Fresh study of a key aspect of the gospel

This study explores how the Fourth Gospels use of Scripturecontributes to its characterization of Jesus. Utilizing literary-rhetoricalcriticism, Myers approaches the Gospel in its final form, paying particularattention to how Greco-Roman rhetoric can assist in understanding the ways inwhich Scripture is employed to support the presentation of Jesus. It offersfurther evidence in favour of the Gospels use of rhetoric (particularly thepractices of synkrisis, ekpharsis, and prosopopoiia), and gives scholars a new way to use rhetoric tobetter understand the use of Scripture in the Fourth Gospel and the New Testamentas a whole.The book proceeds in three parts. First, it examines ancientMediterranean practices of narration and characterization in relationship tothe Gospel, concluding with an analysis of the Johannine prologue. In thesecond and third parts, it investigates explicit appeals to Scripture that aremade both in and outside of Jesus discourses.Through these analyses, Myers contends that the pervasivepresence of Scripture in quotations, allusions, and references acts ascorroborating evidence supporting the evangelists presentation of Jesus.

Scholars have often read the book of Revelation in a way that attempts to ascertain which Old Testament book it most resembles. Instead, we should read it as a combined and imitative text which actively engages the audience through signalling to multiple texts and multiple textual experiences: in short, it is an act of pastiche. Fletcher analyses the methods used to approach Revelation's relationship with Old Testament texts and shows that, although there is literature on Revelation's imitative and multi-vocal nature, these aspects of the text have not yet been explored in sufficient depth. Fletcher's analysis also incorporates an examination of Greco-Roman imitation and combination before providing a better way to understand the nature of the book of Revelation, as pastiche. Fletcher builds her case on four comparative case studies and uses a test case to ascertain how completely they fit with this assessment. These insights are then used to clarify how reading Revelation as imitative and combined pastiche can challenge previous scholarly assumptions, transforming the way we approach the text.

In this study Yongbom Lee re-examines the old Jesus-Paul debate with insights from current studies on intertextuality in Paul. Lee identifies Paul's typical ways of handling authoritative traditions in a number of cases providing a set of expectations as to how his use of them elsewhere might look. Lee begins by investigating the use of the Scriptures in the Rule of the Community and the Damascus Document. He then examines five cases of Paul's use of the Scriptures and contemporary Jewish exegetical traditions and three cases of his use of the Jesus tradition. Despite the skepticism concerning Paul's knowledge and appreciation of the Jesus tradition, the fact that his use of the Jesus tradition is similar to that of the Scriptures and contemporary Jewish exegetical traditions-with respect to its presumption of authority, various citation methods, and its creative application to the situation of his readers-provides the evidence for its importance to him.

The interpretation of this gospel integrates an objective analysis of its historical context and a subjective semantic disclosure of meaning. To that end, a close reading of the text is combined with consistency building in order to achieve textual congruence and plenitude of meaning. The subject/ object split of traditional biblical scholarship that requires analysis in order to produce explanation as a definable object is superseded in this book by the event of reading as a dynamic happening of personal experience from which the reader cannot detach herself or himself.

In this incisive commentary, Nancy Bedford explores Paul's Letter to the Galatians as it addresses pressing issues in the earliest Christian churches. Paul argues that it is not necessary for Gentiles to become full-fledged Jews in order to follow Jesus. In Jesus Christ, differences among people will continue. Bedford sees that equality in Christ (Galatians 3:28) does not erase differences but instead breaks down hierarchical relationships among many different people and groups. She considers the implications of these convictions for Christian faith today, particularly for those outside of Western Christian traditions. Bedford's unique theological-interpretive approach to Galatians is suitable for preaching and teaching preparation and is a welcome addition to the Belief series.

The interpretation of the phrase 'the testimony of Jesus' in the Book of Revelation has been the centre of much debate, with no clear consensus regarding its meaning. One of the most important but often neglected issues is whether or not the phrase can be read consistently across each instance of its occurrence. The opening lines of the Apocalypse clearly specify that 'the testimony of Jesus' is a moniker for the book of Revelation itself, indicating that the phrase is an internal self-reference to the book's own message. Nevertheless, most interpreters are reluctant to apply this interpretation to the phrase in other parts of the book, leading to varied and inconsistent interpretations of the phrase. Following the intratextual pattern of the apocalyptic books of Daniel and 1 Enoch we can see that it is entirely possible that 'the testimony of Jesus' is a reference to Revelation's own message, an interpretation which is then supported by Dixon's in-depth study of each of the passages in which the phrase occurs. The exploration of the rhetorical impact of interpreting the phrase in this way shows that 'the testimony of Jesus' is not just another title for John's writing, but is something that is given to and even characterizes those who hear the message of the Apocalypse.

