Original Research
Theoretical strengthening of the concept of appealing in analysed sermons on Matthew 25:31–46 in the context of poverty in South Africa
Submitted: 30 January 2013 | Published: 06 August 2013
About the author(s)
Hennie J.C. Pieterse, Department of Philosophy, Practical and Systematic Theology, University of South Africa, South AfricaAbstract
From a qualitative grounded theory analysis in a sample of 26 sermons with Matthew 25:31–46 as sermon text, a rhetorical structure of how the preachers try to convince their listeners to care for the poor emerged. The homiletical concept of appealing related to all the categories borne out of the analysis of the inner world of the 26 sermons, and also to the categories showing this rhetorical structure in the sermons. The article discusses what the dimensions are in the concept of appealing borne out of the sermons in which the rhetorical structure was apparent, which rhetorical theory would fit as theoretical base for the concept of appealing in its relationship with the rhetorical structure in the sermons, and what dilemma the preachers face when they try to convince their listeners to participate in the care for the poor. The rhetorical theory of deliberative rhetoric (Aristotle) and the classical theory with the three dimensions logos, ethos and pathosis discussed in this article as theoretical thickening of the concept of appealing to the listeners of the sermons. This article attempts to demonstrate how to go about theorising from a grounded theory analysis of sermons with Matthew 25:31–46 as a sermon text with, as result, a theory that could help preachers in preaching from this text in the context of poverty in South Africa.
Vanuit ’n kwalitatief-gegronde teorie-ontleding (grounded theory analysis) van 26 preke met Matteus 25:31–46 as preekteks, het ’n retoriese struktuur na vore gekom waarmee predikers hulle toehoorders wil oorreed om armes te versorg. Die homiletiese konsep van appèl, hou verband met al die kategorieë wat uit die inhoudsanalise van die binnewêreld van die 26 preke na vore gekom het, asook die kategorieë waarin die retoriese struktuur sigbaar is. Die artikel bespreek die dimensies in die konsep van appèl wat na vore kom uit die preke waarin die retoriese struktuur duidelik is, welke retoriese teorie as teoretiese basis kan dien vir die konsep van appèl in verband met die retoriese struktuur in die preke, asook teenoor welke dilemma die predikers te staan kom wanneer hulle probeer om hulle hoorders te oorreed om vir armes te versorg. Die deliberatiewe retoriese teorie van Aristoteles en die klassieke teorie met die dimensieslogos, etos en pathos word in die artikel bespreek as teoretiese versterking vir die konsep van appèl op die toehoorders van die preek. Die artikel poog om aan te toon hoe ’n mens teoretisering vanuit ’n gegronde teorie-ontleding van preke met Matteus 25:31–46 as preekteks kan aanpak, met as resultaat, ’n teorie waarmee predikers gehelp word om in die armoedekonteks van Suid-Afrika te preek.
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