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We are very pleased to announce that Paul and the Dynamics of Power. Communication and Interaction in the Early Christ-Movement, by Kathy Ehrensperger will be available in paperback this summer. This volume examines Paul’s use of power and authority, though Ehrensperger also discusses a wide assortment of ideas on how this use of power should be evaluated.
This careful analysis of many interpretations of this subject illustrates Kathy Ehrensperger’s way of understanding the power, and she conveys her thoughts beautifully by employing in her study such wide-ranging figures as Derrida, Michel Foucault and James Scott.
I imagine many of you are already familiar with this volume, for those who are deciding whether Paul and the Dynamics of Power should be their next purchase; here are some very interesting and commendable views:
'This is a beautifully written and immensely stimulating book, with which every serious student of Paul ought to engage. One of its greatest merits is to show that even asymmetrical power relationships are not necessarily relationships of domination/ subordination, nor temporally permanent, nor lacking in mutuality and interdependence. Not only might this encourage a rethinking of our images of Paul; it also represents a challenge for Christian life and practice within contemporary Church and society.' - Ian Boxall, St Stephen’s House, Oxford, UK in Scripture Bulletin
‘This is an excellent book for New Testament courses in Paul and in hermeneutics. Courses in Paul need to be engaging these contemporary approaches and this book provides an excellent and accessible discussion.’ – Warren Carter, Professor of New Testament, Brite Divinity School, Forth Worth, Texas, USA
‘Ehrensperger’s Paul and the Dynamics of Power is the kind of book that appears once in a decade. From page one, it is exciting, well-defined in terms of its limits, but wide-ranging in its research.’ – Robert L. Brawley, Professor of New Testament Emeritus, MCCormack Theological Seminary, Chicago, USA
Paul and the Dynamics of Power is available in the UK in May 2009 and in the US in July 2009.
The latest Review of Biblical Literature newsletter includes reviews of three of our books:
Paul Fullmer, Resurrection in Mark's Literary-Historical Perspective (Library of New Testament Studies, 2007):
‘Fullmer’s research challenges a long-standing scholarly assumption that “resurrection” is sui generic, unfamiliar to Greco-Roman readers. Fullmer has collected a great deal of interesting material from ancient literature on the resurrection motif … He has made a persuasive case that ancient readers would not have considered the crucifixion, tomb, and resurrection narratives peculiar or sui generic.’ Pheme Perkins, Professor of New Testament at Boston College of Arts & Sciences
Maarten J. J. Menken & Steve Moyise (eds), Deuteronomy in the New Testament (The New Testament and the Scriptures of Israel, a sub series of The Library of New Testament Studies, 2007):
‘The work in this volume is methodologically sophisticated and demonstrates that recently acquired knowledge of the hermeneutics of scriptural text-referencing is being put
to good use. … It was a pleasure to read, and I look forward with anticipation to other volumes in the series.’ Michael A. Lyons, Assistant Professor of Old Testament at Simpson University, USA
‘…these essays provide a helpful assessment of the degree and significance of individual authors’ engagements with Deuteronomy …This is a helpful collection of essays that should assist in the evaluation of a number of issues in New Testament scholarship, not least the vexing questions pertaining to the reception of the law in early Christian theology and praxis. … The editors and authors deserve our gratitude. We look forward to the next volume on the Minor Prophets in the New Testament.’ David Lincicum, Phd student University of Oxford
Stephen Barton (ed.), Idolatry: False Worship in the Bible, Early Judaism, and Christianity (2007):
‘…this book can definitely be recommended to everyone interested in the phenomenon idolatry. […] The scholars involved in the (publication) project are specialists in their essay topics.’ Thomas J. Kraus (unable to find affiliation)
Sarianna Metso's The Serekh Texts (published last year in the Library of Second Temple Studies sub-series Companion to the Qumran Scrolls) has been recently been reviewed in the Review of Biblical Literature:
‘Sarianna Metso’s The Serekh Texts is an important contribution to scholarship on this group of Dead Sea Scrolls manuscripts […] It is a comprehensive introduction to particular Qumran texts and relevant scholarship. [...] This is a very valuable introduction to the Serekh texts that goes far beyond the basics. Metso, clearly in strong command of the primary and secondary sources, has succeeded admirably in her treatment of the texts and her proposal to explain their function in the life of the Qumran community. As such, the final chapter provides a substantive and compelling conclusion to the book as a whole. This volume should be required reading for anyone undertaking serious work on this corpus and on the Dead Sea Scrolls in general.’ - Eric F. Mason (Judson University, Illinois), RBL, August 2008
RBL have also reviewed Richard Liong-Seng Phua's Idolatry and Authority: A Study of 1 Corinthians 8.1-11.1 in the Light of the Jewish Diaspora (published in the Library of New Testament Studies series in 2005):
‘What Phua certainly accomplishes here is to throw light on a more varied Jewish Diaspora landscape pertaining to idolatry than has been traditionally embraced. His survey reminds us of the many cultural compromises and accommodations the marginalised people of society, and such were Jews, would have to have made daily. [...] Certainly Phuaq’s contribution here will be to have many scholars recheck their own assumptions regarding the ethnicity of the “strong” and “weak” in Corinth, the factor of accommodation to idolatry by Diaspora Jews, and the Pauline view regarding connections between pagan idolatry and objective demonic entities. All scholars interested in these fascinating chapters of 1 Corinthians will want to consider these factors and how confident any of us can be in understanding the complications faced by early followers of Jesus as they tried to integrate their faith into their cultural contexts.’ - Scott E. McClelland (Westmont College, San Francisco, California), RBL, August 2008
We are shortly about to send Steve Moyise’s forthcoming book, Evoking Scripture, to press ready for publication in the UK in May. In the book Moyise explores the literary and theological frameworks that lie behind the numerous and varied quotations from, and allusions to, the Old Testament in the New. This naturally draws upon Moyise’s previous work in this area, and his co-edited volumes with Maarten Menken in our LNTS series – Deuteronomy in the New Testament, and Isaiah in the New Testament (amongst others - follow links for details UK|US) .
