Friday, December 24, 2010

The Friday Figure

This week's Friday Figure is a two for one and comes from the Gospel of Luke:
Luke 6:46    Τί δέ με καλεῖτε· κύριε κύριε, καὶ οὐ ποιεῖτε ἃ λέγω;
Ti de me kaleite: kyrie kyrie, kai ou poieite ha lego
Why do you call me Lord Lord and do not do what I say? 
This verse contains two figures.  The first is with the repetition of Lord (kyrie) twice in a row which forms the figure epanalepsis.  Epanalepsis is usually used for emphasis or to heighten the emotional appeal.  The second figure is that this verse, unlike Matthew's parallel material (Mt. 7:21) is a rhetorical question.  By using the rhetorical question, Luke draws the audience into his argument as participants. 

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