Die openbaring van God – ’n retories-kritiese interpretasie van Romeine 1:18-32

• Main Author: E. Cornelius
• Format: Article
• Language: Afrikaans
• Published: AOSIS 2003-08-01
• Series: In die Skriflig
• Subjects: Revelation Of God; Rhetorical Criticism; Romans 1 18-32
• Online Access: https://indieskriflig.org.za/index.php/skriflig/article/view/490

The revelation of God – a rhetorical-critical interpretation of Romans 1:18-32 M.A. Kruger’s 1983 doctoral thesis caused serious discussion in GKSA circles with regard to the differentiation between “general revelation” and “specific revelation”. Romans 1:18-32 seems to be a central pericope in the understanding of the revelation of God. A project of the Faculty of Theology, PU for CHE, focusing on this specific problem, gave birth to this article as a component of the interpretation of this pericope. The issue addressed in this article is how this pericope can be interpreted from a rhetorical-critical point of view. In my own interdisciplinary and interactional approach to rhetorical criticism, the purpose is to interpret the communicative function(s) of this pericope. It turns out that the letter to the Romans was addressed to those in Rome in order to convince them that the reason for their acceptance as God’s people lies in God’s work only and not in their imitation of the Jews. Romans 1:18-32 seems to be part of the opening of the letter body intended to be a warning for all people, including an example of what may happen if this warning is not taken seriously. The logic of the argument indicates that God’s wrath will come upon those who do not accept His revelation in creation.