Reconceiving Texts as Speech Acts: An Analysis of 1 John [Biblical Interpretation Series, vol. 7]

Neufeld, Dietmar

ISBN 10: 9004098534 / ISBN 13: 9789004098534

Published by E.J. Brill, 1994

About this Item

Hardcover, no dust jacket. Ex-library. Aside from library matter, this is a pristine copy that appears unread. 152 pages. 152 pp.

Seller Inventory # 639643

Bibliographic Details

• Title: Reconceiving Texts as Speech Acts: An Analysis of 1 John [Biblical Interpretation Series, vol. 7]
• Publisher: E.J. Brill
• Publication Date: 1994
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 9004098534
• ISBN 13: 9789004098534
• Binding: Hardcover

About this title

Synopsis

Reconceiving Texts as Speech Acts attempts a reading of the Christological confessions and ethical exhortations in I John from the perspective of speech act theory. Speech act theory is explored with particular reference to J.L. Austin, Donald Evans, and J. Derrida. At the heart of the approach is the insight of the rhetorical character of historiography and the view that language in written discourse is a form of action and power. Discourse in I John becomes responsible for creating reality and not merely reflecting it. In effect the Christological and ethical texts are effective acts which change situations in the public domain in terms of confession and conduct. A tentative methodological proposal is developed and then in succeeding chapters applied to a series of key passages in I John.

About the Author

Dietmar Neufeld, Ph.D. (1991) in New Testament Studies, McGill University, is lecturer in Christian Origins at The University of British Columbia. He has published an exegetical study on the issue of homosexuality and Luke 18:1-8.