This is a creative study of how differing levels of educational attainment may affect ancient hearer's interpretation of the cosmological and visionary imagery of "Revelation 9". This study considers how a significant variable, namely educational-level, might affect an ancient hearer's interpretation of "Revelation 9". This volume focuses on how two hypothetical ancient hearer-constructs, with very different 'mental libraries', may interpret the rich cosmological imagery of "Revelation 9". Part I considers the range of literary texts studied at various points on the circle of enkuklios paideia. Attention is focused on texts that had a particular significance for an ancient student's cosmological knowledge (e.g. Homer, Hesiod, Aratus, Plato). Part II reconstructs the hypothetical responses of two ancient hearer-constructs. The first, HC1, has received only a minimal literary education and adopts a tripartite cosmological model. The second, HC2, by contrast, is the recipient of a tertiary-level education, with a preference for a seven-planetary sphere model, such that he allegorically reinterprets the figures in "Revelation 9" as Aratean constellational figures. This volume concludes by critically comparing the hypothetical responses of HC1 and HC2 with the earliest extant commentators on the Apocalypse (Victorinus, Tyconius, Lactantius, Oecumenius), as well as the intriguing 'Arateans' cited by Hippolytus. Formerly "The Journal for the Study of the New Testament Supplement", a book series that explores the many aspects of New Testament study including historical perspectives, social-scientific and literary theory, and theological, cultural and contextual approaches. "The Early Christianity in Context series", a part of "JSNTS", examines the birth and development of early Christianity up to the end of the third century CE. The series places Christianity in its social, cultural, political and economic context. European Seminar on Christian Origins and "Journal for the Study of the Historical Jesus Supplement" are also part of "JSNTS".

Revelation's Hymns examines the hymnic pericopes in Revelation in light of the cosmic conflict theme. It considers this theme as integral to the development of Revelation's plot. Recognizing that critical studies give interpretative primacy to the political realities that existed at the time of Revelation's composition, Grabiner responds to the need for an examination of the storyline from the perspective of issues that are of narrative importance. Grabiner argues that the cosmic conflict is at the centre of the book's concerns, and attempts to determine the function of the hymns with respect to this. Previous examinations of the hymns have considered them as a response and/or parody to Roman liturgy, examples of God's unquestioned sovereignty, or expressions of thematic overtones found throughout the book. While these approaches make a contribution to a greater understanding of the hymns, the relation to the ever-present conflict theme has not been explored. This study allows the hymnic sections to engage with the larger narrative issue as to who is truly the rightful sovereign of the universe.

This is an up-to-date and engaging introduction to the study of Paul offering prompting fresh interpretations of this crucial figure in biblical studies. The Apostle Paul is the most influential theologian in the Christian tradition while also being the most controversial and probably the least understood. He has been regarded simultaneously as an anti-Semite, a figure who would surely support the state of Israel, a misogynist, a feminist, a conservative, and a radical. Just as at various times over the last two millennia, Paul is again at the center of a range of controversies, beginning especially with E. P. Sanders' ground-breaking work in the late 1970's on Paul's relationship to Judaism. Since then, the field of Pauline studies has been a hot-bed of vigorous and creative debate. This book will serve as an upper-undergraduate level engagement with these various controversies and debates, introducing students to the historical and hermeneutical dynamics that have given rise to the variety of discussions before then rigorously working through them. The book will begin by placing Paul historically in his first-century context and throughout church history. Gombis will then introduce the most significant debates in the study of Paul, drawing out the lines of argument of the major players in Pauline studies before then commending a way of processing the issues involved. The format of discussions, then, will be somewhat of a broad survey of advanced discussions, but will include Gombis's own advocacy of a preferred view in each case. Continuum's "Guides for the Perplexed" are clear, concise and accessible introductions to thinkers, writers and subjects that students and readers can find especially challenging - or indeed downright bewildering. Concentrating specifically on what it is that makes the subject difficult to grasp, these books explain and explore key themes and ideas, guiding the reader towards a thorough understanding of demanding material.

