Ouch!

While scrolling through yet another sale announcement from Dove, I noticed this entry:

Hultin, Jeremy F
Ethics of Obscene Speech in Early Christianity and Its Environment
(Brill, 2008)
Hardcover List: $177.00 Dove Price: $149.99
Save $27.01 (15%)

Prof. Hultin is a member of the biblical studies faculty at YDS, and an all-around good guy. And I'm quite curious about his treatment of this subject (the book is a revision of his doctoral dissertation). But when a volume is $150.00 after a discount, something is rotten in the state of Denmark. I'm well aware that my grasp of economics leaves something to be desired, but surely Brill would actually increase their profit margins if they sold larger numbers of units at lower prices? After all, most academics follow Erasmus' dictum of purchasing books first, and food and clothing afterwards (my parents can attest to this fact)...

RBL Highlights: 2/24/09

Highlights from a previous Review of Biblical Literature, which I found skulking in the depths of my inbox:

John M. G. Barclay and Simon Gathercole, eds.
Divine and Human Agency in Paul and His Cultural Environment
Reviewed by Stephan Joubert

Maurice Casey
The Solution to the 'Son of Man' Problem
Reviewed by Paul Owen

David J. Chalcraft, ed.
Sectarianism in Early Judaism: Sociological Advances
Reviewed by Boris Repschinski

Mary Ann Getty-Sullivan
Parables of the Kingdom: Jesus and the Use of Parables in the Synoptic Tradition
Reviewed by Dan O. Via

Rowan A. Greer and Margaret M. Mitchell
The "Belly-Myther" of Endor: Interpretations of 1 Kingdoms 28 in the Early Church
Reviewed by Thomas J. Kraus

Yigal Levin, ed.
A Time of Change: Judah and Its Neighbours in the Persian and Early Hellenistic Periods
Reviewed by Oded Lipschits

Benjamin Edidin Scolnic
Thy Brother's Blood: The Maccabees and Dynastic Morality in the Hellenistic World
Reviewed by Lester L. Grabbe

V. George Shillington
An Introduction to the Study of Luke-Acts
Reviewed by Nils Neumann

Stanley D. Walters
Go Figure! Figuration in Biblical Interpretation
Reviewed by Paul Elbert
Reviewed by Richard S. Briggs

New Testament Notes: Week 7 (Monday)

Notes on the individuals with whom Jesus associated, and his miraculous deeds:

RELC122 Notes: 2/23

Awesomeness... And Its Many Repercussions

I was extremely flattered to discover that this blog was listed among the "Top 100 Theology Blogs" compiled by Jessica Merritt of christiancolleges.com. (Check out the complete list here.) Jessica's analysis is brilliantly succinct: "This blog offers a good look at biblical studies." I couldn't have said it better myself. ;-) Perhaps one day I will actually achieve my dream of standing alongside Jim West, Nick Norelli, James McGrath, and the other giants at the top of the biblioblog world...

In celebration of this momentous ranking, I've made a few changes to the blog. The most obvious, of course, is a new template and color scheme. However, I've also added a link to a number of my articles, reviews, and notes, as well as a post archive, to the sidebar. Also, lists such as that prepared by Jessica always introduce me to a number of unfamiliar yet fascinating blogs, which have now been added to the blogroll. Thus you can expect to see some new faces (titles?) there over the next few days.

So tell your family, tell your friends, tell everyone... Confessions of a Bible Junkie is better than ever! ;-)

Paul and Palestinian Judaism: A Brief Review

This is a brief review which I prepared for Prof. Harry Gamble's seminar on Paul in Modern Scholarship. As I only had two days to reread key parts of the book and write the review (someone else was originally scheduled to present, but had to leave town at the last minute), many other things could have been added or discussed in additional detail; perhaps I can expand it in my free time. Aww, who am I kidding? ;-)

Now if I can just master Nick Norelli's knack for getting publishers to send him books for free, I'll be in business...

-------

E.P. Sanders, Paul and Palestinian Judaism: A Comparison of Patterns of Religion (Minneapolis: Fortress Press, 1977). 627 pp.

E.P. Sanders’ magisterial reevaluation of ancient Judaism and its relationship to Pauline thought represents one of the most significant contributions to the scholarly study of religion in the latter half of the twentieth century, inaugurating the movement which became known as the “new perspective on Paul” (a moniker coined by his contemporary James Dunn in 1982). Like many novel works, it was not immediately embraced by the larger community; intense editorial criticism delayed its publication for nearly two years (Sanders 2004: 17). Its eventual appearance and reception, however, permanently altered critical conceptions on a number of major fronts, most notably the nature of Jewish faith and praxis during the Second Temple and early rabbinic periods. Interestingly, its structure and substance suggest that the proper nouns included in its title should be reversed; the enigmatic subject of Palestinian Judaism is taken up first, and is examined in much more detail than that of Paul. The heart of the survey is prefaced with the fundamental conceptual judgment that the most effective antidote to the erroneous assumptions surrounding the relationship between Judaism and Christianity in antiquity is an honest, full-fledged comparison of their religious “patterns,” a term which Sanders defines as “how getting in [to a particular religion or group] and staying in are understood” (italics original; p. 17). Such a project will not only illuminate the true quality of this relationship, but will also provide an increased understanding of each religion as an independent entity.

