Rhetoric and Biblical Interpretation
Overview
In this volume, two scholars from two different fields join to create a new theory of rhetorical biblical interpretation. Patrick and Scult present their studies on Old Testament traditions and communications. They believe that a holistic reading of the Old Testament can be found in a combination of analysis and contextual reading. Focusing on the “oneness” of God, they synthesize literary strategies and biblical studies, forming a concrete methodology.
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- Preface by the authors
- Studies on Old Testament traditions and communications
- Bibliographical references and indexes
Top Highlights
“The identification of the rhetorical purpose of these particular narratives will provide us with some purchase on the question of their historical fidelity. The general definition of rhetorical history does not guarantee that the stories told are isomorphic with the events that happened. We must look to the specific rhetorical purpose of a given narrative to determine whether there were reasons in the situation for getting the facts straight.” (Pages 57–58)
“The more realistic didactic story exercises somewhat greater endogenous power over the reader” (Page 48)
“The Old Testament makes its claim that Yhwh is the same from age to age and tradition to tradition not only by explicit assertion, but by thrusting before us texts representative of different ages and interests. All of them bear witness to the God whom alone Israel is to recognize.18 To recognize this God, the reader must proceed dialectically through these various witnesses in search of the One whose identity remains the same. It is only as the interpreter takes up this task that he or she can grasp the ‘truth’ the text has to communicate.” (Pages 133–134)
“There is at least one line of evidence that indicates that Israelite historians were forced to take unwanted facts into account. The Biblical narrative is permeated with stories which present an unflattering and unedifying image of the people of God. Since it is improbable that the people desired this self-image, what forced them to recognize themselves in it nevertheless? What made them able and willing to remember what they would like to forget?” (Page 60)
- Title: Rhetoric and Biblical Interpretation
- Authors: Dale Patrick and Allen Scult
- Publisher: Sheffield Academic Press
- Publication Date: 1990
- Pages: 171