The Journal of Theological Studies - recent issues

Origen's Parallel Bible: Textual Criticism, Apologetics, or Exegesis?

Law, T. M. — 2008-04-02

The assumption held by most Septuagint scholars that Origen compiled the Hexapla for a text-critical or apologetic use is challenged. A third possibility—that Origen's motivations were more exegetical—is considered. This third view has not received the attention it deserves, even though it has been raised several times in the past few decades. Here I examine Origen's life and thought with particular attention to his approach to and use of Scripture. After discussing the content and structure of the Hexapla, I evaluate the two theories that are most often used to explain the genesis of the Hexapla, and attempt to show their insufficiency alone to account for Origen's work. The third proposal is then tested to see if an exegetical motivation fits more harmoniously with Origen's attitude towards Scripture.

Did the Interpreters Get it Right? Genesis 2-3 Reconsidered

Moberly, R. W. L. — 2008-04-02

A response to James Barr on the issue of how to depict God's words in Genesis 2:17 if the warning of death as a consequence of disobedience appears unrealized in the subsequent narrative. Barr's point that ‘lie’ is an inappropriate depiction is accepted, but the issue is recast in terms of whether God's words would be sheqer, unreliable. An interpretation of the overall narrative, congruous with the decision about the nature of God's words, is offered.

The Aramaic Documents in Ezra Revisited

Williamson, H. G. M. — 2008-04-02

In recent years there has been a significant shift in scholarly opinion concerning the Aramaic documents included in the book of Ezra; whereas 25 years ago their historical authenticity was widely accepted, more recent studies have claimed that they were fabricated by the biblical author. In the present article, the reasons for this change of opinion are examined, and it is concluded that in most cases the decision about authenticity is taken on the basis of extraneous considerations relating to the composition of the book or the course of history which it purports to relate. The arguments advanced in relation to the documents themselves are the same as those which were common a century ago, and to that extent may be answered in the same way as before. In particular, insufficient attention has been paid to the fact that from a literary point of view it is the documents which determine the shape and wording of the narrative, not vice versa. It is therefore most natural to conclude that they existed already prior to the composition of the book. Only in two areas are there new data to be considered—language and the epistolary form of the documents. An examination of the salient evidence concludes that it is far from univocal and that it cannot, therefore, overthrow the conclusions reached on other grounds.

The Roots of a 'Libertine' Slogan in 1 Corinthians 6:18

Smith, J. E. — 2008-04-02

Taking as its starting point Jerome Murphy-O’Connor's thesis that 1 Cor. 6:18b (‘every sin that a person commits is outside the body’) represents a Corinthian slogan, this essay suggests that a social, cultural, and religious matrix existed at Corinth from which the Corinthians could easily have constructed a slogan similar to that which Murphy-O’Connor envisages. Available evidence suggests that this slogan was developed, in part, by the convergence of at least two major tributaries: (a) a non-Christian or Hellenistic-Roman stream (including popular philosophy and incipient Gnosticism), and (b) a Christian or Jesuanic current, flowing most probably from Paul.

Richard Hooker and the Principle of Sola Scriptura

Voak, N. — 2008-04-02

The traditional view that Richard Hooker argued for the religious authority of Scripture, reason, and tradition, in that order, has come under sustained criticism in recent years, especially from those scholars who assert that Hooker was in fact an orthodox Reformed theologian. Although Hooker placed a distinctively high value on the role of reason in authenticating Holy Scripture, it is claimed that this is fully compatible with the Protestant principle of sola Scriptura, and reflects wider developments in the Reformed tradition on the role of reason in proving that Scripture is divine revelation. This article seeks to refute these claims by examining Reformed thought on the religious authority of Scripture and reason in matters of Christian doctrine, looking at representatives from the Reformers, early orthodoxy, and high orthodoxy. This is then compared with Hooker's work, where, it is argued, the Reformed doctrine that Scripture is the principium cognoscendi theologiae, with reason merely an ancillary ‘handmaid’, is replaced by the radical position that Scripture and demonstrative reasoning are both principial authorities in matters of Christian doctrine. In propounding his triple-source theory of religious authority, therefore, Hooker is concluded to have broken fundamentally with the principle of sola Scriptura.

