Bücher der Reihe Society for New Testament Studies Monograph Series

In this widely acclaimed study of John's Gospel, Mark W. G. Stibbe shows how the fourth evangelist uses all the tactics of a skilled storyteller to promote his distinctive Christology. Literary and historical methodologies are integrated by the author in his narrative criticism, and a new, holistic approach to the gospel literature is suggested thereby.

This historical study is concerned with the adoption by Christianity of Jewish prerogatives and attributes, and in particular with its assumption of the name 'Israel'. Dr Richardson's claim is that this was not a simple development, as it is usually conceived to be, but one which took place over a long period. The equation between the Church and the 'true Israel' does not occur, Dr Richardson argues, until the mid-second century in the works of Justin Martyr. The book is concerned mainly with an exegetical study of the New Testament passages relevant to the argument, concentrating on the Pauline epistles. There are other sections on the attitude of Jesus himself towards Israel, on post-Pauline developments, on political factors and on the early Fathers to A.D. I6o. The book ends with a synthesis of conclusions, and there are appendixes on the Sects of Judaism, Paul's Use of Laos and the Apology of Aristides. This comprehensive analysis of a vital problem in the early Church's life and witness has many important implications for a theology of the Church.

There has recently been strong support for the hypothesis that, contrary to the formerly accepted view that Mark's gospel was the first to be written, Mark was in fact the last synoptic gospel to appear. This book is a detailed examination of the arguments used to support this view, which constitutes a revival of that put forward by J. J. Griesbach at the end of the eighteenth century. Since Markan priority and the Two-Document hypothesis have been basic presuppositions for much modern gospel study, all attempts to question them must be taken very seriously. Dr Tuckett does this by investigating the redactional activity each hypothesis presupposes, and by then asking which source theory provides the most rational and consistent account of the redactional process.

This addition to the well-known series of theological monographs deals with the use of the Greek work traditionally translated 'body' but recently as 'person', especially in certain parts of the writings of Paul. Theologians have argued that the translation as 'person' defines man as an indivisible whole and as a complex of relationships rather than an organization of substances. Against the trends of modern biblical theology, Dr Gundry seeks to show that soma always refers to the individual physical body and that it should be defined in substantive categories. Consequently, the theological importance of the body as individual physical substance is insured for life in this world and in the next. Neither antagonism between body and spirit nor the possible independence of full personhood from physical existence characterizes biblical anthropology.

It has for long been generally assumed that the relationship between our canonical texts of the Gospels of Mark and Matthew is to be explained in terms of direct literary dependence, either of Matthew on Mark, or of Mark on Matthew. Professor Rist questions this assumption vigourously, and argues that it leads to contradictory and paradoxical conclusions. He replaces the theory of literary dependence with the thesis that Matthew and Mark grew up independently on the basis of a common oral tradition, and supports his view by detailed examination of a large number of parallel passages. The clarity and cogency of the author's argument is in the best tradition of this important series of monographs. In the context of the current resurgence of interest in the Synoptic problem, it will be welcomed by all concerned with the study of the New Testament.

The concept of perfection is central to the Epistle to the Hebrews but what is the precise meaning to be attached to the perfecting of Christ and the perfecting of Christians? Is teleioun to be understood in a cultic or ethical sense, or with reference to glorification; or is it employed in a formal sense so that the meaning has to be determined solely from the context? A thorough survey of the background literature suggests to Dr Peterson that it is only the context and, in particular, the object of the verb which can decide its sense on any specific occasion, and it is this method he pursues.

Dr Lincoln sees three main factors contributing to the Pauline picture of heaven: Paul's Jewish conceptual background and knowledge of Old Testament and other traditions about heaven; the effect on that inherited background of Paul's encounter with the risen Saviour and his later visions and revelations of the heavenly Christ; and his apostolic task in moulding the thought and practice of the converts in the churches for which he felt responsible, countering what lie considered to be distorted views or false options. The author analyses passages in Paul's letters where the concept of heaven plays a significant role, and discusses the relation of the concept to the background of his thought, his views of history, of the cosmos, of the destiny of humanity, and of the nature of Christian existence. As a uniquely full treatment of a neglected aspect of Paul's thought this monograph makes an important and contemporarily relevant contribution to New Testament studies.

The idea of pre-existence has a long history in early Jewish and Biblical traditions. Professor Hamerton-Kelly studies the various forms the idea takes in these traditions as they emerge in the New Testament. He pays special attention to the themes of Wisdom and the Son of Man, with detailed references to the relevant texts and sources. His conclusions are that there are two basic types of the idea of pre-existence in the New Testament - which he calls 'protological' and 'eschatological' respectively - and two entities which were chiefly understood in terms of these types - namely, Christ and the Church. This unusual book illuminates the process by which the early Church blended its Greek and Jewish heritages by analysing some of the conceptual patterns in the New Testament which anticipated that process. It will be of interest to New Testament scholars and historians of doctrine.

This volume examines how 1 Peter draws together metaphors of family, ethnicity, temple, and priesthood to describe Christian identity. Christian believers spiritually begotten, raised, and socialized into a new Christian identity.

This book focuses on the 'Gospel of Mary' in the context of a broader analysis of early Christian dialogue gospels - a popular literary genre used to present Jesus as conversing with select disciples and answering a series of questions on life, death and the cosmos at the conclusion of his earthly career. Jesus' teachings in these texts can vary greatly, from affirming the resurrection of the flesh to denying it completely. This book highlights the diversity of perspective within this genre, bringing together New Testament, 'gnostic' and (proto-)orthodox texts. Yet each text is based on the premise that it contains new or clarified teaching from the risen or glorified Lord, often in the form of a final revelation concerned with the disciples' eschatological salvation. This book offers a fresh and in-depth analysis of the 'Gospel of Mary' in the context of the dialogue gospel genre, concentrating on the narrative frame, the eschatological teachings, and the relationship between the two.