Sanders continues with a poignant overview of the all-too-familiar characterization of Judaism as a static and stale community trudging along the hopeless asymptotes of legalism and works-righteousness. It is “at best an inadequate religion and at worst one which destroys any hope of a proper relationship between God and man” (p. 35). This attitude was adopted in various forms by an overwhelming majority of scholars in the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries—including Emil Schurer, Wilhelm Bousset, and Rudolf Bultmann—and persisted despite the appearance of occasional critiques “by scholars who have known the material far better than any of its proponents” (e.g., G.F. Moore; p. 59). Sanders sets out to achieve its permanent annihilation by means of a comprehensive analysis of the extant textual sources, from the tractates of the Mishnah to the Dead Sea Scrolls to the apocryphal and pseudepigraphical literature. Or, to use Thomas Best’s more diplomatic assessment, he “seeks to convince New Testament scholarship as a whole that it has been talking all along about the wrong Judaism, a Judaism which in fact did not exist except as a convenient foil against which to prove the superiority of the apostle Paul” (Best 1982: 67). In any case, the results are striking. With the singular exception of the Wisdom of Ben Sira, a document likely written in the second century BCE which does not adopt a particularly universal or futuristic outlook, this corpus agrees on a fundamental point: “obedience maintains one’s position in the covenant, but it does not earn God’s grace as such” (italics original; p. 420). Here Sanders highlights the undeniable pervasiveness of the theme of the extension of divine mercy to the righteous, with its implicit corollary that their deeds, while certainly positive, have not been sufficient to merit their salvation. In place of the traditional misconceptions, he offers a summary sketch of the religious system actually supported by the sources, which was apparently prevalent throughout Palestine before the destruction of the Second Temple and which he terms “covenantal nomism” (p. 422):

1) The election of Israel

2) The bestowal of the Law
a. Divine implication: maintenance of the election
b. Human implication: requirement of adherence to the Law

3) The reward of obedience and the punishment of divergence

4) Provisions for atonement
a. Result: restoration of the covenantal relationship

5) Assurance of salvation to those who remain within the covenant due to obedience, atonement, and mercy

Although the term “covenant” is by no means omnipresent, and is especially scarce in the writings of the rabbis, this is attributed to its status as a matter of course; “the covenant was presupposed, and the Rabbinic discussions were largely directed toward the question of how to fulfill the covenantal obligations” (italics original; p. 421).

Sanders begins his comparatively brief treatment of Paul with an acknowledgment of the relevant sources—the seven letters which are generally classified as authentic, although the brief Letter to Philemon provides little grist for the religious mill—and a recognition of the “two readily identifiable and primary convictions which governed Paul’s Christian life” (p. 441): belief in the salvific lordship of Jesus Christ, whose eschatological reappearance was imminent, and in his own interrelated status as apostle to the Gentiles. Sanders’ emphasis upon imminent eschatology, as opposed to other elements such as justification by faith, is largely drawn from the earlier work of Albert Schweitzer, whose influence also appears in Sanders’ studies of the historical Jesus. The first conviction, that of the lordship of Christ, is clarified with the argument that an analysis of Pauline theology must begin with the apostle’s acceptance of Christ as savior, not with the theological conundrum of an inescapably sinful humanity and the arrival of Christ as solution. While the latter view, heavily dependent upon the organization of the Letter to the Romans (and reminiscent of Luther’s celebrated conscience pangs), was endorsed by Bultmann, Hans Conzelmann, and Gunther Bornkamm, Sanders opines that “[i]t seems likely… that Paul’s thought did not run from plight to solution, but rather from solution to plight… There is no reason to think that Paul felt the need for a universal savior prior to his conviction that Jesus was such” (p. 443). Pauline testimony to the character of the Christian community displays a number of features resonant with the newly defined covenantal nomism, including its assurances of salvation for its members and its requirement of observation of certain regulations, or atonement for disobedience, in order to remain within the elect. In the pithy terms of “getting in and staying in,” Paul holds that all are “out” until they accept Christ as savior, an act which may be represented as justification by faith or unity with Christ. Once “in,” members are required to conduct themselves appropriately, generally in accordance with Jewish ethical strictures. Paul breaks with covenantal nomism, however, in his rejection of the efficacy of the election and his qualified, piecemeal approach to the Law. Sanders dubs his pattern “participationist eschatology,” thus acknowledging his strongly eschatological worldview and his emphasis upon dying with Christ in order to “get in.”

Like many challenging and groundbreaking assessments, Sanders’ arguments received both lavish praise and vociferous criticism—and in a monograph of this breadth and magnitude, both are undoubtedly appropriate. As Best has noted, “After Paul and Palestinian Judaism, it should never again be possible to represent the view of first-century Judaism on a particular subject merely by citing the rabbinic passages mentioned at the appropriate spot in Strack-Billerbeck” (Best 1982: 71). But while Sanders must be commended for his leading role in the scholarly community’s radical reconsideration of its view of Judaism, his work did not emerge in a vacuum. He himself acknowledges that a number of previous commentators, including G.F. Moore, Samuel Sandmel, Krister Stendhal, and W.D. Davies, had developed and published similar ideas. Furthermore, his manipulation of the sources is occasionally questionable. It is extremely convenient that texts such as the Wisdom of Ben Sira and 4 Ezra (2 Esdras) are deemed to be irrespective of normative Judaism during this period, as their contents do not especially support his conclusions. The lack of a “treasury of merits” in the extant literature indicates that it was not relevant or applicable to its authors; the similar lack of references to the covenant, however, indicates that it was an absolutely ubiquitous concept (Best 1982: 73). Despite his repeated protestations against the polemical categorizations of traditional German scholarship, Jacob Neusner has accused him of employing a “Pauline-Lutheran theology” in his exegesis. The extensive treatment of the Mishnah, an anthology which was not codified before 200 CE, has incited questions of anachronism regarding its correspondence to Paul—although Sanders has responded that, as he was not engaged in a search for the sources of Pauline thought, such questions are unwarranted (Sanders 2004: 17). Finally, this ambitious comparative project does not significantly address the texts which are most precious to the rabbis and to Paul, and therefore could potentially provide a wealth of material for objective comparison: those of the Hebrew Bible/Old Testament. Best is quick to point out that the index contains just two passages of citations of these texts, as opposed to more than twenty pages devoted to other Jewish and early Christian writings. Nevertheless, any legitimate consideration of recent developments in Pauline studies must include a full engagement with this seminal work.