Penal Non-substitution

Crisp, O. D. — 2008-04-02

There are two broad historic approaches to the so-called governmental view of the atonement (which is better described, from its defining characteristic, as penal non-substitution): the Grotian or Arminian version, and the New England or Calvinistic version. The important differences of emphasis between these two approaches are re-examined. One version of the doctrine, drawing on the work of the New England theologian Jonathan Edwards Jnr (1745–1801), is defended against several criticisms often made of the theory. It is argued that, although not without problems, penal non-substitution is a robust account of atonement that should be taken much more seriously than it has been in the recent literature.

Three against Tertullian: the Second Tradition about Marcion's Life

Moll, S. — 2008-04-02

Jürgen Regul argued in Die antimarcionitischen Evangelienprologe that there are two different traditions concerning the life of Marcion, one based on Tertullian and one based on Pseudo-Tertullian, Epiphanius, and Philastrius. I question the coherence of the second tradition on the heresiarch's life, as well as the classical theory by Richard Adelbert Lipsius, Zur Quellenkritik des Epiphanios, that all these sources go back to the lost Syntagma of Hippolytus. Accordingly, I also question the credibility of the corresponding sources, coming to the conclusion that the second tradition provides almost no reliable information for the reconstruction of Marcion's biography.

Origen's Version of Genesis 1:2

Jacobson, H. — 2008-04-02

Chalcidius attributes to Origen an interpretation of the phrase in Genesis 1:2 which personifies the earth: terra autem stupida quadam erat admiratione. This can be explained by noting that Genesis Rabba on Genesis 1:2 supports a similar interpretation of , probably on the basis of the Aramaic roots and , both of which denote amazement or perplexity.

Basil of Caesarea on Proverbs 8:22 and the Sources of Pro-Nicene Theology

DelCogliano, M. — 2008-04-02

Recent scholarship has increasingly questioned the traditional assumption that Athanasius of Alexandria was a major influence on Basil of Caesarea. This study seeks to make a concrete contribution to this debate by demonstrating that Basil's exegesis of Prov. 8:22, a verse whose interpretation was hotly contested in the fourth-century Trinitarian debates, was influenced by Eusebius of Caesarea rather than by Athanasius. Basil's use of Eusebius of Caesarea here should prompt us to reassess more widely Eusebius’ influence on Basil, thereby helping us gain a better understanding of the diverse sources of Pro-Nicene theology.

Sacred Scripture: The Disclosure of the Word. By FRANCIS MARTIN.

Sonek, K. — 2008-04-02

Word-Order Variation in Biblical Hebrew Poetry: Differentiating Pragmatics and Poetics. By NICHOLAS P. LUNN.

Watson, W. G. E. — 2008-04-02

Encounters with Biblical Theology. By JOHN J. COLLINS.

Reimer, D. J. — 2008-04-02

Metaphysics and the God of Israel: Systematic Theology of the Old and New Testaments. By NEIL B. MACDONALD.

Moberly, W. — 2008-04-02

The Multivalence of Biblical Texts and Theological Meanings. Edited by CHRISTINE HELMER.

Hunter, A. G. — 2008-04-02

Reflection and Refraction: Studies in Biblical Historiography in Honour of A. Graeme Auld. Edited by ROBERT REZETKO, TIMOTHY H. LIM, and W. BRIAN AUCKER.

Nicholson, E. — 2008-04-02

Biblical Mourning: Ritual and Social Dimensions. By SAUL M. OLYAN.

Johnston, P. — 2008-04-02

Temples, Tithes and Taxes: The Temple and Economic Life of Ancient Israel. By MARTY STEVENS.

Goldhill, S. — 2008-04-02

The Origins of Biblical Monotheism: Israel's Polytheistic Background and the Ugaritic Texts. By MARK S. SMITH.

Davies, G. — 2008-04-02

Creation and Chaos in the Primeval Era and the Eschaton: A Religio-Historical Study of Genesis 1 and Revelation 12. By HERMANN GUNKEL.

