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Veiled
Exhortation to Wear the Veil:
Prof.
Troy Martin
This paper demonstrates that Aristotle's (Rhet. 1.2.2-4 1355b-1356a) description of the limited role of ethos does not comprehend the diverse use of characterization in rhetorical texts engaged in moral persuasion. In Paul's argument for the veiling of women in public worship (1 Cor. 11:2-16), for example, his ethos as well as the ethos of the churches of God functions as a paradigm of the values and conduct prescribed for the Corinthians. An analysis of the argument reveals a series of enthymemes concluded by the single paradigm of Paul's ethos. The structure of this argument follows Aristotle's (Rhet. 2.20.9 1394a) prescriptions for the use of the paradigm in argumentation, but the presentation of Paul's ethos as a paradigm to be emulated by the Corinthians transcends Aristotle's description of ethos as a rhetorical proof. Analyzing Paul's argument rhetorically, this paper not only demonstrates a more diverse use of ethos in moral persuasion than Aristotle's description envisions but also lifts the veil from Paul's argument to wear the veil.
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