Paul Firesale Redux

More exciting Pauline studies titles at attractive prices:

Schnelle, Udo
Apostle Paul: His Life and Theology
(Baker Book House, 2005)
Hardcover List: $49.99 Dove Price: $25.99
Save $24.00 (48%)

Paul's writings are centrally important not only for the establishment of the Christian faith but for the whole history of Western culture. In the original German, Prof. Udo Schnelle's work has recently established itself as a leading text in Germany. In Prof. Boring's translation, and with his bibliographic revisions, it now represents the state of the art in the English-speaking world. This comprehensive critical introduction combines historical and theological analysis. After essential methodological preliminaries, the first half of the book constructs Paul's biography: his pre-Christian life, his conversion, his missionary journeys, and the context of his writings. The second half is a synchronic exposition of the theological themes that run through his writings. Apostle Paul is an essential book for professors, students, clergy, and others with a scholarly interest in Paul.

Contents 1 Prologue : Paul as challenge and provocation 2 Sources and chronology for Paul's life and work : definite and hypothetical 3 The pre-Christian Paul : open-minded religious zealot 4 The call to be apostle to the gentiles : the new horizon 5 The Christian Paul : a Volcano begins to rumble 6 The apostolic council and the incident at Antioch : the problems remain unresolved 7 Paul's independent mission : the volcano erupts 8 Paul and the Thessalonians : consolation and confidence 9 First Corinthians : high and true wisdom 10 Second Corinthians : peace and war 11 Paul and the Galatians : discovery in conflict 12 Paul and the church in Rome : high-level encounter 13 Paul in Rome : the old man and his work 14 The presence of salvation : the center of Pauline theology 15 Theology : the God who acts 16 Christology : the Lord who is present 17 Soteriology : the transfer has begun 18 Pneumatology : the spirit moves and works 19 Anthropology : the struggle for the self 20 Ethics : the new being as meaning formation 21 Ecclesiology : the church as a demanding and attracting fellowship 22 Eschatology : expectation and memory 23 Epilogue : Pauline thought as enduring meaning formation

Grenholm, Cristina Daniel Patte (eds)
Reading Israel in Romans: Legitimacy and Plausibility of Divergent Interpretations
(Trinity Press International, 2000)
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Applying the insights of reception theory to biblical criticism, the contributors to this volume propose a "scriptural criticism" which encourages scholars and ordinary believers to engage in a dialogue about their interpretations of particular texts. Grenholm and Patte suggest that the relationship between various theological and ecclesiastical readings of Romans can be clarified by discussing the ways that each interpretation is framed analytically, contextually, and hermeneutically. The inaugural volume in this series, this book applies "scriptural criticism" to Romans 4 and 9-11, examining the ways that Christians "read Israel in Romans" and relate to Jews. Each essay contains notes that indicate how, when, and in what way a given writer "frames" his or her interpretation of the text. Contributors to the volume include Thomas Parker and Robert L. Brawley, McCormick Theological Seminary; Joseph Sievers, Pontifical Biblical Institute, Rome; G?nter Wasserberg, Christian Albrechts University, Germany; William Campbell, University of Wales; Mark Nanos, University of St. Andrews; Daniel Boyarin, University of California, Berkeley.

Longenecker, Bruce W
Triumph of Abraham's God: The Transformation of Identity in Galatians
(T & T Clark International, 1998)
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This scholarly yet accessible study explores the various aspects of Paul's theology of divine triumph in the Book of Galations. For Paul, the divine invasion into "the present evil age" has resulted in the victory of God over competing suprahuman forces and establishment of a sphere of existence where God's reputation as the cosmic sovereign is displayed. Paul envisages Christian social interaction to be the stage upon which God's transforming power is performed and advertised. Accordingly, Paul calls his Galatian hearers not simply to a life unfettered by a ritualistic practice, but to a life of transformed existence through the power of the Spirit. Eschatological identity of this sort is the immediate consequence of the prior redemption of ethnic Israel, which the coming of Christ occasioned. In particular, Christian moral identity arises out of the "faithfulness of Christ" embodied in his loving and self-giving service. This feature is shown to be crucial to the theological and corporate enterprise that Paul envisages in Galatians, having a radical impact upon his understanding of the law, of suprahuman forces at odds with the will of God, and of validity in Christian readings of Scripture. This book concludes by considering the place of salvation history in Galations, by explaining Paul's theology in relation to the "Lutheran" and "new" perspectives on Paul, and by demonstrating how Paul's theology in Galatians may provide an important resource for contemporary theology concerning Christian identity and modern society.

Smith, Abraham
Comfort One Another: Reconstructing the Rhetoric and Audience of 1 Thessalonians
(Westminster John Knox, 1995)
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This unique study considers the exegetical and hermeneutical possibilities of analyzing the entire letter of 1 Thessalonians as a letter of consolation. Abraham Smith maintains that Paul wrote 1 Thessalonians with a full knowledge of the tradition of Greco-Roman letters of consolation and chose this genre to sustain members of the Thessalonian church. Smith explicates the social and literary conventions of this tradition and fully discloses why this particular rhetoric of care was employed. Showing how Paul's letter of consolation was understood in Paul's world and by subsequent generations, Smith demonstrates the usefulness of Paul's rhetoric of comfort for modern society.

