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Rhetorical concept in a relation to the change of social structures in Luke's gospel

Publication |
2014

Abstract

This study deals with the rhetorical elements present in the speeches which are spoken by Jesus in the of Gospel of Luke, and which deals with social structures and change of these structure. Judean population, as part of the Roman Empire, experienced positive but also negative aspects of the existence in the empire.

There were negative phenomena which adversely affected the lives of individuals, especially members of the lowest social groups. It was the economic situation, the position of debtor to the creditors, to the patron, but also creation of boundaries between people based on religious separation.

Jesus proclaimed the coming of the Kingdom of God and the associated change in the position of the lowest social groups. When bringing this message, Luke uses the possibilities of the classical rhetoric to emphasize certain aspects of it, when creating Jesus's speeches.

By analyzing the specific social themes in Luke's Gospel, we get a link between the text of the Gospel and the world outside the text to which the gospel narrative and relevant rhetorical units apply.