Rhesa, Son of Zerubbabel (Ῥησα, Rhēsa). Mentioned in the genealogy of Jesus Christ in Luke’s account (Luke 3:27).

Rhetoric The art of composing an oral or written presentation by using style, argumentation, and arrangement of language to persuade an audience to a particular inclination.

Description and Origin

In present-day English, the word “rhetoric” often carries the negative connotation of empty words, biased agendas, and propaganda. In the Graeco-Roman world, however, where the oral word carried great authority, rhetoric was a respected and honored ability that public speakers cultivated and audiences cherished. The ability to speak well and persuasively was a skill a speaker practiced and developed. Speakers studied and learned techniques to sway an audience to a particular perspective. Eventually, these rhetorical techniques developed into recognized and formal ways of arranging, choosing, and using the language of persuasion.

Although the precise origins of rhetoric are unclear, the art flourished within the milieu of Greek culture. Kennedy suggests that rhetoric evolved out of the Greek context because of “the administrative and legal system of constitutional governments, which required individual citizens to be able to speak on their own behalf, often before large audiences” (Kennedy, “Historical Survey,” 7). Whatever the catalyst, the Greeks were instrumental in elevating the prestige of speakers, creating schools for rhetoric, and crafting methods for public speaking. The Romans continued the Greek rhetorical tradition, with Cicero (106–43 bc) being one of its foremost practitioners.