Table of Contents Series Preface Preface Introduction 1 Charting a Course for Interpretation 2 Reconstructing Hellenistic Rhetoric 3 Determining the Genre 4 Reconstructing the Rhetoric 5 The Audience and Extra-Textual Evidence Conclusion Notes Bibliography Indexes

Stirewalt, M Luther
Paul, the Letter Writer
(Eerdmans, 2003)
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This engaging study shows how Paul's stylized use of the official Roman letter _ a form of communication of great social import in his day _ played a crucial role in his apostolic ministry, conveying both his self-identity and sense of authority. M. Luther Stirewalt describes the logistics of letter writing in the first-century Mediterranean world and shows how official letters served to substitute for speeches to an audience, to convey executive, official, or bureaucratic matters, or to bring complaints or petitions from citizens to officials. He then shows how Paul structured his apostolic correspondence after these models of writing, drawing evidence directly from seven Pauline epistles: 1 Thessalonians, 1 and 2 Corinthians, Philippians, Philemon, Galatians, and Romans. Cutting a new angle on Paul's purposes, his ministry, and his pastoral concerns, Stirewalt's Paul, the Letter Writer will appeal to readers of the Bible and ancient history.

Contents 1. The Logistics of Ancient Greek Letter Writing 2. The Official Letter-Form and the Pauline Letters 3. The Letters 4. Paul and His Apostolic, Epistolary Ministry Appendix Bibliography Index of Scripture References

From the New Testament in Context Commentary Series

Wan, Sze-Kar
Power in Weakness: The Second Letter of Paul to the Corinthians
(Trinity Press International, 2000)
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This most recent addition to the popular Trinity New Testament in Context (NTC) commentary series, edited by J. Andrew Overman and Howard Clark Kee, focuses on the apostle Paul's refusal to match strength for strength with his detractors. Instead, Paul stresses that authentic Christian ministry is characterized by weakness and suffering, specifically the weakness and paradigmatic sufferings endured by the crucified Jesus. While not a rhetorical analysis of 2 Corinthians, this book nevertheless attends to Paul's rhetorical skills in resolving the Corinthian controversies. It attempts to show that Paul's theological formulations are best understood as products of rhetorical responses to controversial issues of authority and social location. The preponderance of disputed arguments and narratives in 2 Corinthians renders this letter highly unusual in the Pauline corpus and one of the most challenging for the biblical detective to unravel. Sze-kar Wan, therefore, has written a commentary that helps readers look closely at the texts relevant to the problem of dislocation, providing directional pointers that enable readers, on their own, to develop these pointers to their logical conclusions.

Due in March from Eerdmans. Fresh Perspective on Paul and Justification

Campbell, Douglas A
Deliverance of God: An Apocalyptic Rereading of Justification in Paul
(Eerdmans, 2009)
Hardcover List: $60.00 Dove Price: $39.99
Save $20.01 (33%) NYP Due: 03/01/2009

In much Pauline interpretation today a significant impasse has been reached. Scholars too often find themselves locked into one of two camps ' either Lutheran or New. Douglas Campbell here proposes a new, non-contractual, apocalyptic reading of many of the apostle's most famous and most troublesome texts. Campbell holds thatthe intrusion of an alien, essentially modern, and theologically unhealthy theoretical construct into the interpretation of Paul has disordered the broader interpretation of his thought and created many of the difficulties that scholars now struggle with.It has, in fact, produced an individualistic and contractual construct that shares more with modern political traditions than with either orthodox theology or Paul's first-century world. In order to counter-act that influence, Campbell argues that it needs to be isolated and brought to the foreground before the interpretation of Paul?s texts begins. New readings free from this intrusive paradigm become possible and surprising new interpretations unfold. The Deliverance of God proves itself a unique and very important work for those looking for an accurate reading of Paul's words.

Sex and the UMC

As my father so aptly commented, "Now, this should get interesting! Stay tuned..."

General Board of Church & Society announces series on 'Sex and the Church'

'Theology of Sexuality' will lead off monthly series in agency's e-mail newsletter Faith in Action.

WASHINGTON, D.C. — The United Methodist General Board of Church & Society (GBCS) will present a series of articles that address critical aspects of human sexuality. The series, “Sex and the Church,” will run in GBCS’s electronic newsletter, Faith in Action, and will begin March 2 with “The Theology of Sexuality.”

Bishop Deborah Kiesey, GBCS board of directors president, and Jim Winkler, the social justice agency's chief executive, issued a joint statement announcing the monthly series.

“We see it almost every day in the news in one way or another: HIV & AIDS; rising divorce rates brought on by marital infidelity; teen pregnancy; homosexuality and homophobia. The topic is sexuality,” their statement says. “It is important for us and the Church to address this issue and its impact on all of us.”

“Sex and the Church” will provide theological, educational, scientific and sociological sustenance along with specific questions for dialogue and discernment, according to Kiesey and Winkler.

Kiesey and Winkler point out that the United Methodist Social Principles describe human sexuality as “God’s good gift to all persons.” “Yet we also know that on this the Church has often remained silent or been too polarized,” they declare. “So GBCS has recruited some outstanding resource people to share their expertise on a number of key topics within the framework of human sexuality.”

Dr. Traci West, professor of Ethics and African American Studies at Drew University Theological School, Madison, N.J., wrote the series lead-off article, “The Theology of Sexuality.” West leads sexual ethics seminars and participated in a study that concludes seminaries in the United States are not adequately preparing future clergy to deal with sexuality issues despite ongoing debates within their denominations, particularly on homosexuality.

“Sexuality has to do with the way in which our bodies, our spirit and our mind respond to other people and to the way we understand our bodies as sensual,” West said.

Among other scheduled articles in the series are “Teaching Abstinence in a World Awash with Sex,” “The Myths of Sex: Sex, HIV and Gender,” “Cheaters Think They Prosper: Myths about Marital Infidelity,” “Politics of Sex,” “What Every 21st Century Parent Needs to Know,” “Surviving Rape,” “A Black Woman's Guide to Sex and Spirituality,” “Clergy Living with AIDS and the Role of the Church,” and “Young People Speak out About Sex!”

