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Review of Smith, The Rhetoric of Interruption

Review of Smith, The Rhetoric of Interruption

What follows is a brief review of Daniel Lynwood Smith, The Rhetoric of Interruption: Speech-making, Turn-taking, and Rule-breaking in Luke-Acts and Ancient Greek Narrative (BZNW 193; Berlin: De Gruyter, 2012).

This monograph is a revision of Smith’s doctoral work completed under David Aune at the University of Notre Dame. In it, Smith examines the occurrence of interrupted speech in ancient Greek narratives with a view to better understand its possible rhetorical value in Luke-Acts where it is used comparatively more often.

Since extant ancient writings on rhetoric do not have discussions of speech interruption, Smith turns to modern conversation analysis theory to help define and establish criteria to identify interruption.

…a speech or other discourse may be characterized as interrupted if there is evidence of a claim of interruption, that is, a claim that the speaker’s rights have been violated. Occasionally, the narrator will flag interruptions clearly (“he interrupted him”), or a character will make a claim (“neither is it fitting to interrupt”). Typically, though, this claim will consist of a closing formula that describes the violation, or involuntary completion, of a speaker’s turn by suggesting that the speaker was still speaking (or still being heard) at the time of interruption. (p. 23)

Smith finds both intentional interruptions of hearers (where narrative conflict is usually brought out) and external interruptions by narrated events (where narrative drama is heightened) present in ancient authors from Homer to Josephus. No author examined uses it more frequently than Luke, however, whose two narratives include eight interrupted discourses each.

Smith notes ways in which Luke’s use of interruption stands out and is used consistently in the Gospel and Acts, especially in regard to key themes of Christ’s resurrection/exaltation and salvation to the Gentiles.

…intentional interruptions underscored references to the resurrection and exaltation of Jesus Christ (Acts 4:41; 7:57; 26:24) and to the availability of salvation to the Gentiles (Luke 4:28; Acts 13:48; 22:22; 26:24). In essence, Luke uses interruption to highlight the proclamation of God’s saving action through Jesus Christ and the availability of this salvation to all. (p. 247)

Smith is to be commended for presenting a well-founded and convincing general thesis, collating helpful data from ancient sources (nicely presented in chart-form in the appendices), and filling a gap in Lukan scholarship.

With thanks to De Gruyter for making this volume available to me for review.

Commentaries on Luke (and Acts)

Commentaries on Luke (and Acts)

I was recently asked what commentaries I am finding most helpful as I research the Gospel of Luke. Briefly, in a not-so-particular order, here are a few thoughts on Luke (and  a couple on Acts): I. Howard Marshall on Luke (NIGTC) (1978), though its been around a while (!), nearly always hits the significant exegetical… Continue Reading

John T. Carroll's Commentary on the Gospel of Luke (pt 2)

John T. Carroll's Commentary on the Gospel of Luke (pt 2)

For part one of my review, see here. (Amazon link to the book.) Carroll’s introduction is succinct and adequate, not ground-breaking yet covering real ground. I give it a mark of ‘good’ on a scale of bad to excellent (that’s something like 7 out of 10), particular in view of a semi-technical audience. On authorship,… Continue Reading

John T. Carroll's Commentary on the Gospel of Luke

John T. Carroll's Commentary on the Gospel of Luke

Some time back I mentioned I would be reviewing a handful of books, one of which is John T. Carroll‘s Luke: A Commentary (The New Testament Library; Louisville: WJK, 2012). The following is part one of my review, having had the chance to thoroughly read the introduction and use a good portion of the commentary proper. I… Continue Reading

Book Reviews Series, Coming Soon

Book Reviews Series, Coming Soon

In the next few weeks I plan to publish three book reviews here at the site. Each review will come out in multiple instalments (two or three most likely), and each review (but not each part!) should include a short video in addition to text. This has been in the hopper for far too long… Continue Reading

Dillon on Gospel Narratives and Historical Proof

From time to time I like to share interesting excerpts from what I’m reading. Today’s is a short one from Richard J. Dillon, referring to Luke 1:1-4: Gospel-narrative, whether of the original witnesses, “the many,” or Luke himself, in no case furnished a kind of historical proof that rescued Christian faith from the ambiguities and… Continue Reading