Review by Choice Review
Witherington (Asbury Theological Seminary and St. Andrews Univ.) is the author of several books, e.g., The Problem with Evangelical Theology (CH, May'06, 43-5247). Rhetoric, according to Witherington, is the ancient art of persuasion used from the time of Aristotle to convince an audience of something. He prefers the classical rhetoric of George Kennedy and Hans Dieter Betz to the modern forms of rhetoric. The intent of this book is to provide readers with an introduction to New Testament rhetoric. The author certainly discusses rhetoric "in and of the New Testament," but the book is hardly introductory. Witherington gives the conclusions of his rhetorical analysis but does not tell readers how to do rhetorical interpretation. The book introduces readers to many classical rhetoricians and definitions of rhetorical terms. Witherington believes Luke and Paul to be the great rhetoricians in the New Testament. In tension with himself the author makes Luke a "rhetorical historian," but also describes Luke-Acts as "salvation history." Paul, who studied rhetoric in Hellenistic schools, is an adept rhetorician. In Romans 7 he impersonates the "historical Adam." One may learn much about rhetoric from Witherington but must be wary of his historical judgments. Summing Up: Recommended. Upper-level undergraduates, graduate students, and practitioners. J. W. McCant emeritus, Point Loma Nazarene University
Copyright American Library Association, used with permission.
Review by Choice Review
