Paul and Rhetoric Revisited: Reexamining Litfin’s Assumptions on Pauline Preaching in 1 Corinthians
In contemporary New Testament studies, the question of whether Paul employed Greco-Roman rhetoric in his writings and preaching remains contentious. A prominent critic of Paul’s rhetorical usage is Duane Litfin, whose works, <i>St. Paul’s Theology of Proclamation: 1 Corinthians 1–4 and Greco-R...
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2025-03-01
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| description | In contemporary New Testament studies, the question of whether Paul employed Greco-Roman rhetoric in his writings and preaching remains contentious. A prominent critic of Paul’s rhetorical usage is Duane Litfin, whose works, <i>St. Paul’s Theology of Proclamation: 1 Corinthians 1–4 and Greco-Roman Rhetoric</i> (1994) and <i>Paul’s Theology of Preaching: The Apostle’s Challenge to the Art of Persuasion in Ancient Corinth</i> (2015), argue that Paul outright rejected rhetoric in favor of a straightforward proclamation of the gospel. Litfin asserts that Paul viewed himself as a herald rather than a rhetorician, that his preaching was devoid of rhetorical adornment, and that 1 Corinthians 1:18–2:5 represents a universal theology of preaching. Litfin further suggests that Paul did not employ rhetoric in his Acts sermons, thereby aligning his epistolary and Acts portrayals of Paul. This article critically evaluates Litfin’s position by addressing five key issues. First, it challenges Litfin’s claim that Paul rejected rhetoric generally, arguing instead that Paul likely repudiated sophistic rhetoric or ornate styles rather than rhetoric per se. Second, it disputes Litfin’s dichotomy between heralds and orators, contending that Paul, identified as an apostle rather than a herald, was not bound by such a false binary. Third, it critiques Litfin’s assumption that 1 Corinthians 1–4 serves as Paul’s comprehensive theology of preaching, arguing instead that the passage is context-specific and not indicative of a universal preaching methodology. Fourth, it rejects Litfin’s view of 1 Corinthians as an apology for Paul’s ministry and style, suggesting instead that it addresses Corinthian divisions and promotes unity. Lastly, the article refutes Litfin’s claim that Paul did not use rhetoric in Acts, highlighting that the rhetorical nature of Acts’ speeches suggests otherwise. Ultimately, this article argues that Paul did not categorically reject rhetoric but utilized it in various forms to effectively communicate the gospel. |
| format | Article |
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| spelling | doaj-art-2154bc2c89c6431f8f424e75172f6c192025-08-20T02:43:02ZengMDPI AGReligions2077-14442025-03-0116336310.3390/rel16030363Paul and Rhetoric Revisited: Reexamining Litfin’s Assumptions on Pauline Preaching in 1 CorinthiansTimothy J. Christian0School of Christian Studies, Asbury University, Wilmore, KY 40390, USAIn contemporary New Testament studies, the question of whether Paul employed Greco-Roman rhetoric in his writings and preaching remains contentious. A prominent critic of Paul’s rhetorical usage is Duane Litfin, whose works, <i>St. Paul’s Theology of Proclamation: 1 Corinthians 1–4 and Greco-Roman Rhetoric</i> (1994) and <i>Paul’s Theology of Preaching: The Apostle’s Challenge to the Art of Persuasion in Ancient Corinth</i> (2015), argue that Paul outright rejected rhetoric in favor of a straightforward proclamation of the gospel. Litfin asserts that Paul viewed himself as a herald rather than a rhetorician, that his preaching was devoid of rhetorical adornment, and that 1 Corinthians 1:18–2:5 represents a universal theology of preaching. Litfin further suggests that Paul did not employ rhetoric in his Acts sermons, thereby aligning his epistolary and Acts portrayals of Paul. This article critically evaluates Litfin’s position by addressing five key issues. First, it challenges Litfin’s claim that Paul rejected rhetoric generally, arguing instead that Paul likely repudiated sophistic rhetoric or ornate styles rather than rhetoric per se. Second, it disputes Litfin’s dichotomy between heralds and orators, contending that Paul, identified as an apostle rather than a herald, was not bound by such a false binary. Third, it critiques Litfin’s assumption that 1 Corinthians 1–4 serves as Paul’s comprehensive theology of preaching, arguing instead that the passage is context-specific and not indicative of a universal preaching methodology. Fourth, it rejects Litfin’s view of 1 Corinthians as an apology for Paul’s ministry and style, suggesting instead that it addresses Corinthian divisions and promotes unity. Lastly, the article refutes Litfin’s claim that Paul did not use rhetoric in Acts, highlighting that the rhetorical nature of Acts’ speeches suggests otherwise. Ultimately, this article argues that Paul did not categorically reject rhetoric but utilized it in various forms to effectively communicate the gospel.https://www.mdpi.com/2077-1444/16/3/363rhetoric1 Corinthians1 Corinthians 2:1-5sophismPaulDuane Litfin |
| spellingShingle | Timothy J. Christian Paul and Rhetoric Revisited: Reexamining Litfin’s Assumptions on Pauline Preaching in 1 Corinthians Religions rhetoric 1 Corinthians 1 Corinthians 2:1-5 sophism Paul Duane Litfin |
| title | Paul and Rhetoric Revisited: Reexamining Litfin’s Assumptions on Pauline Preaching in 1 Corinthians |
| title_full | Paul and Rhetoric Revisited: Reexamining Litfin’s Assumptions on Pauline Preaching in 1 Corinthians |
| title_fullStr | Paul and Rhetoric Revisited: Reexamining Litfin’s Assumptions on Pauline Preaching in 1 Corinthians |
| title_full_unstemmed | Paul and Rhetoric Revisited: Reexamining Litfin’s Assumptions on Pauline Preaching in 1 Corinthians |
| title_short | Paul and Rhetoric Revisited: Reexamining Litfin’s Assumptions on Pauline Preaching in 1 Corinthians |
| title_sort | paul and rhetoric revisited reexamining litfin s assumptions on pauline preaching in 1 corinthians |
| topic | rhetoric 1 Corinthians 1 Corinthians 2:1-5 sophism Paul Duane Litfin |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2077-1444/16/3/363 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT timothyjchristian paulandrhetoricrevisitedreexamininglitfinsassumptionsonpaulinepreachingin1corinthians |