Paul's Language of Zēlos: Monosemy and the Rhetoric of Identity and Practice

Paul's Language of Zēlos: Monosemy and the Rhetoric of Identity and Practice

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Description

In Paul’s Language of Ζῆλος, Benjamin Lappenga harnesses linguistic insights recently formulated within the framework of relevance theory to argue that within the letters of Paul (specifically Galatians, 1-2 Corinthians, and Romans), the ζῆλος word group is monosemic. Linking the responsible treatment of lexemes in the interpretive process with new insight into Paul’s rhetorical and theological task, Lappenga demonstrates that the mental encyclopedia activated by the term ζῆλος is 'shaped' within Paul’s discourse and thus transforms the meaning of ζῆλος for attentive ('model') readers. Such identity-forming strategies promote a series of practices that may be grouped under the rubric of 'rightly-directed ζῆλος'; specifically, emulation of 'weak' people and things, eager pursuit of community-building gifts, and the avoidance of jealous rivalry.

ISBN

9789004302440

Publication Date

2016

Department

Theology

Publisher

Brill

City

Leiden, The Netherlands

Keywords

Pauline theology, Pauline rhetoric, Biblical interpretation

Disciplines

Biblical Studies | Christianity | Linguistics

Paul's Language of Zēlos: Monosemy and the Rhetoric of Identity and Practice

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