Jerome H. Neyrey, «"First", "Only", "One of a Few", and "No One Else". The Rhetoric of Uniqueness and the Doxologies in 1 Timothy», Vol. 86 (2005) 59-87
The distinctive way of honoring gods or God was to celebrate
what is unique about them, that is, praise of persons who were the "first",
"only", or "one of a few" to do something. Rhetoric from Aristotle to Quintilian
expounded the theory of "uniqueness", which the authors of Greek hymns and
prayers employed. One finds a Semitic counterpart in the "principle of
incomparability" describing Israelite kings. "Uniqueness" pervades the New
Testament, especially its doxologies. In them, "uniqueness" was richly expressed
in rhetorical mode, as well as by predicates of negative theology which elevated
the deity above those praising.
60 Jerome H. Neyrey
“Honorâ€, moreover, is considered the pivotal value of the ancient
world. Hence, one needs to appreciate the social importance of
“honor†to understand doxologies. Therefore, doxologies are ideal
places to observe the operation of rhetoric and cultural values. Thus
we bring to an analysis of the doxologies in 1 Timothy the rhetorical
language of praise, especially the theme of uniqueness, which will be
assessed in terms of the cultural model of honor, well known in both
classical and biblical studies (5).
Uniqueness appears in ancient rhetorical handbooks in discussion
of the rhetoric of praise and blame. The data base contains Aristotle’s
On Rhetoric, Rhetoric to Herennius, Cicero’s De Inventione and De
Oratore, Quintilian’s Institutio Oratoriae, as well as progymnastic
authors such as Aelius Theon and Menander Rhetor (6). Next we will
examine examples of the theory actually expressed in Greek funeral
oratory and prayers, and then in the Old Testament and the LXX.
Informed by this material, we are prepared to interpret the doxologies
in 1 Timothy 1,17 and 6,15-16 where the language of uniqueness is
used in praise of God. The result should be a greater appreciation of
the influence of epideictic rhetoric on the way Christians shaped their
God-talk.
1. Rhetorical Theory
Aristotle’s On Rhetoric is the earliest extant exposition of
rhetorical theory. Although Greek orators before him frequently
employ the formulae of uniqueness, we begin with Aristotle simply
because he was the first consciously to classify, systematize, and
situate uniqueness within a complete theory of rhetoric. In short, in his
rhetorical rules he consciously tells us what he and others meant by
the criteria of uniqueness. Like Gaul, rhetoric was traditionally
divided into three parts, forensic, deliberative and epideictic, each
distinguished by its purpose and aim. In Aristotle’s exposition of
epideictic rhetoric, he instructs orators how to “amplify†praise, how
(5) See B.J. MALINA, The New Testament World. Insights from Cultural
Anthropology (Louisville, KY 1993) 28-62; B.J. MALINA – J.H. NEYREY, “Honor
and Shame in Luke-Acts: Pivotal Values of the Mediterranean Worldâ€, The
Social World of Luke-Acts. Models for Interpretation (ed. J.H. NEYREY)
(Peabody, MA 1991) 25-66; and J.H. NEYREY, Honor and Shame in the Gospel of
Matthew (Louisville, KY 1998).
(6) All texts and translations are taken from the Loeb Classical Library,
except those specifically identified.
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