Contributors to the series comprise persons from around the world. They include U.S. Rep. Emanuel Cleaver (D-Mo.); Kay Warren of Saddleback Church; Dr. Pauline Muchina, UNAIDS; the Rev. Debra Haffner, director of Religious Institute on Sexual Morality, Justice and Healing; the Rev. Steven Baines of the Religious Coalition for Reproductive Choice; the Rev. Gideon Byamugisha of Uganda; and Dr. Hamilton Mvumelwano Dandala of South Africa.

Mike Ratliff, director of the United Methodist Division on Ministries with Young People, and James Richie, author of denomination resource materials on sexuality, will collaborate on the April article: “Sexuality in the Church — Best Practices.”

Linda Bales, director of the Louise and Hugh Moore Population Project at GBCS, is coordinating “Sex and the Church.”

Kiesey and Winkler point out that sexuality plays a pivotal role in everyday lives. “It is an intrinsic part of our personhood and should be treated as sacred,” they say. “We are excited about this series because it will help provide needed education to our children and ourselves. We anticipate it may restore relationships, create new healthy ones and perhaps move people to act.”

At the very least, they say “Sex and the Church” can generate dialogue for United Methodists as they try to honor the sacredness of this important part of living.

“We invite you to read each article and encourage others to do the same,” their statement says. “And as always we welcome and appreciate your comments.”

Faith in Action appears on GBCS’s website, www.umc-gbcs.org. Information on how to obtain a free subscription to the newsletter, which provides a roundup of education, advocacy, analysis and commentary on social justice issues, is available on the website.

CCUM Organ Recital

Anyone in Louisville this weekend should mark Dan Stokes' upcoming recital on their calendars. I haven't heard the new organ yet (it was still being tuned when I was in town for the winter holidays), but as you can see it looks stunning:

Secret Mark: A Bibliography

In conjunction with Prof. Judy Kovacs' seminar on the life and thought of Clement of Alexandria, Jack Collins (another fine doctoral student) and I delivered a report on the continuing debate surrounding the Letter to Theodore, which contains the gospel fragments popularly known as "Secret Mark" and which, if Morton Smith is to be believed, was discovered by him at Mar Saba in 1958. As I prepared a selective bibliography on this fascinating topic, I was struck by two principal points:

1) There is remarkably little consensus surrounding the authenticity of the letter, with proponents of both sides (authenticity and forgery) claiming victory in recent years. For example, a number of scholars at Yale (e.g., Harry Attridge and Adela Collins) considered the matter to be virtually, if not completely, closed with the publication of Peter Jeffery's The Secret Gospel of Mark Unveiled in 2007, but two articles appearing in the most recent issue of the Journal of Early Christian Studies make arguments for authenticity.

2) Very few articles have attempted to address the question of the legitimacy of the letter by comparing it to other Clementine writings, particularly his comments on secrecy and concealment of knowledge in the Stromateis. (Prof. Kovacs herself reinforced this point in the course of our discussion.)

For those of you wishing to explore one of the wildest and most bitter debates in the recent history of biblical and patristic studies, check out the bibliography here. It's certainly not comprehensive, but includes a number of thorough introductory treatments as well as many of the key articles and monographs written in recent years. Enjoy!

New Testament Notes: Week 6 (Wednesday)

Notes on the character of the teachings of Jesus:

RELC 122 Notes: 2/18

RBL Highlights: 2/18/09

Highlights from the most recent Review of Biblical Literature (or, check out the blogroll):

Bill T. Arnold and Bryan E. Beyer
Encountering the Old Testament: A Christian Survey
Reviewed by Elmer A. Martens

Gabriele Boccaccini, ed.
Enoch and the Messiah Son of Man: Revisiting the Book of Parables
Reviewed by Thomas J. Kraus

Mark J. Boda, Daniel K. Falk, and Rodney A. Werline, eds.
Seeking the Favor of God, Volume 2: The Development of Penitential Prayer in Second Temple Judaism
Reviewed by Carla Sulzbach

Victor A. Copan
Saint Paul as Spiritual Director: An Analysis of the Concept of the Imitation of Paul with Implications and Applications to the Practice of Spiritual Direction
Reviewed by V. Henry T. Nguyen

Sidnie White Crawford
Rewriting Scripture in Second Temple Times
Reviewed by Stephen A. Reed

Michael Attyah Flower
The Seer in Ancient Greece
Reviewed by John Mason

David G. Horrell
1 Peter
Reviewed by Peter H. Davids

Graham H. Twelftree
In the Name of Jesus: Exorcism among Early Christians
Reviewed by David Frankfurter

Congratulations Dr. Breslin!

Charles Breslin, a beloved friend and mentor to myself and scores of other students and aspiring academics in Louisville and beyond, was recently inducted into the University of Louisville's College of Arts and Sciences Hall of Honor. A brief press release is available here.

To say that this recognition was entirely deserved would be a spectacular understatement. Congratulations!

Arthur Stocker Lecture: Craig on Cicero

A recent announcement from the Classics Department:

New Testament Notes: Week 5 (Monday)

Today's installment (albeit a little belated): an introduction to the Gospel of John.

RELC122 Notes: 2/9

Paul Firesale

As I'm currently taking a class on modern interpretations of Paul, I felt obligated to note that several titles relating to the ancient genius are currently on sale at Dove:

Christophersen, Alf Carsten Claussen, Jorg Frey, Bruce Longenecker (eds)
Paul, Luke and the Graeco Roman World: Essays in Honour of Alexander J M Wedderburn
(T & T Clark International, 2003)
Paperback List: $84.00 Dove Price: $26.99
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The contributors to this volume are David Aune, Stephen Barton, Richard Bauckham, Richard Bell, James Dunn, Ferdinand Hahn, Christina Hoegen-Rohls, Robert Jewett, Hans Klein, H.-W. Kuhn, David Moessner, Stanley Porter, Heikki Raisanen, Margaret Thrall, Christopher Tuckett, Oda Wischmeyer and Christian Wolff. The topics include, among others, Paulinism in Acts, a comparision of the Lord's Supper with cultic meals in Qumran and in Hellenistic cults, glossolalia in Acts, the Lukan prologue, 'new creation' in Paul, and Adama and Christ in Romans. The volume is compiled in honour of A.J.M. (Sandy) Wedderburn, of the University of Munich, formerly of St Andrews and Durham, and a bibliography of his writings is included.

