The Rhetoric of Response: A Classical Rhetorical Reading of Hebrews 10:32-12:13 (Library of New Testament Studies)

The Rhetoric of Response is an interpretation of Hebrews 10:32-12:13 from the perspective of classical rhetorical compositional theory. It argues that this unit in Hebrews is deliberative rhetoric advancing a set of four responses to a significant problem facing the community to who Hebrews is addressed, a group of late first century CE Roman Christians. The responses - which ultimately aim to inspire members to continue in the faith of the community and to accept and weather sufferings occasioned by their faith - are accommodated by the following rhetorical structure, which conforms to the standard classical forensic/deliberative speech outline: (1) Exordium (10:32-34); (2) Confimatio (11:1-40); and (3) Concluiso (12:1-13).