Articles
Paul's Modes of Persuasion
It is striking to me that the truest and most profound things that people can imagine, the most foundational truths about life that human beings can muster, are often also found in the pages of of scripture. From military strategy, to educational theory, to philosophy—if it is true, then the bible either endorsed it, or sometimes said it first. We can see this in play when Paul spoke to the pagan philosophers in Athens when he quoted Aratus (Acts 17:28) to demonstrate that the truest things their philosophers said were truths about the real God.
When Aristotle wrote about effective rhetoric, he claimed that an effective speaker must have three things. He must have Logos (a solid grasp and clear presentation of the concepts and ideas), Pathos (an appropriate emotional response to the ideas being communicated), and Ethos (a life lived that demonstrates the ideas being communicated). Without those three elements, effective speaking and persuasive arguments would not be possible. Students of speech still learn these very true principles today. However, it should not surprise us that Paul appealed to these same principles when he sought to persuade the Ephesian elders in Acts 20.
Paul appealed to Logos when he reminded the elders of his constant teaching while he was among them. He asked them to bear in mind that he “did not shrink from declaring to you anything that was profitable, and teaching you publicly and from house to house, solemnly testifying to both Jews and Greeks of repentance toward God and faith in our Lord Jesus Christ.” (Acts 20:20-21) Paul sought to persuade the elders to remain strong in his absence by reminding them of his teaching, which he later explained was “the whole purpose of God.” (Acts 20:25-27)
Paul appealed to Pathos when he reminded them of his strong emotional connection to the people and the message. His example while in Ephesus was “serving the Lord with all humility and with tears” even in hard times. (Acts 20:19) This was not just a job to accomplish, but this was a work that absorbed the whole of him and it showed in his tears. This was not just a single incident, but he reminded them that “for a period of three years I did not cease to admonish each one with tears.” (Acts 20:31)
Paul also appealed to Ethos when he reminded them that he was an example of all the ideas he strived to communicate to the church in Ephesus. Paul’s life was a demonstration of service as he always worked with his hands to provide for his needs and also the poor. (Acts 20:33-35) Even as he left them, his actions would put him in danger, but he did “not consider my life of any account as dear to myself, so that I may finish my course and the ministry which I received from the Lord Jesus.” (Acts 20:22-24) It did not matter what hardships he would face, because his dedication and resolve was to obey the Savior.
Paul worked to persuade the Ephesian elders to remain faithful. Will he persuade us as well?
