Voices and Views on Paul: Exploring Scholarly Trends
Overview
In the field of Pauline studies, much has changed over the last twenty years. Since Ben Witherington III first published his influential book The Paul Quest, monumental works have appeared from scholars such as James D. G. Dunn, N. T. Wright, E. P. Sanders, and John Barclay. The New Perspective is no longer new, and the flurry of publications continues across a range of specialized studies. Those interested in exploring trends and issues related to Paul may find themselves in need of a map.
With Voices and Views on Paul, Ben Witherington and Jason Myers have teamed up to provide a reliable guide to the major terrain of Pauline scholarship. They explain and analyze developments over the past two decades, including the New Perspective, the apocalyptic Paul, and Paul within Judaism. After establishing the historical context, starting with the shift in Pauline studies begun by Krister Stendahl, Witherington and Myers interact with the thought of recent major Pauline interpreters. They conclude with an assessment of how these studies have advanced our understanding of Paul and where further work is needed.
Through a distinctive combination of survey and evaluation, Voices and Views on Paul offers a helpful service to students, pastors, and anyone seeking to keep up with this dynamic field as scholars continue to wrestle with Paul and his work.
- Presents a reliable guide to the major terrain of Pauline scholarshi
- Examines how recent studies have advanced our understanding of Paul and where further work is needed
- Provides a combination of survey and evaluation
- Retrospective: The New Perspective on Paul
- The Sanders Revolution
- Climbing the Wright Mountain
- Dunn with Paul and the Boundary Markers
- The New Apocalyptic Paul
- Other Voices Other Views: Barclay and Chester
- Conclusions: An Appalling Amount of Paul
Top Highlights
“If nothing else, his arguments provided some of the first cracks in the traditional perspective on Paul as an advocate of grace rather than law, justification by faith rather than works-righteousness. In other words, his arguments showed that Paul was not Luther’s predecessor.” (Pages 6–7)
“Followers of Christ not only don’t have to keep the badges of the Mosaic covenant (circumcision, food laws, Sabbath) but aren’t under the Mosaic covenant at all.” (Page 69)
“Essentially, for Käsemann, apocalyptic is ultimately the history of the cosmos; its creation; its ruler, Jesus the Lord; God’s righteousness; and justification.” (Page 147)
“the underlying issue for Paul in relation to ‘the works of the law’ is the incongruity of grace” (Page 198)
“Paul’s use of the language of revelation (Gal 1:12, 16) places him in the apocalyptic world” (Page 164)
- Title: Voices and Views on Paul: Exploring Scholarly Trends
- Authors: Ben Witherington III and Jason A. Myers
- Publisher: IVP
- Publication Date: 2020
- Pages: 256
- Resource Type: Introduction
- Topic: Pauline Studies
Ben Witherington III (PhD, University of Durham) is a prominent evangelical scholar and Jean R. Amos Professor of New Testament for Doctoral Studies at Asbury Theological Seminary. Witherington has written over forty books, including The Jesus Quest and The Paul Quest, both of which were selected as top biblical studies works by Christianity Today. His other works include The Indelible Image, Women and the Genesis of Christianity, The Gospel Code, A Week in the Life of Corinth, and commentaries on the entire New Testament. He also writes for many church and scholarly publications and is a frequent contributor to Patheos and Beliefnet.
Jason A. Myers (PhD, Asbury Theological Seminary) is associate professor of biblical studies at Greensboro College where he teaches New Testament and lecturer in New Testament at Westminster Theological Centre.