Two of the greatest rhetoricians in history were the Greek philosopher Aristotle (384–322 BC) and the Christian thinker St. While these broad principles were first systematized by pre-Christian Greek philosophers, the modes of persuasion themselves are generally evidenced in Scripture.Ĭlassical Philosophy’s Five Modes of Rhetorical Influence However, too often people associate rhetoric with disingenuous attempts to sway people through slick manipulation-but abuse doesn’t rule out the proper use of rhetoric.įive basic elements have come to be accepted as legitimate tools of persuasion. And persuasion is involved in many critical areas of life such as education, law, science, politics, and religion, including Christian efforts at evangelism and apologetics. Rhetoric is the field of discourse aimed at persuasion. But what actually goes into making a good case of persuasion in general and for Christian apologetics in particular? When apologists defend the faith it is for the purpose of persuading people of the truth of historic Christianity. To engage in Christian apologetics is to enter into the enterprise of personal persuasion. What role does persuasion play in communicating Christian truth to people?
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