Ehrensperger, Kathy
That We May Be Mutually Encouraged: Feminism and the New Perspective in Pauline Studies
(T & T Clark International, 2004)
Paperback List: $55.00 Dove Price: $11.99
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There has been a revolutionary shift of thinking in Pauline Studies, fundamentally changing the image of Paul. Postmodern literary criticism of Paul's epistles and sociorhetorical criticism of his letters has created a "New Perspective" approach to Pauline studies. At the same time, feminist criticism of the Pauline corpus has been growing. Unfortunately there has been hardly any interaction and exchange of research results between these different strands of scholarship. The result of this is that in Pauline studies scholars are hardly aware of feminist perspectives. Similarly, feminist interpretations of Paul, not fully conversant with the most recent strands of Pauline research, are often based on traditional images of Paul. Ehrensperger's analysis of feminist commentaries on Paul thus contains a rather negative depiction of theological thinking. However, both strands of research, feminist and those of the "New Perspective," provide fresh and illuminating insights that emphasize similar aspects from different perspectives. Ehrensperger advocates a closer interaction between these two schools of Pauline studies. She analyzes Romans 14-15, exploring the results of recent research in both Pauline schools. Pauline studies from the 'New Perspective' emphasizes the Jewish context and texture of Paul's thinking. She sets these in dialogue with feminist theology, which focuses on issues of identity, diversity, and relationality. Her study results in a perspective on Paul which views him as a significant dialogue partner in the search for a theology beyond anti-Semitism and misogyny, beyond force and domination.

Contents Acknowledgments Pt. 1 Hermeneutics and presuppositions 1 Introduction 1 2 Changing perspectives 5 3 Different perspectives 43 Pt. 2 Paul in contemporary studies and theologies 4 Paul - beyond the new perspective 123 5 Paul in feminist perspectives 161 6 "That we may be mutually encouraged" (Rom 1:12) 177 7 Conclusion 195 Bibliography 203 Index 234

Harvey, A E
Renewal Through Suffering: A Study of 2 Corinthians
(T & T Clark International, 1996)
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This book represents a fresh approach to the study of 2 Corinthians. In the first chapter of the epistle, Paul recounts how he had been faced suddenly with the prospect of imminent death. Either he had succumbed to a severe illness or was suffering the effects of savage persecution. In either case Dr. Harvey believes that some of the profound but difficult language in the central chapters may best be explained by reference to this traumatic event. He begins by exploring the social, economic and religious consequences of illness or disability in antiquity and the radically new understanding of suffering to which Paul was led by his near-death experience. The remainder of the book takes the form of a running commentary, bringing out the implications of this biographical approach for understanding the text of 2 Corinthians. Despite addressing detailed questions of a technical nature, this study is presented in a clear and readable form and will prove illuminating for all those - scholars, students, or more general readers - interested in St. Paul and 2 Corinthians.

Contents Preface Abbreviations Ch. 1 The Tribulations in Ephesus 2 Cor. 1.3-9 Ch. 2 The Aftermath 2 Cor. 1.10-4.6 Ch. 3 The Renewing Experience 2 Cor. 4.7-7.16 Ch. 4 The Commissioning 2 Cor. 8-9 Ch. 5 The Apologia 2 Cor. 10-13 Ch. 6 Renewal through Suffering Bibliography Index of References Index of Modern Authors General Index

Heyer, C J Den
Paul: A Man of Two Worlds
(Trinity Press International, 2000)
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The apostle Paul is a controversial figure, both admired and reviled. His letters have influenced creeds and dogmatic statements, but he is also accused of turning the "simple" gospel that Jesus preached into a complex dogmatic system. Furthermore, on the authority of Paul, women have been given second place in church and society for many centuries. The "apostle to the Gentiles" has sometimes been a source of inspiration, but he has more often than not been a stumbling block when Jews and Christians meet. This book tackles all of these and other issues surrounding Paul and presents him for the widest possible audience. With his enviable gift for clear and popular writing, C. J. den Heyer here takes on a particularly difficult task and shows great mastery in offering a detailed portrait of one of the most controversial figures in the ancient world.

Hunt, Allen R
Inspired Body: Paul, the Corinthians and Divine Inspiration
(Mercer University Press, 1996)
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The Inspired Body examines 1 Corinthians 2:6-16 in an effort to understand one example of an early Christian view of divine inspiration. First, Allen Hunt examines other ancient descriptions of the phenomenon of divine inspiration, with particular interest in those descriptions that include a notion of the human search for the divine mind, a notion that is central to Paul's discussion in 1 Corinthians 2:6-16. The investigation seeks to identify who is described as inspired in these other ancient texts and also how that inspiration is explained. Representative ancient writers, including Plato, Plutarch, Julian, Philo, and Josephus, are examined. The work then investigates the details of Paul's discussion of divine inspiration in 1 Corinthians 2:6-16 and uses the parallel ancient discussions to elucidate Paul's argument. This book changes how 1 Corinthians, in particular chapters 2, 3, 12, and 14, is to be read, and reframes the question of divine inspiration.

