The Hermeneutics of the Apostolic Proclamation: The Center of Paul’s Method of Scriptural Interpretation

by Matthew W. Bates

Publisher:

Baylor University Press

, 2019

Overview

Against the prevailing models for understanding the Apostle Paul’s interpretation and use of scripture, Matthew Bates proposes a fresh approach toward developing a Pauline hermeneutic. He combines historical criticism with an intertextual strategy that takes seriously the work of the early church fathers, and in so doing fills a void in current scholarship. Bates applies his method to both oft-referenced and underutilized passages in the writings of Paul and suggests a new model for Pauline hermeneutics that is centered on the apostolic proclamation of Christ.

Key Features

• Proposes a fresh approach toward developing a Pauline hermeneutic
• Combines historical criticism with an intertextual strategy that takes seriously the work of the early church fathers
• Centered on the apostolic proclamation of Christ

Contents

• Introduction
• 1. Toward the Center of Pauline Hermeneutics
• 2. Paul and the Hermeneutics of the Apostolic Kerygma
• 3. Figuration and the Divine Economy
• 4. Introducing Prosopological Exegesis
• 5. Prosopological exegesis in Paul’s Letters
• 6. The Implications of Kerygmatic Hermeneutics
• Bibliography
• Index of Biblical References

Praise for The Hermeneutics of the Apostolic Proclamation

Bates combines careful exegesis, theological acumen, Christian spirituality, and academic rigor—a rare sight in biblical studies. He also provides fresh insights into Paul’s hermeneutical strategy.

—Matthew Y. Emerson, California Baptist University, Biblical Theology Bulletin

Bates has made a valuable contribution to a topic within NT scholarship that many, I would presume, feel is currently overworked. Bates is well-versed in ancient Hellenistic rhetorical conventions and early Christian exegesis, and this enables him to situate Paul’s scriptural interpretation in its historical and theological context.

—Joshua W. Jipp, Trinity Evangelical Divinity School, Themelios

Bates offers the novel thesis that Paul, like other ancient writers, had a prosopological method of exegesis—attributing various voices in the scriptural texts to specific characters, especially Christ or God the Father—that was rooted in a master narrative about Christ and the gospel. Both appreciative of and critical of previous studies of Paul’s hermeneutics, The Hermeneutics of the Apostolic Proclamation has significant implications not only for understanding Paul, but also for ecumenical relations, Christian theology, and contemporary hermeneutics.

—Michael J. Gorman, Dean, Ecumenical Institute of Theology, St. Mary’s Seminary & University

Product Details

• Title: The Hermeneutics of the Apostolic Proclamation: The Center of Paul's Method of Scriptural Interpretation
• Author: Matthew W. Bates
• Publisher: Baylor University Press
• Print Publication Date: 2019
• Pages: 415
• Language: English
• Resources: 1
• Format: Digital › Logos Research Edition
• Resource ID: LLS:HRMNTCSNTRPRT
• Resource Type: Monograph
• Metadata Last Updated: 2024-06-13T16:54:51Z

About Matthew W. Bates

Matthew W. Bates (PhD, University of Notre Dame) is assistant professor of theology at Quincy University in Quincy, Illinois. He is the author of The Hermeneutics of the Apostolic Proclamation and The Birth of the Trinity.