Judgement and salvation : socio-rhetorical interpretation of Jeremiah 1

[摘要] ENGLISH ABSTRACT:This dissertation is an attempt to address the problem of the relationship between the Jeremianicjudgement and salvation oracles, to prove our hypothesis that Jeremiah 1 functions as a theologicalintroduction to the whole book of Jeremiah, and that references to judgement and salvation form atheological whole. Vernon Robbins's socio-rhetorical approach has been utilized.In Chapter 1, we present a general survey of Jeremianic study, and show the scholarly tendencytowards a diachronic or synchronic approach. By doing so, we justify our application of the holisticsocio-scientific method to study the book more comprehensively. Our hypothesis about therelationship between judgment and salvation in the book of Jeremiah is then presented and themethodology described.In Chapter 2, we offer a rhetorical analysis. According to our analysis, the centre of the propheticcall in the book of Jeremiah is the commission (Jer. 1:10) where the thematic phrase of judgementand salvation is highlighted. We identified passages containing this thematic catchphrase (Jer.12:14-17; 18:7-10; 24:6; 31:28; 31:38-40; 42:10; 45:4; etc.) and Chapter 3 discusses each one. Thereoccurrence of that catchphrase in different circumstances was the reconfirmation andrecontextualisation of the Leitmotif of Jer. 1:10.In Chapters 4-6, a social scientific approach has been utilised to explore a considerably rich textwhich contains many diverse aspects of the social, cultural, political and theological environment.We identify diverse interest groups to whom Jeremiah addressed his message of judgement andsalvation. They are reformist, conversionist, revolutionist and thaumaturgical from thesocial perspective, and pro-Babylon, pro-Egypt and autonomistic from the politicalperspective. We next examine the intense controversy between Jeremiah and these groups, fromsocial, cultural, ideological and theological perspectives.In the conclusion (Chapter 7), we summarise what we have studied and present the prospect for awider use of the socio-rhetorical method.

[发布机构] Stellenbosch University