Retoriek in die vroeg-Christelike Latynse kerk in die Weste

Abstract

The cultural world wherein Christianity came into being was a world that put all emphasis on the beauty of the word and skillful expression as it was taught in the rhetorical schools. The literary form of The Scriptures did not satisfy these demands at all. In the minds of many an educated Christian there arose a conscientious struggle as to whether it was permitted to preach the Gospel by making use of rhetoric, i.e. the science of communication of their day. Although educated Christians had also studied in the rhetorical schools, the roots of rhetoric were deeply founded in classical, profane literature, the contents of which were unacceptable for Christians.