Excellent4.8 out of 5On Trustpilot
  1. Bible Commentaries/
  2. Old Testament Bible Commentaries

Rhetoric of Praise: Prayer and Persuasion in the Psalms

by Ryan J. Cook

  • Paperback
  • Publisher: Glossahouse
  • 15.2 x 23 x 1.6 cm

£14.98

Save 14% | Free UK Delivery

Available - Usually dispatched within 6 days

Buying for a school or church? Upgrade to a FREE Eden Advance Account

Free delivery on orders over £10

The Psalter has been chanted, sung, and prayed by Jews and Christians for millennia. Its theology and imagery has shaped the imagination and piety of generations of the faithful. The Psalms grew out of the cultic and religious practices of ancient Israel and early Judaism. Its language, imagery, and theology would have been one of the primary means by which Israel understood the nature of God and their relationship to him. Yet, the question of how the Psalms achieved this function of shaping the belief and piety of ancient Israel is one that has not often been addressed directly. This study investigates the persuasive power of the praise Psalms. It argues that rhetorical analysis will foster a clearer understanding of how the praise Psalms functioned to shape the beliefs and piety of ancient Israel so that the reader will better appreciate the social, psychological, and theological contribution of the praise Psalms to Israel's religious life. Situating rhetorical criticism within the neo-Aristotelian tradition, Cook proposes a rhetorical approach that includes determining the rhetorical unit and describing the internal world of the Psalm and its internal argument. This involves discerning the implied/textual author, implied audience, and the rhetorical function of the text within the world of the Psalm itself as well as determining the possible rhetorical situation(s) and analyzing the external argument of the Psalm. With this foundation in place, Cook systematically analyzes four representative praise Psalms (19, 103, 46, and 116). The most salient results are then collected and discussed in a concluding chapter where Cook argues that the praise Psalms function in ways analogous to epideictic rhetoric and thus played an important role in shaping ancient Israel's understanding of Yhwh and their own experiences. Additionally, Cook clarifies the function of the internal and external worlds of the praise Psalms while also proposing that a focus on the 'kairos' of the praise Psalms can clarify some of the debates concerning their settings.
Rhetoric of Praise: Prayer and Persuasion in the Psalms and Reflections On The Psalms
Reflections On The PsalmsRhetoric of Praise: Prayer and Persuasion in the Psalms

  • Book Format

    Paperback

  • Publisher

    Glossahouse

  • Published

    May 2018

  • Weight

    400g

  • Dimensions

    15.2 x 23 x 1.6 cm

  • ISBN

    9781942697541

  • ISBN-10

    1942697546

  • Eden Code

    4706404

Featured in

Over 14,000 churches and schools have upgraded to an Advance Account and we‘d love to welcome you into this free program. We know that church volunteers and school teachers often use their own money, then have claim it back on on an expense form. We can take all of that hassle away by invoicing your church or school directly and delivering your order straight away.

Opening an account is quick and easy, with most accounts being approved and setup within a few hours of filling in the form below (on weekdays, not weekends). As soon as we‘ve approved the application we‘ll send you an email to let you know that its done.

Upgrade to a FREE Eden Advance Account
Write a review
      Ask a question