This book is aimed at biblical and classical scholars. It resolves one of the most striking questions about the Book of Revelation: what is its literary genre? John chooses a literary form, similar to that of the short story, allowing him to use time-space coordinates flexibly, to dramatize the text and to take his time in describing his visions.

This book is for those who are interested in ancient messianism and Christology. It interrogates how early Jewish authors used traditions about David and his descendants to characterize their messiahs, and then applies this set of criteria to the Gospel of Mark.

This book is about the exposition of Christ's atoning work in the Epistle to the Hebrews. It is for New Testament scholars, theologians, and advanced students of theology and biblical studies. The book examines Jesus' atoning death on the cross and his self-offering in heaven, at his ascension.

For the author of the fourth Gospel, there is neither a Christless church nor a churchless Christ. Though John's Gospel has been widely understood as ambivalent toward the idea of 'church', Andrew Byers argues that ecclesiology is as central a Johannine concern as Christology. Rather than focusing on the community behind the text, John's Gospel directs attention to the vision of community prescribed within the text, which is presented as a 'narrative ecclesiology' by which the concept of 'church' gradually unfolds throughout the Gospel's sequence. The theme of oneness functions within this script and draws on the theological language of the Shema, a centerpiece of early Jewish theology and social identity. To be 'one' with this 'one God' and his 'one Shepherd' involves the believers' corporate participation within the divine family. Such participation requires an ontological transformation that warrants an ecclesial identity expressed by the bold assertion found in Jesus' citation of Psalm 82: 'you are gods'.

The book will be of interest to all scholars and students within the fields of biblical studies and theology. It offers a fresh and satisfying solution to the notorious crux of Romans 7 - the identity of the 'I' - and contributes to our understanding of both the apostle Paul's thought and of Christian theology.

This book offers a new contribution to an important debate by comprehensively addressing alternative hypotheses regarding the origin of divine Christology, the evidence of widespread agreement among the earliest Christians concerning the divinity of Christ, and issues related to whether Jesus' intention was falsified.

This volume investigates the cultural, political, economic, and religious conflicts that led to the historical Jesus' arrest, trial, and execution. It introduces a new hypothesis positing Jesus' enactment of a program of radically nonviolent eschatological restoration, an orientation that ultimately inspired the first attributions of sacrificial language to his death.

This volume is the first to investigate manifestations of faith in the Book of Hebrews across four dimensions: ethical, eschatological, Christological, and ecclesiological. The author of Hebrews presents faith as enduring suffering until death, after which there is life. Jesus embodies this story of faith, and humans participate in it as his followers.

Offers fresh insights regarding 1 Peter's theology of Christian suffering, and the way in which Zechariah, through its influence on the author of 1 Peter, has shaped the early Church's understanding of Christian discipleship. An essential resource for those studying the New Testament, Petrine theology and early Christianity.

A provocative study of Paul's use of metalepsis, or echo, that considers the psalms quoted by David and Christ in Romans and 2 Corinthians. Matthew Scott offers a fresh interpretation of the New Testament's reception of the Old Testament that will appeal to scholars of both.

This work re-examines the divisive wisdom in 1 Corinthians on the basis of consistent discourse similarities between the views of the Corinthians and the Stoic system of thought. Brookins argues that access to philosophical training moved the church's wealthier members to conflate Paul's message with Stoicism, resulting in disturbances within the church.

Biblical scholars have widely discussed 1 Corinthians, but there has been no consensus on its arrangement and central theme. Malcolm analyses Paul's rhetoric of 'reversal' - why he leaves the topic of the resurrection until the end of the letter. For students of New Testament studies, Pauline theology and early Christianity.

An investigation into to what extent textual variants in the New Testament were caused by dogmatic interference with the text.

Adams applies ancient and modern genre theory to provide an insightful reading of the composition and purpose of the Acts of the Apostles, and to propose that it is a work of collected biography, rather than history. This nuanced study will interest those studying the New Testament and ancient literature.

Interprets the often overlooked metaphor of apostles as divinely appointed administrators (oikonomoi) and assesses the complicated and multifaceted nature of authority in Paul. This study will appeal to academic researchers and graduate students of New Testament studies, Pauline theology and those interested in the Graeco-Roman context of early Christianity.

1 John is commonly understood to contain no reference to Jesus's resurrection. Jensen refutes this in a stimulating and original reading of the whole letter, which will be of use to scholars and advanced students of New Testament studies, Johannine theology and Jewish history.

The Gospel of Thomas is the most well-known and controversial extra-canonical gospel, much discussed in scholarly, student and popular circles. This book answers important questions about the origins of this gospel, exploring whether it was written in Aramaic or if it was influenced by the canonical gospels.

Many interpreters of the Fourth Gospel detect allusions to biblical texts about marriage, but none offers a comprehensive analysis of these proposed allusions or a convincing explanation for their presence. In this 2006 book McWhirter argues that John alludes to such texts to develop a metaphor for Jesus and his relationship with his followers.

For nearly nineteen hundred years, few have questioned the single authorship of Luke and Acts. Applying a statistical analysis of both works that is unique to biblical scholarship, this study reveals significant stylistic differences between the two books, providing a reassessment of the evidence for unitary authorship.