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The Pragmatics of Politeness and Pauline Epistolography: a Case Study of the Letter To Philemon

Department of Linguistics and Modem English Language Lancaster University, Lancaster, LA1 4YT

Through a case study analysis of Paul's letter to Philemon using the framework of Geoffrey Leech's interpersonal rhetoric, this paper suggests that the techniques of modern linguistic pragmatics—in particular politeness theory-constitute a valuable approach to the Pauline writings by directing attention to the ways in which the relationship between the author and his addressees have affected the linguistic expression of ideas. The paper demonstrates that in Philemon considerations of politeness have significantly affected the way in which Paul makes his request. It is suggested that the analysis of other epistles by this method may pay important dividends for exegesis.

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