The topos of Divine Testimony in Luke-Acts. James R. McConnell

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The topos of Divine Testimony in Luke-Acts - James R. McConnell


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from loci (storehouses for arguments; cf. Inst. 5.10.20) indicates that he is reflecting the breadth of understanding in the ancient world concerning the topos.

      Given this understanding of the concept of topos in current NT scholarship and those aspects thereof found to be deficient or incomplete, I will now survey the ancient rhetoricians’ ideas concerning rhetorical topoi. From this analysis, a definition of topos will emerge that will require the current definitions of topos in NT circles to be expanded to include a topos as a source of proofs which includes documents, oaths, witnesses, and testimony.

      Definition of topos

      Topos in Aristotle

      In his work Topica, Aristotle asserts his purpose in the opening statement of the document: “The purpose of the present treatise is to discover a method by which we shall be able to reason from generally accepted opinions about any problem set before us and shall ourselves, when sustaining an argument, avoid saying anything contradictory” (1.1.18). He continues by providing a definition of “reasoning” (συλλογισμός):

      Reasoning is a discussion in which, certain things having been laid down, something other than these things necessarily results through them. Reasoning is demonstration (ἀπόδειξις) when it proceeds from premises which are true and primary or of such a kind that we have derived our original knowledge of them through premises which are primary and true. Reasoning is dialectical which reasons from generally accepted opinions. (1.1.25–31; emphasis in original)

      Thus, from this purpose statement it is clear that Aristotle is dealing with dialectic, rather than rhetoric. What he has to say concerning dialectical argumentation does, however, help one to understand the ancient concept of a topos.

      In Book I of Topica, Aristotle explores the various ways one can argue a dialectical problem and concludes with this statement: “Such then are the means by which reasonings are carried out. The commonplaces [τόποι] for the application of which the said means are useful are our next subject” (1.18.33–35). What follows in Books II-VII is a description of various τόποι and how one is to apply each of them when formulating a dialectical argument. For example, Aristotle writes, “One commonplace [τόπος] is to look whether our opponent has assigned as an accident something which belongs in some other way” (2.2.34–36). A second example is found in his discussion of a polyvalent term which is used in a certain way. Aristotle advises that one “ought to demonstrate one of the several meanings if it is impossible to demonstrate both.” He continues by adding, “This commonplace [τόπος] is convertible for both constructive and destructive purposes” (2.3.29–30). These examples are indicative of Aristotle’s usage of the term τόπος throughout Books II-VII of the treatise, and demonstrate that Aristotle, in this treatise, considered a τόπος to be a method of dialectical argumentation.


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