Previous scholarship that has examined Paul's letters in light of Greco-Roman rhetoric has focused predominantly on their argumentative strategies (inventio) and overall arrangement (dispositio). In this book Brookins turns attention to the heretofore underexplored area of style (elocutio). With complete coverage of ten of the thirteen letters in the Pauline corpus, the book evaluates these letters according to the standards of the major stylistic virtues taught in rhetorical theory: correctness, clarity, and ornament. Treating ornament most extensively, the book includes a full inventory of tropes, figures of speech, and figures of thought contained in these letters. This work results in a synopsis of stylistic tendencies that not only illustrates differences in letter type within the Pauline corpus but also enables a fresh means of comparing style in the disputed and undisputed letters. This analysis also furnishes new evidence for consideration in the debate about the extent of Paul's rhetorical education. Finally, it helps illuminate the process of exegesis and thus the meaning of the text itself.
Industry Reviews
“Decades into the renewed study of Paul’s rhetoric, a satisfying evaluation of his style remains elusive. Brookins’s thorough and thoughtfully crafted inventory of stylistic features gathers the raw material in an accessible and illuminating format. With a judicious introduction surveying the scholarly terrain, this book will be a valuable companion for readers seeking a richer appreciation of the stylistic texture of Paul’s letters.”
—Ryan S. Schellenberg, Methodist Theological School in Ohio
“Drawing on his deep knowledge of ancient rhetoric, Timothy Brookins has produced a most useful book on the rhetorical style of Paul’s letters. Every student interested in the ways the apostle makes his arguments will want this well-organized reference work always close at hand. All of us interested in the literary shape of Paul’s argument are indebted to Brookins for this model of ‘lucid brevity’!”
—Mikeal C. Parsons, Baylor University
“Paul and rhetoric continues to be a hot topic. Some see Paul as a full-blown orator and others downplay his level of rhetorical knowledge. However, one factor that most scholars engaging in the Paul and rhetoric debate accept is that Paul uses elements of Greek style. Paul doesn’t just use these for superficial display; he uses them with purpose. Brookins provides the examples, and now it is up to Pauline interpreters to explain their exegetical importance.”
—Stanley E. Porter, McMaster Divinity College
“An outstanding and much needed resource! Attention to Paul’s style has dwindled in an era preoccupied with Paul’s invention and arrangement, but there is much to be learned from the kind of meticulous analysis of Paul’s style provided herein. Brookins rightly claims that attention to Paul’s style is relevant to such topics as Paul’s education, theology, epistolary types, letter distinctives, Pauline authorship, and interpretive clarity. Highly recommended!”
—Mark D. Given, Missouri State University
“Ancient Rhetoric and the Style of Paul’s Letters is a helpful tool for both the study of Pauline letters and the study of rhetoric. . . . Brookins gives concrete examples from the Pauline corpus of how Paul used the smaller figures of style to achieve their persuasive ends in these New Testament letters. Brookins does so with a complete lack of tendentiousness or partisanship. I commend this careful and comprehensive work.”
—Frank W. Hughes, co-author of The Corinthian Correspondence: Redaction, Rhetoric, and History