Contents Preface Abbreviations and Citations Introduction The Problem Previous Scholarship The Present Study Part I: I Corinthians 2:6-16 In Its Cultural Context Chapter 1: Ancient Inquiry Into the Divine Mind: The Greek Tradition Greek Drama and Poetry Plato Plutarch Julian Conclusions Chapter 2: Ancient Inquiry Into the Divine Mind: The Jewish Tradition Philo Josephus Apocalyptic and LXX Traditions Excursus: Post--Pauline Christian Literature Conclusions Chapter 3: A First Look at 1 Cor 2:6-16 Part II: A New Reading of I Corinthians 2:6-16 and Its Implications Chapter 4: 1 Corinthians 2:6-16 and Inspired Community 1 Corinthians 2:6-16 Within Its Epistolary Setting The Language of Inspiration and Divine Inquiry in 1 Cor 2:6-16 The Church as Inspired Community Conclusions Chapter 5: 1 Corinthians 3:1-4 and Communal Division Paul's Use of Irony Paul's Modification of Communal Behavior The Topoi of Two Levels of Teachings and Secret Doctrines Conclusions Chapter 6: The Inspired Body of Christ in 1 Corinthians 12 The Issue of Inspired Speech (1 Cor 12:1-3) The Specifics of Communal Inspiration (1 Cor 12:4-13) The Equality of Inspiration (1 Cor 12:22-26) The Proper Allegiance of Christians (1 Cor 12:27-31) Conclusions Chapter 7: 1 Corinthians 14 and Corporate Worship 14:1-12: Inspired Speech and Redone 14:13-19: The Criterion of the 14:20-25: Community, Childishness, and Ecstasy Communal Reciprocity in 14:26-36 Recapitulation and Sarcasm: 14:37-40 Conclusions Conclusions Bibliographies Reference Works Ancient Sources: Texts, Editions, and Translations Secondary Literature Cited Indexes

Polaski, Sandra Hack
Paul and the Discourse of Power
(T & T Clark International, 1999)
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Drawing on postmodern theory's insights regarding discourse, ideology and power, this book explores the ways Paul navigated fluctuating and complex relationships of power with his churches, contributing to a discourse that defined the power dynamics of early Christianity. With respect to his own converts as well as other leaders of the early church, and in the heart of his theological language, Paul is seen to take part in a discourse that reinforces his apostolic authority.

Porter, Stanley E Craig A Evans (eds)
Pauline Writings
(T & T Clark International, 1995)
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This volume collects the best articles on the Pauline writings from the first fifty issues of the Journal for the Study of the New Testament. The range of the volume reflects the breadth of the journal itself. Here the reader will find ground-breaking studies which introduce new critical questions and move into fresh areas of enquiry, surveys of the state of play in this particular topic of New Testament studies, and articles which engage with each other in specific debates. For students this book offers an invaluable critical introduction to Pauline studies. More advanced students and scholars can use it to find background material or to gain an overview of the research in this area of scholarship. This builds on the reputation of JSNT as a conduit for first-class research and a major influence within the scholarly community.

Contents Paul the Apostle E. Best / Paul's Apostolic Authority - ? D. Luhrmann / Paul and the Pharisaic Tradition W.O. Walker / Acts and the Pauline Corpus Reconsidered Pauline Interpretation of Sacred Tradition J.W. Aageson / Typology, Correspondence, and the Application of Scripture in Romans 9-11 A. T. Hanson / The Midrash in 2 Corinthians 3: A Reconsideration W.A. Meeks / And Rose up to Play: Midrash and Paranesis in 1 Corinthians 10: 1-22 J.A. Ziesler / The Role of the Tenth Commandment in Romans 7 Pauline Theology K. Snodgrass / Spheres of Influence: A Possible Solution to the Problem of Paul and the Law J. Piper / The Demonstration of the Righteousness of God in Romans 3: 25, 26 C.L. Mearns / Early Eschatological Development in Paul: The Evidence of 1 Corinthians C. Rowland / Apocalyptic Visions and the Exaltation of Christ in the Letter to the Colossians Pauline Letter-Form and Rhetoric L. Alexander / Hellenistic Letter-Forms and the Structure of Philippians J.M.G. Barclay / Mirror-Reading a Polemical Letter: Galatians as a Test Case F. Young / The Pastoral Epistles and the Ethics of Reading Index of References Index of Authors

Thuren, Lauri
Derhetorizing Paul: A Dynamic Perspective on Pauline Theology and the Law
(Trinity Press International, 2002)
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When we read 1 Thessalonians 1:8, Paul seems to be calling for an end to all missionary activity: "In every place your faith toward God has gone forth, so that we have no need to speak a word." Given what we know about Paul, this notion strikes Christian readers as very curious. According to Lauri Thur?n, Paul and his listeners would find modern Pauline scholarship and interpretation equally curious. Expressions like the one from 1 Thessalonians were never meant to be taken at face value, and have promoted sophisticated but erroneous theological and historical reflections. These errors are due not only to the scholarly ignorance of ancient rhetorical and epistolary conventions, but also to a static attitude toward the text itself. Thur?n offers a different kind of study, one based on a natural and dynamic reading of Paul's letters. These letters need to be stripped of rhetoric, he says, in order to describe any theology beyond the texts. This means identifying persuasive devices in Pauline texts in order to filter out their effect on the theological ideas expressed.

Contents Preface Pt. I The Dynamics of Paul's Writings 1 Towards a Sensible Interpretation of Paul 2 Was Paul a Theologian? 3 From a Static to a Dynamic View of Paul's Text 4 Was Paul Sincere? Pt. II The Law in Paul's Theology 1 Solutions with Problems 2 The Law in Galatians 3 The Law Strikes Back: Romans and 1 Cor 4 What Was Wrong With the Law? Pt. III Paul Derhetorized? 1 Summary 2 Concluding Remarks on the Dynamic Perspective Literature Indices Thur?n applies this principle to a controversial issue in Pauline theology, the question of law. He claims that Paul's exaggerated statements correspond to his hyperbolic way of thinking. Paul's search for consistency on the Old Testament, Thur?n claims, was a major reason for his revolt against the Law. Derhetorizing Paul offers a bold new reading of Paul's letters and a striking reinterpretation of Pauline theology.

