G. M.M Pleser

HTS Teologiese Studies / Theological Studies

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Boekbesprelcings / Book Reviews Porter, S E & Evans, C A (eds) 1995 - The Pauline Writings (A Sheffield Reader) Sheffield: Academic Press. (The Biblical Seminar 34.) Soft cover, 300 pages. Price: US $ 17.95. Reviewer: Prof G M M Peiser This volume is one of a series comprising a collection of articles on specific topics, selected from the first fifty issues of the Journal for the Study of the New Testament, founded in 1978. Thi.s explains why the original publication dates of the articles in this volume range from 1980 to 1992. This fact ouy create the impression that at least some of the articles may be somewhat dated already. They were, however, chosen by the editors in th:e belief that the articles 'make significant contributions in several different ways'. This claim is not unfounded, because although all of these articles must already have been taken note of by the scholarly world in one way or another, most of them are still of importance in Pauline studies. In this volume the different articles have been classified into four main categories in accordance with the topics addressed by each of them, as follows (the titles are not given in full): * Paul the apostle: Paul's apostolic authority (E Best); Paul and the Pharisaic tradition (D Liihrmann); Acts and the Pauline corpus (W 0 Walker). * Pauline interpretation of sacred tradition: Typology and correspondence in Romans 9-11 (J W Aageson); The midrash in 2 Corinthians 3 (A T Hanson); Midrash and paraenesis in 1 Corinthians 10:1-22 (W A Meeks); The tenth commandment in Romans 7:7-25 (J A Ziesler). * Pauline theology: Paul and the law (K Snodgrass); The righteousness of God in Romans 3:25-26 (J Piper); Eschatological development in Paul (C L Mearns); Apocalyptic visions and the exaltation of Christ in Colossians (C Rowland). * Pauline letter-Jorm and rhetoric: Hellenistic letter-forms and the structure of Philippians (L Alex-ander); Mirror-reading Galatians (J M G Barclay); The Pastorals and the ethics of reading (F Young). Though a lack of space does not allow for even a concise summary of each article in this review, it may be worthwhile to take note of a few of the more interesting conclusions made. Paul definitely claimed to be an apostle and he exercised authority. However, he did not employ the term 'apostle' when he was concerned with his converts, but only when he was concerned with his relations with other church leaders (Best). The notion of righteousness in Paul is more easily traced in the Psalms of Solomon than in the other literature of Pharisaic origin (Liihrmann). Luke knew at least some of Paul's letters. The Pauline theology as reflected in the letters is, however, not to be found in the portrayal of Paul's message but, for the sake of Paul, in the portrayal of Peter's message, thus making it impossible for people to reject Paul ISSN 0259-9422 = HTS 53/1 & 2 (1997) 441 Digitised by the University of Pretoria, Library ServicesBoekbesprekings I Book Reviews Qn account Qf his dQctrine Qf justificatiQn through faith (Walker). Instead Qf typolQgy, we shQuld rather speak Qf correspondence in Paul. He interpreted the Christ event by referring to. the persQns Qr events in the past (Old Testament) that, in his view, 'corresponded' to. what came to. pass in Christ (AagesQn). He whQm MQses saw in the tabernacle (as narrated in Exodus 34) was, according to. Paul (2 CQr 3:7-18) the pre-existent Christ, and the reason fQr the veil on MQses' face was to. prevent the messianic glQry Qf the pre-existent Christ frQm being seen by the Israelites (HansQn). The exegetical problems pertaining to. RQmans 7:7-25, and especially 7:14(13)-25, can best be solved if we assume that the 'law' that is in questiQn here, is the tenth commandment. It explains why Paul is saying that Qne cannQt Qbey the law at all, a highly improbable claim. This claim is, hQwever, understandable if the real PQint at issue is the control Qf Qne's desires, which can nQt be accomplished by the law (Ziesler). The best possible explana-tiQn fQr Paul's Qscillating, sQmetimes contradictQry, statements about the law is to. be fQund in his partici-patiQnist language based Qn the concept Qf 'spheres Qf influence' Qr 'power fields'. The negative state-ments describe the usurped law in the sphere Qf sin, flesh, and death. The positive statements describe the law in its prQper sphere Qf faith, Spirit, and Christ (Snodgrass). It is unacceptable to. assume that the righteousness Qf God in RQmans 3:25-26 consists mQst basically in God's saving 'covenant faithfulness' (iustitia salutifera). The key which unlQcks the interpretatiQn Qf this text is prQvided by the concept Qf God's righteousness as his absolute faithfulness tQ.act fQr the sake Qf his name and his glQry. God has accomplished a twQfQld purpose in sending Christ: he has manifested and preserved his Qwn righteous-ness and yet has justified the ungodly merely thrQugh faith (Piper). Paul initially subscribed to. the ear-liest Christian belief that the general resurrectiQn was largely accomplished already thrQugh adult believers' conversiQn-baptism. Later Qn he came to. emphasize apocalyptic eschatQlQgy to. the neglect Qf realized eschatQIQgy in Qrder to.: (a) include deceased Christians in the hQpe; (b) counter the arrQgance Qf enthusiasm; (c) adjust to. bodily weakness, infirmities, and sufferings; (d) strengthen Christians against a possible impending crisis Qf persecutiQn (Mearns). As was already indicated abQve, and as can be deduced frQm the shQrt presentatiQn Qf the findings Qf SQme Qf the articles in this vQlume, this will definitely be a handy piece Qf literature to. have Qn Qne's bookshelf when studying Paul. MQst Qf the articles can be regarded as meaningful contributiQns tQwards a better understanding Qf Paul. They have already stimulated Pauline studies in particular and generally, and are still gQing to. in future. They are o.f a high scho.larly standard and are particularly readable. One WQuid naturally nQt agree with all Qf them o.r with everything said, but mQst Qf them are thQught-orovQking, to. say the least. Fo.r these reaso.ns, and fQr the benefit Qf having such a number o.f excellent contributio.ns available in Qne vo.lume, the vQlume is to. be highly recommended. Porter S E & Evans C A (eels) 1995 - The Johannine Writings (A Sheffield Reader) Sheffield: Sheffield Academic Press (The Biblical Seminar 32). 267 pages. Price: US $17,95 Reviewer: Prof J Eugene Botha This book fo.rms part Qf an effo.rt by Sheffield Academic Press to. collect the best articles published Qn a given tQpic in the first 50 issues o.f The Journal of the Study of the New Testament, frQm 1978-1993. 442 HTS 5311 & 2 (1997) Digitised by the University of Pretoria, Library Services

The Pauline Writings (A Sheffield Reader)

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