ABSTRACT
At the basis of the biblical conception of God is his character as authoritative speaker. The language of blessing and cursing is the natural accompaniment of the biblical assertion of vocal authority; it illustrates the power of God's word. Writing is often seen by the biblical writers as an intensification of the magical power of speech. Prophetic writing constitutes a very particular form of poetic discourse. Its core aim is to inspire fear, in the sense of holy reverence. As the term 'Gospel' indicates, then, Christianity is a religion based in a particular form of rhetoric. Authority is essential to this rhetorical mode. The gospel's ethical novelty therefore brings us back to rhetoric, albeit in a wider sense than we are accustomed to Christian ethics has a proclamatory logic. For the good news concerns the triumph of divine authority over spurious authorities. This dynamic of rhetorical participation in the event attested may be further elucidated by probing the word 'triumph'.
