This collection of essays contains contributions from scholars who are recognized as among the best practitioners of New Testament rhetorical criticism. Three of them describe general theories of rhetoric based on both classical and contemporary models. The remainder provide new readings based on special theories of rhetoric, some not typically used in rhetorical analysis of New Testament texts. All have two audiences in mind: those who have been engaged in rhetorical criticism and those who hope to learn more about how such criticism is done. Extensive notes, appendices, and a bibliography contribute to further understanding of the enterprise.
The book is organized into three sections. The first is a collection of three essays that are primarily theoretical in nature. One is an essay by Wilhelm Wuellner that has never appeared in English.
The second is a series of analyses done by scholars not only from New Testament, but also from classics, literary criticism, and communications. Each uses a different theoretical model to analyze a text.
The third is a series of appendices that summarize for the reader information about the content of certain theoretical models of criticism.
Finally, a bibliography listing a wide variety of rhetorical critical studies and reference works is included. (An index could be added once final pagination is settled.)
