“First”, “Only”, “One of a Few”, and “No One Else” The Rhetoric of Uniqueness and the Doxologies in 1 Timothy You alone are the Holy One, You alone are the Lord, You alone are the Most High (1) Conversation on Scriptural doxologies includes in particular the work of Eric Werner and Matthew Black (2), who analyzed the typical forms of doxologies in the Hebrew and Christian Scriptures. Scholarship on the Pastoral Epistles provides specific Greco-Roman or Israelite background of the names and attributes of God found in them (3). The distinctive contribution of this study, however, brings into discussion two fresh lines of inquiry. First, we examine the rhetoric of praise and its modes of amplification. Particular attention will be paid to the principle of uniqueness, that is, the process of amplifying significant actions into grants of honor because the actor is the “first” or “only” or “one of a few” or “the one who most” performed them. For example, Alcibiades’ chariots won first, second and fourth places in one race: he is the “first” and “only” man ever to do this (Isocrates, Team of Horses 34); or, one might amplify his uniqueness by claiming that “no one” else has ever done thus and such. Second, all doxologies address God in formal terms of great respect, especially rendering to God dovxa kai; timh, terms which express honor, worthiness, renown, and the like (4). v (1) There are two doxologies in the early church, the Great Doxology (“Glory to God in the highest ...”) and the Lesser Doxology (“Glory be to the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit ...”); see J.A. JUNGMANN, The Mass of the Roman Rite. Its Origins and Development (New York 1951) I, 346-359. (2) E. WERNER, “The Doxology in Synagogue and Church. A Liturgico- Musical Study”, HUCA 19 (1945-46) 275-351; M. BLACK, “The Doxology to the Pater Noster with a Note on Matthew 6:13B”, A Tribute to Geza Vermes (ed. P.R. DAVIES – R.T. WHITE) (Sheffield 1990) 327-338. (3) For example, M. DIBELIUS, The Pastoral Epistles (Philadelphia 1972) 30-31. (4) It is well known that in the New Testament dovxa is used synonymously with timhv, with the meaning esteem, honor. So G. KITTLE (“doxa”, TDNT II, 232- v 237) said of glory, “... with the Homeric klevo" and later timhv, [glory] achieves central significance for the Greeks. Supreme and ideal worth is summed up in the term. A man’s worth is measured by his repute” (II, 235).