Paul and Socrates: the Aim of Paul' s Areopagus Speech

Abstract

Paul's Areopagus speech is in many ways a riddle. This article approaches the speech with Paul's aim in view. If Paul hoped his audience would respond by conversion, he did not have much success. It is argued that Paul's aim was to arouse curiosity and create an interest in further information; indeed, some responded to him for this very reason and later became believers. This article presents three arguments: (1) the rhetorical strategy to be used by a speaker faced with a critical audience was insinuatio, subtle approach, to speak with concealment; (2) Paul's way of introducing Jesus in this speech is surprisingly cryptic, and leaves the audience with questions; (3) the use of Socrates traditions found quite clearly in the prelude to the speech is seen as shedding light on Paul's indirect speaking in the speech itself. Paul's aim was to promote curiosity and elicit questions.