The Gospels for Hearers is a fresh, engaging new translation described by prominent theologian and historian, Paul W. Barnett as "A significant achievement that deserves widespread application and use." Every aspect of the book, from the translation to the presentation, supports one fundamental idea - that this book will be read out loud, in a public forum. Public readings were, of course the only way that anyone could hear the Gospels at the time they were written, and for the following eighteen hundred years, except for the privileged few that could both read, and get access to a manuscript. This translation reaches back, as transparently as possible to those first public readings, capturing the urgency, passion and earthy humanity of the original Greek texts. The experience of hearing it is almost always described as both familiar and surprising; with an uncommon clarity that regularly prompts the listener to say they have heard, or realised something new. While it is different from the traditional translations, it is academically sound, theologically neutral and tested against leading commentaries. It is not designed to replace existing translations, but to complement them, providing insights and perspectives that help deepen one's experience of the words and stories of Jesus. It is the work of one person, unfettered by committees, dogma or political correctness; the result of 60 years of study, translation and public reading. The translation is literal, rather than a paraphrase, delivering the words of the original texts as simply and clearly as possible, even where the resulting text is ambiguous, emotionally confronting or indelicate. It is testimony to the translator's skill that the end product is so very readable; providing such clarity and engagement with the subject matter. The Gospels for Hearers is a faithful and engaging translation, bringing fresh perspective on familiar material, encouraging greater engagement with the texts and providing surprising insights. Read it aloud at your church, study group or just to a friend. Read large slabs of it, in fact, read whole books and let the life-changing words of the Gospels envelop, inspire and carry you along. These are the words and stories of Jesus, delivered with honesty, courage and passion - The Gospels for Hearers is a gift for anyone searching for an authentic, uncluttered and captivating translation of the ancient manuscripts.

The New Testament's three letters attributed to John have always provided remarkable theological riches for the Christian tradition, including the assertion "God is love." Each letter shows how an early Christian author responded to threats against authority by recourse to the correct teachings of the faith and a proper understanding of the relationship between Jesus and God. Together, these letters argue for a bond of unity among believers, based on fidelity to the truth of God. The New Testament Library offers authoritative commentary on every book and major aspect of the New Testament, as well as classic volumes of scholarship. The commentaries in this series provide fresh translations based on the best available ancient manuscripts, offer critical portrayals of the historical world in which the books were created, pay careful attention to their literary design, and present a theologically perceptive exposition of the text.

Gerd Theissen describes the emergence of the New Testament canon out of the wide variety of early Christian literature, drawing on Max Webers discussion of the evolution of religious organizations. Theissen describes a series of phases in the life of the early Christian movement: the charismatic, the pseudepigraphic, the functional, and the canonical.

The relationship between the Bible and literature continues to fascinate many scholars working in both fields. In this book, as the Gospels and the work of four Scottish writers are read together, their correspondences become manifest. The four writers, James Hogg, Robert Louis Stevenson, Mrs Oliphant and Lewis Grassic Gibbon, offer distinctive and accessible readings of the Gospels. Bringing the biblical texts and the work of these writers into conversation with one another highlights the changing ways the Bible influenced the fiction of the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. Alison Jack shows that these novels function as exegeses of Gospel texts and ideas. What is offered here is not a simple noting of biblical allusions, but a narrative exploration of Gospel themes, ideas and stories, such as the Parable of the Prodigal Son, as they are woven through the content and form of the novels discussed, among them Hogg's Confessions of a Justified Sinner and Stevenson's The Master of Ballantrae. This weaving is never untouched by the influence of Calvinism on the imagination of these Scottish writers; but the influence, informed by the polymorphism of gospel discourse, is often surprising and certainly not static. This book offers an insight into a shifting literary world that will be of interest to biblical critics working on the reception history of the Gospels and to scholars of nineteenth- and twentieth-century Scottish literature, as well as to general readers who want to explore the hermeneutical issues raised by reading the Bible and literature together.