grantor:
University of St. Michael's CollegeThis dissertation examines the presence and purpose of language and concepts associated with the ancient ideal of friendship within the epistle of James, and pays specific attention to how the friendship ideal is used within the letter's rhetorical strategies.
A survey of friendship within a variety of contexts is initially provided in order to illustrate the precedents for some of James' language and ideas related to this topos. Next, the justification for studying James as a rhetorically sophisticated letter is set forth, followed by an examination of the rhetorical nature of three sections of James in which the language and ideas of friendship appear. It is argued that James presents an image of God as a true friend, and uses the notion of friendship with God to motivate the audience to various forms of ethical behaviour. In particular, Jas 4:4 is understood to be a saying of Jesus recast in the language of friendship, functioning in the letter as theological proof that the demands of Jesus, God and the author of the letter are identical.
We then ask what type of rhetorical situation the use of friendship language could address. By the first century it was common for patrons and clients to mask their relationship as one of friendship, despite the fact that they did not manifest any of the ideals of friendship. James objects to this sham by deliberately describing God as the true friend and benefactor, in contrast to the wealthy. Such a juxtaposition of friend and patron forces the audience to see that liaisons with the rich are nothing in contrast to friendship with God. The rhetorical situation thus includes the exigence of patronage, which James wants the audience to resist. Patronage appears to have been a problem for early Christian churches in Rome, and given the parallels between James, I Clement and the Shepherd of Hermas, it is possible that James' audience included a community in Rome, although the origin of the letter was likely Palestine.Ph.D
