Paul's discourse for the Corinthians' edification :a socio-rhetorical interpretation of 2 Corinthians 10-13

[摘要] ENGLISH ABSTRACT: The difficulties attending the reading 2 Cor 10-13 are widely recognized. This dissertationaims to interpret the text by means of socio-rhetorical analysis and to investigate what its realpurpose is. Our hypothesis is that this Pauline discourse aims at the Corinthians' edificationby defending his apostolic lifestyle and so giving them a good example of imitatio Christi,imitatio Pauli (Chapter 1).Chapter 2 surveys the recent studies of 2 Cor 10-13 from various approaches, viz. literaryhistorical approach, historical approach, rhetorical approach, and ethical and social-scientificapproach. Because of the limited results of each approach used alone, we need a multidimensionaland multi-disciplinary method is required. Chapter 3 reconfigures the sociorhetoricalapproach developed by Robbins into a fourfold dimensional analysis for a moreadequate reading of 2 Cor 10-13: a rhetorical analysis; an analysis of intertexture andrhetorolect; an analysis of social, cultural and ideological texture; and an analysis of sacredtexture.Chapter 4 analyzes the rhetoric of 2 Cor 10-13. The four realities of the rhetorical situationare the invasion of the outsiders against Paul, the discontent of the insiders with Paul, theconflict concerning Paul's support, and the plan of Paul's upcoming visit. The rhetoricalarrangement, as a deliberative argumentation but including judicial and epideictic elements, issummarized as follows: exordium and propositio (10:1-11); narratio (10:12-18);argumentatio (11:1-13:4); peroratio (13:5-10). The argumentatio marshals four arguments:what is the true character of the intruders? (11:1-21a); what is the servant of Christ like?(11:21b-12:10); who is whose benefactor? (12:11-19); what sort of man do they expect withPaul's upcoming visit? (12:20-13:4).Chapter 5 discusses the intertexture and rhetorolect of 2 Cor 10-13. The discourse is thicklyintertextured providing the vivid picture and the persuasive rationale for his arguments, and iswoven of various rhetorolects. The main rhetorolect is prophetic, which focuses on Paulwhom God has chosen to take leadership in the production of righteousness. By blending thisrhetorolect with priestly, our text manifests that Paul, in weakness and sufferings, accordingto God's call, is following the example of Christ.Chapter 6 explores the social, cultural and ideological textures in 2 Cor 10-13. In socialtexture, the discourse has a vision of acquiring cognitive abilities for the aim of transformingpeople so they may build a Christian community in faith until God transforms all. In culturaltexture, the discourse utilizes the conventions of dominant culture, but rejects its centralvalues and creates an antithetical set of values based on the crucified Christ. In ideologicaltexture, the discourse presents the social ethos that opposes the dominant social order: itrepresents rather the interests of the socially weak. The Pauline discourse, however,legitimises his position of primary authority over the Corinthian Christians.Chapter 7 investigates the sacred texture in 2 Cor 10-13. The discourse establishes a theologywhich is balanced by the crucified and resurrected Christ. Christ's crucifixion andresurrection is recapitulated in Paul's apostleship, discipleship and servant-ship in the form ofimitatio Christi, and must be reproduced in the Corinthian church in the form of imitatio Pauli.In the final assessment, the main purpose of 2 Cor 10-13 is defined as the edification of theCorinthian church through defending Paul's apostolic lifestyle, which is characterized by theimitatio Christi. Paul's lifestyle is derived from Christ who was crucified and resurrected bythe power of God, demonstrating God's power manifested in human weakness. Now it is theCorinthians' turn to demonstrate the divine power manifested in their imitatio Pauli.

[发布机构] Stellenbosch University