Abstract
1 John uses various types of rhetorical devices. While pinning down the logical and linear progress of the argument is too elusive in this Epistle, the rhetorical devices appear to be arranged to articulate the main points of the themes that come to the fore repeatedly. This chapter focuses on the four rhetorical formulas in 1 John-(1) the ean eipoomen formula with its variations, (2) paas formula, (3) the en toutoo formula, and (4) the autee estin formula. The repetition of the rhetorical formulas in 1 John emphasizes the main theological points and recapitulates them in a particular section. As highlighting rhetorical devices, the repetition of these formulas has a strong persuasive and performative force.
