Open AccessDiscourse-Rhetorical Strategies of Pauline Epistles: Rhetorical Situation Theory Approach to the Book of First Thessalonians
Author(s) -
Simeon Ndubuisi Chidume,
Isaiah I. Agbo
Publication year - 2022
Publication title -
sage open
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.357
H-Index - 32
ISSN - 2158-2440
DOI - 10.1177/21582440221085589
Subject(s) - rhetorical question , logos bible software , apostle , faith , rhetoric , theme (computing) , sociology , rhetorical device , politics , epistemology , linguistics , philosophy , computer science , political science , law , theology , world wide web
This work on Pauline Discourse-Rhetorical Strategies for Community Building in the Book of First Thessalonians is carried out to examine how Apostle Paul deployed language in communicating his thoughts to the Thessalonian church in order to encourage them in their faith in Christ while establishing them as a strong community within the Thessalonian society. Previous research works on the book of First Thessalonians have either centered on theme, structure, and arguments on date and authorship in analysing the book. Discourse-rhetorical strategies for community building have not been investigated. This study uses the following discourse-rhetorical theories in its analysis: elements of Aristotelian Rhetoric, particularly Logos, and Bitzer’s Rhetorical Situation Theory. The data is composed of 14 utterances, purposively selected through careful reading and observation. The study finds that the rhetor responded politely to the exigence of the tendency to fall away from faith because of persecution by deploying identification strategy. He presented his exhortations, command, and instructions by deploying logos and use of persuasive strategies. The study concludes that rhetorical analysis is a very useful tool for discovering potent strategies political or religious leaders employ in communicating their thoughts and ideas to their audiences.