Ben Witherington to give paper in Durham

NB: For those in Northeast England

Ben Witherington III will be giving a paper at Leech Hall, St. John’s College (of Durham University) January 18th at 2pm on the topic:

‘Oral Texts and Rhetorical Contexts: Rethinking the “Letters”’

Witherington is an advocate of applying classical rhetorical terms and methodology to the NT epistles.  Some have criticized this tendency in scholarship with the concern that one cannot apply such labels and tools to written texts when they were meant originally meant for speeches and oratory.  W., I believe, will offer a defense of his interest in classic rhetorical criticism  and the appropriateness of applying it to NT epistles.

All are welcome.