05_Biblica_Aletti_Layout 1 01/04/14 12:04 Pagina 91 91 JAMES 2,14-26 terion that allows pinpointing the sub-units constituted by the proofs. Thus, the two positive examples in vv. 21-25 form two sub-units linked by two adverbs and a coordinating conjunction (o`moi,wj de. kai, in v. 25) that clearly are inviting the reader to discern two proofs and thus put together vv. 21-24. Later, one will also see that v. 19 is not the semantic center of the passage: what determines the thrust of an argumentation is the defended thesis and not any of the proofs. If v. 19 were not followed by vv. 21-25, it would clearly not suffice in showing that justification is obtained by works (of faith). There are many other criticisms that could be made concerning this type of arrangement that is called “Semitic” by those who ad- vocate it. But what is more useful is to present the pattern followed by James in order to expound and justify his thesis on the connec- tion between faith, works and justification. II. The Chreia as a Model of the Arrangement of Jas 2,14-26 1. Chreiai at the time of the New Testament For those who know the techniques of arrangement of the time, this passage is typical of chreiai and more precisely of maxims. As rightly noted by specialists in the history of ancient rhetoric, the ar- gumentation called chreia was very widespread at the time of the New Testament. It was one of the preferred exercises in the program of the progymnasmata, but it was also utilized by students in ad- vanced courses. It is customarily defined as a system of elementary exercises on argumentation and literary arrangement whose ultimate purpose was ethical: to furnish criteria of action and comportment 11. If it was agreed upon to call this type of argumentation chreia, ancient rhetors, nevertheless, distinguished the chreia from the maxim and from the reminiscence. In this respect, a passage from the Progymnasmata of Theon is representative: 11 On this type of argumentation, see, in particular, R.F. HOCK – E.N. O’NEIL, The Chreia and Ancient Rhetoric. Vol. 1: The Progymnasmata (SBL Texts and Translations 27; Atlanta, GA 1986); R.F. HOCK – E.N. O’NEIL, The Chreia and Ancient Rhetoric. Vol. 2: Classroom Exercises (Writings from the Greco-Roman World 2; Atlanta, GA 2002).