Rhetoric and Early Christianity

Call For Papers: The Rhetoric and Early Christianity (formerly Rhetoric and the New Testament) Section fosters research centered on the arts of persuasion, broadly conceived, as they intersect with the study of Early Christian sources and worlds. This section premises that, given our current socio-political climate and discursive landscape, the study of rhetoric and early Christian Literature is as highly relevant as ever. For the 2023 annual meeting, we plan to host three sessions, centered on several themes. First, we will hold a review session of Timothy A. Brookins, Ancient Rhetoric and the Style of Paul's Letters: A Reference (Cascade Books, 2022); participants for this session have been invited. Secondly, we seek proposals that explore the role of prisons and imprisonment in early Christians’ rhetorical constructions of themselves and others. Proposals can also examine how prison language in other ancient Mediterranean literature provides insights for interpreting early Christian texts. Thirdly, we solicit proposals on the Rhetoric of Polemics in early Christian texts, broadly construed as “mudslinging.” These proposals could encompass the rhetoric of rumor, innuendo, and/or insinuation. Finally, as usual we invite proposals dealing with other aspects of the intersection of rhetoric and the study of early Christianity. Likewise, in each of these subgroups, all approaches will be considered. However, we are especially interested in papers that consider the interplay of ancient and modern discourses, contexts, and deployments. Additionally, we particularly welcome proposals that focus on the question of why the study of rhetoric and early Christianity matters ‘now’.

Program Unit Chairs

Propose a Paper for this Program Unit

Questions About Membership?

• Call 866-727-9955 Toll Free in the US
• Call 404-727-9498 Outside the US
• Fax us at 404-727-2419
• Email us at sblservices@sbl-site.org