Augustine, Martyrdom, and Classical Rhetoric

Early Christian martyr accounts were less about recounting history than about constructing theology. As such, many historians of late antique Christianity call them "rhetorical." But what does this mean for early Christian theology of martyrdom? And what rhetorical techniques are actually being used for such theological construction? To answer these questions, Adam Ployd looks to Augustine of Hippo. He places Augustine's martyr theology within its classical rhetorical context, drawing upon the theoretical foundations of Cicero, Quintilian, and others. Ployd investigates all of Augustine's major controversies as well as his work as a bishop and preacher cultivating a particular vision of the Christian life. Ployd uncovers the rich rhetorical roots of Augustine's martyr theology, roots that delve beyond ornamentation and into the depths of inventio and the techniques of rhetorical argumentation. What emerges from this investigation is a vision of Augustine's martyr discourse that is connected to his larger theological projects, including the promotion of Christian virtue pursued in the context of God's mysterious, providential work in human history. Cover 1 Augustine, Martyrdom, and Classical Rhetoric 4 Copyright 5 Dedication 6 Contents 8 Acknowledgments 10 Abbreviations 12 Introduction 14 1. The Context of the Martyrs 21 Introduction 21 The Cult of the Martyrs in North Africa 22 The Cult of the Martyrs in Augustine 27 Martyrs and Manichaeanism 33 Martyrs and Pelagianism 37 Conclusion 44 2. The Example of the Martyrs 46 Introduction 46 Exempla in Classical Rhetoric 48 Exemplum exemplorum: Christ as Model Martyr 52 Exempla martyrum 55 Exempla contra cultum 58 Ἐτυμολογία and Adnominatio 62 Exempla and Ἐτυμολογία 67 Conclusion 72 3. The Time of the Martyrs 74 Introduction 74 Rhetoric, Historiography, and Exempla of Virtue 75 A Trans-​Historical Enemy 82 Antithetical Beauty 86 The Martyrs within Antithetical History 91 Conclusion 94 4. The Court of the Martyrs 96 Introduction 96 Non poena sed causa 97 For Their Own Good 108 Conclusion 120 5. The Rhetoric of the Martyrs 122 Introduction 122 Classical Ideals 123 Augustinian Transformations 131 The Martyrs as Ideal Christian Rhetor-​Statesmen 137 Conclusion 147 Conclusion 148 Bibliography 156 Subject Index 168 Writings Index 174 "This monograph places Augustine's martyr discourse in the context of classical rhetoric in order to flesh out the claim that such discourse is inherently rhetorical. It is argued that Augustine's martyr discourse can be understood as rhetorical in three ways: First, Augustine develops and deploys his understanding of martyrdom within particular rhetorical contexts. This is the weakest and most general sense of "rhetorical" that will appear in this study, falling short of, yet providing the necessary context for, the more technical analyses that make up the heart of the book. Second, Augustine uses techniques of classical rhetorical argumentation to construct his martyrs and to create their theological significance. This claim refers less to techniques of ornamentation or style than it does to those techniques more associated with the category of inventio and to some degree dispositio. Third, in Augustine's depiction, the martyrs themselves are ideal Christian rhetors"-- Provided by publisher