Suggested Rhetorical Outlines for the Undisputed Pauline Epistles
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These divisions should be taken as suggestions for how the letters might be read. At each point, one can find scholars who will disagree, and these suggestions remain open to revision.
Brief descriptions of the various rhetorical parts can be found by clicking on that label.
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Romans |
1:1-12 |
1:13 |
1:14-17 |
1:18-15:13 |
15:14-16:23 |
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1 Cor |
1:1-9 |
1:11-17 |
1:10 |
1:18-16:12 |
16:13-24 |
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2 Cor10-13* |
10:1-6 |
10:12-18 |
10:7-11 |
11:1-12:18 |
12:19-13:13 |
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2 Cor 1-7** |
1:1-7 |
1:8-2:13 |
2:14-17 |
3:1-6:10 |
6:11-7:16 |
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2 Cor 8-9** |
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8:1-7 |
8:8-11 |
8:12-9:5 |
9:6-15 |
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Galatians |
1:1-10 |
1:11-2:14 |
2:15-21 |
3:1-6:10 |
6:11-18 |
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Philippians |
1:1-11 |
1:12-26 |
1:27-30 |
2:1-4:9 |
4:10-23 |
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1 Thessalonians |
1:1-10 |
2:1-3:10 |
3:11-13 |
4:1-5:22 |
5:23-28 |
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Philemon |
1:1-7 |
*** |
1:8-10 |
1:11-16 |
1:17-25 |
* I consider chapters 10-13 to be a letter prior to chapters 1-9.
** Though I believe that 2 Cor 1-9 was written as a single letter, there are two distinct rhetorical strategies which are more easily seen if they are portrayed separately on the chart above.
***Elements of a narratio are included in vv. 9, 10, 12, 15 & 19, but these narrative elements are not drawn together in a separate section in this short and intimate letter.
Exordium - The opening of a speech, which was intended to get the audience’s attention, and to establish the speaker’s "ethos" (character) as one to whom they should listen. The speaker often emphasized the positive aspects of the relationship between him/herself and the audience. Paul often uses the opening and the thanksgiving sections of his letters to point out his standing as an apostle / servant of God, and to express his positive feelings toward the hearers.
Narratio - Often a retelling of the "background" events within which the speech is talking place. Paul often includes a piece of autobiography at this point, reminding his churches of those events which he wants to address, or upon which he wants to draw in his argument.
Propositio - This is a statement of the central topic, the issue which is at stake in Paul’s view. At times, it also indicates the separate divisions of Paul's argument in the Probatio.
Probatio - This is the main presentation or argument, as Paul tries to move his hearers from where they are to where they want to be. Along with "ethos" and "pathos," this is where Paul uses "logos," those logical, scriptural, and theological forms of persuasion which require such careful attention and energy for us to follow.
Peroratio - The closing section of a speech, in which one often finds a summary of the preceding argument, along with frequent attempt to draw deeply on the emotions of the hearers.