Wedderburn, A J M (ed)
Paul and Jesus: Collected Essays
(T & T Clark International, 2004)
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The relationship between the messages of Jesus and Paul, once dubbed by one scholar 'the second founder of Christianity', must count as one of the most central issues in the study of the New Testament. The essays collected in this volume first survey the history of the study of this problem, and look at some of the main evidence for supposing that the connection between Jesus and Paul was slight, notably the paucity of Paul's references to Jesus' teachings and his seeming disinterest in the earthly Jesus. Other essays take up the question of the continuity between the teaching and the manner of life of the two men, and raise the question how this continuity may have been mediated from one to the other. A final essay raises the question how far Paul's statements about Christ were related to the earthly life of Jesus. This volume brings together a number of substantial contributions to this question, by Professor V.P. Furnish of Dallas, by two scholars from the German Democratic Republic, Professor N. Walter and Dr C. Wolff, and by the editor; some are published for the first time, some are here made available in English for the first time.

Contents 1. Alexander J. M. Wedderburn / Introduction 2. Victor Paul Furnish / The Jesus-Paul Debate: From Baur to Bultmann 3. Nikolaus Walter / Paul and the Early Jesus Tradition 4. Christian Wolff / True Apostolic Knowledge of Christ: Exegetical Reflections of 2 Corinthians 5:14ff 5. Alexander J. M. Wedderburn / Paul and Jesus: The Problem of Continuity 6. Alexander J. M. Wedderburn / Paul and Jesus: Similarity and Continuity 7. Christian Wolff / Humility and Self-Denial in Jesus' Life and Message and in the Apostolic Existence of Paul 8. Alexander J. M. Wedderburn / Paul and the Story of Jesus 9. Alexander J. M. Wedderburn / Postscript Index of passages cited Index of authors cited

New Testament Notes: Week 4 (Wednesday)

Unfortunately, no notes from Monday (as I was out of town), but here are some riveting observations from the second lecture of the week, primarily on the Gospel of Luke:

RELC 122 Notes: 2/4

RBL Highlights: 2/8/09

Selections from the most recent Review of Biblical Literature:

J. Edward Ellis
Paul and Ancient Views of Sexual Desire: Paul's Sexual Ethics in 1 Thessalonians 4, 1 Corinthians 7 and Romans 1
Reviewed by James W. Aageson

Steven D. Fraade, Aharon Shemesh, and Ruth A. Clements, eds.
Rabbinic Perspectives: Rabbinic Literature and the Dead Sea Scrolls (Proceedings of the Eighth International Symposium of the Orion Center for the Study of the Dead Sea Scrolls and Associated Literature, 7-9 January, 2003)
Reviewed by Moshe J. Bernstein

Donald E. Hartley
The Wisdom Background and Parabolic Implications of Isaiah 6:9-10 in the Synoptics
Reviewed by Stephen Moyise

Scot McKnight and Joseph B. Modica, eds.
Who Do My Opponents Say That I Am? An Investigation of the Accusations against the Historical Jesus
Reviewed by Samuel Lamerson
Reviewed by Stephan Witetschek

Karen B. Stern
Inscribing Devotion and Death: Archaeological Evidence for Jewish Populations of North Africa
Reviewed by Steven Fine

New Testament Notes: Week 3 (Wednesday)

And some brief notes from this morning's lecture, which discussed the various messianic paradigms presented in the Gospel of Mark:

RELC122 Notes: 1/28

New Testament Notes: Week 3 (Monday)

Here are some brief notes from Monday's lecture, which was an introduction to Christian gospels in general and the canonical gospels in particular. The second half of the lecture featured the "Synoptic Problem" (the scholarly conundrum surrounding the nature of the literary relationship between Matthew, Mark, and Luke) and the "Two-Source Hypothesis" (the most popular solution to this problem).

RELC 122 Notes:1/26

RBL Highlights: 1/27/09

Many of these have recently appeared in the blogroll, but for anyone who may have missed them:

Margaret Barker
Temple Themes in Christian Worship
Reviewed by Mary L. Coloe

Paul C. Burns, ed.
Jesus in Twentieth Century Literature, Art, and Movies
Reviewed by Tsalampouni Ekaterini
Reviewed by Richard Walsh

Bruce Chilton
Abraham's Curse: The Roots of Violence in Judaism, Christianity, and Islam
Reviewed by Marvin A. Sweeney

John Day, ed.
Temple and Worship in Biblical Israel: Proceedings of the Oxford Old Testament Seminar
Reviewed by Aren M. Maeir

William A. Ford
God, Pharaoh and Moses: Explaining the Lord's Actions in the Exodus Plagues Narrative
Reviewed by Hee Suk Kim
Reviewed by Brian D. Russell

J. Harold Greenlee
The Text of the New Testament: From Manuscript to Modern Edition
Reviewed by J. K. Elliott

Robert H. Gundry
The Old Is Better: New Testament Essays in Support of Traditional Interpretations
Reviewed by Michael F. Bird

Francis J. Moloney
The Living Voice of the Gospels
Reviewed by Stephan Witetschek

Risto Nurmela
The Mouth of the Lord Has Spoken: Inner-biblical Allusions in Second and Third Isaiah
Reviewed by Christophe Nihan

U. B. Schmid, with W. J. Elliott and D. C. Parker
The New Testament in Greek IV: The Gospel according to St. John: Volume 2: The Majuscules
Reviewed by Marcus Sigismund

Kenton L. Sparks
God's Word in Human Words: An Evangelical Appropriation of Critical Biblical Scholarship
Reviewed by Arthur Boulet
Reviewed by Jeffrey A. Gibbs

Clinton Wahlen
Jesus and the Impurity of Spirits in the Synoptic Gospels
Reviewed by Mark D. Batluck

Thomas R. Yoder Neufeld
Recovering Jesus: The Witness of the New Testament
Reviewed by V. George Shillington