RHETORICAL AND LOGICAL STRATEGIES OF SOCIAL PERSUASION IN THE SERMONS OF JOHN CHRYSOSTOM: A GERMAN LANGUAGE ANALYSIS

Abstract

The article is devoted to a comprehensive analysis of the rhetorical and logical strategies of social persuasion in the sermons of John Chrysostom based on German-language translations from the Bibliothek der Kirchenväter library. The study shows how the Byzantine theologian shapes the ethical paradigm of mercy, justice and spiritual responsibility through linguistic mechanisms of influence on the consciousness and behaviour of the recipient. Particular attention is paid to the interaction of three rhetorical elements – ethos, logos and pathos – in building a convincing argument, where alms is not a gesture of compassion, but a moral norm and a sacred act. The article analyses the use of classical tropes (metaphors, antitheses, paradoxes), logical figures (induction, analogy, syllogism) and semantic reconceptualisations that allow transforming the idea of social hierarchy. Chrysostom redefines the concept of poverty, presenting the poor as spiritual benefactors, and interprets material donations as an investment in one’s own salvation. The sermon appears as a form of effective moral influence that integrates theological teaching with an existential call to action.The study of the German-language reception of Chrysostom allows us to trace the long-term influence of his ideas on European moral thought and Christian rhetoric. The study has an interdisciplinary character and demonstrates the relevance of Christian discourse in the light of contemporary challenges: war, poverty, and loss of solidarity. John Chrysostom appears as a master of the word who turns the sermon into an instrument of ethical transformation of society.