
8.4 Narratio: 1.8-16; 2.12-13; 7.2-16	151	(6)
8.5 Divisio and partitio: 1.17-24	157	(5)
8.6 Probatio: 2.1-9.15	162	(16)
8.7 Refutatio: 10.1-11.15	178	(8)
8.8 Self-adulation: 11.16-12.10	186	(4)
8.9 Peroratio: 12.11-13.10	190	(7)
8.10 Conclusion	197	(2)
9 The rhetorical invention of 2 Corinthians	199	(31)
9.1 Introduction	199	(1)
9.2 Essential issue and stasis theory	199
9.3 Inartificial proofs	21	(193)
9.4 Artificial proofs: pathos, ethos, and logos	214	(11)
9.5 Forensic topoi	225	(3)
9.6 Conclusion	228	(2)
10 The rhetoric of 2 Corinthians and the nature of Paul's theology	230	(12)
Appendix I How the peroratio (12.11-13.10) summarizes 2 Corinthians	242	(3)
Appendix II Topoi for each subtype of the qualitative stasis	245	(3)
List of references	248	(15)
Index of biblical references	263	(9)
Index of ancient authors and sources	272	(17)
Subject index	289