Using Cicero’s introductory defense
of his right to defend Murena from the speech Pro Murena, and using the narrative of David and Saul from 1
Samuel, defend Jonathan’s right to support David against the following
hypothetical accusations from the Court of Saul:
1) Jonathan
is wrong to support David because David is a traitor to the crown;
2) Jonathan
is wrong to support David even if David is not a traitor, because Jonathan owes
loyalty to his father, Saul, over his friend, David; and
3) Jonathan
is wrong to support David because Jonathan should be supporting his own claim
to follow Saul as King, and not David’s.
You should imitate Cicero’s
attempts to maintain high ethos with his opponents; in other words, you want
Jonathan to maintain a good reputation and good relations with the Court of
Saul. You should also imitate Cicero’s argumentation insofar as it is analogous
to the types of arguments Jonathan can make in response to the Court of Saul;
for example, Cicero’s position as former Proconsul is somewhat analogous to
Jonathan’s position as Crown Prince. Prior to the test you should read the
narrative of David and Saul, beginning as far back as 1 Samuel 8 to get the
context of Saul’s rise to Kingship. You should also read and make use of
Cicero’s introductory remarks in Pro
Murena. You may use your Bible and Pro
Murena as you write your defense. You may speak as Jonathan himself, or as
a counselor defending Jonathan. Use the following outline:
1. Introduction
2. Division
of points
3. Confirmation
& Refutation
a.
“Some say that Jonathan is wrong to. . .” but to
this I respond. . .
b.
“Some say that Jonathan is wrong to. . .” but to
this I respond. . .
c.
“Some say that Jonathan is wrong to. . .” but to
this I respond. . .
4. Conclusion
You will be graded on your ability
to imitate Cicero and your ability to answer the arguments using claims that
are strong, relevant to the Biblical text, and analogous to Cicero’s defense of
his right to defend Murena.
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