In Evoking Scripture Moyise takes a series of case studies from Mark, Romans, Galatians, 1 Peter and Revelation to raise key questions about the hermeneutical stance taken by the texts’ authors as well as the methods and assumptions of those who study them. As such, a key feature of the book is spirited engagement with other scholars such as Christopher Stanley, Richard Hays and Francis Watson.
Some have even provided endorsements!
‘Moyise effectively shows how adopting different methodological or ideological starting points has led scholars to develop radically different understandings of a number of texts where New Testament authors cite or refer to the Jewish Scriptures. All scholars who study early Christian uses of Scripture will benefit from his analysis.’
Christopher Stanley, St Bonaventure University, New York, USA
‘This book fills me enthusiasm. Using individual texts as case studies, Steve Moyise carefully explores how embedded Jewish scripture texts in the New Testament have been variously interpreted in modern scholarship. His detailed analysis reveals how presupposed theological and related literary standpoints have dramatically shaped the way in which one answers the question, ‘what does the embedded scripture text evoke?’ His novel and penetrating engagement with crucial issues pertaining to both Old and New Testament contexts, the unity of the Bible, and the locus of meaning, to name a few, brings much-needed clarity to a field of study that is experiencing a resurgence. Dissatisfied with traditional single-dimensional approaches which have resulted in an impasse, Moyise calls for a multi-faceted approach that incorporates the positive insights from pervious options. This timely and richly informed study is important for serious students of the New Testament and early Christianity, and a ‘must’ for all who study the relationship between the Testaments’
Thomas R. Hatina, Trinity Western University, British Columbia, Canada
Evoking Scripture publishes in the UK in May and in the US in July
I am delighted to announce the publication in paperback of William S. Campbell's Paul and the Creation of Christian Identity. The book was originally published in 2006 as part of our LNTS series and since then has received rave reviews prompting strong sales and the decision to put the work into paperback.
Praise for the book
'This area is crucial in contemporary discussions of the relationship between Christianity and Judaism. Campbell makes a comprehensive, lucid, and decisive contribution to scholarship on this topic.'
Douglas Harink, King's University College, Edmonton Canada
'Campbell provides us with a distinctive way of understanding the Pauline mission... an insightful work that challenges readers to rethink how Paul related to Israel and the Church'
Frank J. Matera, Catholic University of America, Washington DC, USA
'A thoughtful challenge and contribution to a number of contemporary and scholarly themes'
Andrew D. Clarke, University of Aberdeen, UK
The book is published now in the UK and will be published in the US in June.
I should like to draw attention to two recently published scholarly works in New Testament studies.
Paul and the Dynamics of Power is a new book by Kathy Ehrensperger (University of Wales, Lampeter). Kathy previously authored a book for us on feminism and the new perspective on Paul, That We May Be Mutually Encouraged. In her new work she looks at the question of Paul's use of power and authority as an apostle who understands himself as called to proclaim the Gospel among the gentiles. By investigating a broad range of perspectives on how this use of power should be evaluated, ranging from a traditional to a feminst interpretation, she questions whether or not Paul's use of power presents an open or hidden re-inscription of hierarchical structures in what was previously a discipleship of equals.
In her careful anaylsis Ehrensperger draws on such wide-ranging figures as Derrida, Michel Foucault and James Scott. This enables fresh insights into Paul's use of authority and power in its first century context.
We are delighted to offer a new paperback edition of Christology and Scripture (published last year in hardback). An interdisciplinary volume which brings together leading biblical scholars and theologians, Christology and Scripture explores the relation of theological thought to the reading of Scripture. The focus is on three interrelated issues. The first is how Christological doctrine affects the way theologians read Scripture, and what contribution, if any, historical criticism makes to this endeavour. The second is that of the person and work of Christ in relation to Scripture. In interaction with specific texts, contributors engage with the related questions of who Christ is and how his benefits are communicated. This leads on to the final issue of responsiveness to our current context of reading, and contributors reflect on how Christological models relate to contemporary cultural and political concerns.
Edited by Andrew T. Lincoln (University of Gloucestershire, UK) and Angus Paddison (University of Nottingham, UK), both whom contribute articles of their own, the volume includes essays by Stephen Fowl, Stephen R. Holmes, Morwenna Ludlow, Walter Moberly, Robert Morgan, Paul T. Nimmo, Angus Paddison, Sara Parvis, Peter Manley Scott, and John Webster.
Paul and the Dynamics of Power is avaliable now; Christology and Scripture will be published in the UK on March 20th, and in the US on May 20th.
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