Nicholson, E. — 2008-04-02

Berossus and Genesis, Manetho and Exodus: Hellenistic Histories and the Date of the Pentateuch. By RUSSELL E. GMIRKIN.

Van Seters, J. — 2008-04-02

A Law Book for the Diaspora: Revision in the Study of the Covenant Code. By JOHN VAN SETERS.

Davies, G. I. — 2008-04-02

Priestly Rites and Prophetic Rage: Post-Exilic Prophetic Critique of the Priesthood. By LENA-SOFIA TIEMEYER.

Mason, R. — 2008-04-02

The Development of the High Priesthood during the Pre-Hasmonean Period: History, Ideology, Theology. By MARIA BRUTTI.

Rooke, D. W. — 2008-04-02

King Manasseh and Child Sacrifice: Biblical Distortions of Historical Realities. By FRANCESCA STAVRAKOPOULOU.

Wyatt, N. — 2008-04-02

The Reshaping of Ancient Israelite History in Chronicles. By ISAAC KALIMI.

Auld, G. — 2008-04-02

A Critical and Exegetical Commentary on Isaiah 1-27. Three volumes. Volume 1: Commentary on Isaiah 1-5. By H. G. M. WILLIAMSON.

Blenkinsopp, J. — 2008-04-02

Rhetoric and Social Justice in Isaiah. By MARK GRAY.

Davies, E. W. — 2008-04-02

Opening the Sealed Book: Interpretations of the Book of Isaiah in Late Antiquity. By JOSEPH BLENKINSOPP.

Sawyer, J. F. A. — 2008-04-02

Josiah's Reform and Jeremiah's Scroll: Historical Calamity and Prophetic Response. By MARK LEUCHTER.

Nicholson, E. — 2008-04-02

Jewish Babylonia between Persia and Roman Palestine. By RICHARD KALMIN.

Coggins, R. — 2008-04-02

From 4QMMT to Resurrection: Melanges en hommage a Emile Puech. Edited by FLORENTINO GARCIA MARTINEZ, ANNETTE STEUDEL, and EIBERT TIGCHELAAR.

Hempel, C. — 2008-04-02

Qumran Cave 4. XII. 1-2 Samuel. Edited by FRANK MORE CROSS, DONALD W. PARRY, RICHARD SALEY, and EUGENE ULRICH.

Hempel, C. — 2008-04-02

The Mystical Texts: Songs of the Sabbath Sacrifice and Related Manuscripts. By PHILIP ALEXANDER.

Barker, M. — 2008-04-02

Rewriting the Testament of Solomon: Tradition, Conflict and Identity in a Late Antique Pseudepigraphon. By TODD E. KLUTZ.

Davila, J. R. — 2008-04-02

Ancient Texts for New Testament Studies: A Guide to the Background Literature. By CRAIG A. EVANS.

Gathercole, S. — 2008-04-02

New Testament Manuscripts: Their Texts and Their World. Edited by THOMAS J. KRAUS and TOBIAS NICKLAS.

Schmid, U. — 2008-04-02

The New Testament in Greek IV: The Gospel according to St John, Edited by the American and British Committees of the International Greek New Testament Project. Vol. 2: The Majuscules. Ed. by U. B. SCHMID, with W. J. ELLIOTT and D. C. PARKER.

Elliott, J. K. — 2008-04-02

Covenant of Peace: The Missing Peace in New Testament Theology and Ethics. By WILLARD M. SWARTLEY.

Harvey, A. E. — 2008-04-02

Faithful Feelings: Rethinking Emotion in the New Testament. By MATTHEW A. ELLIOTT.

McLarty, J. — 2008-04-02

The Old is Better: New Testament Essays in Support of Traditional Interpretations. By ROBERT H. GUNDRY.

Thiselton, A. C. — 2008-04-02

Historiography and Hermeneutics in Jesus Studies: An Examination of the Work of John Dominic Crossan and Ben F. Meyer. By DONALD L. DENTON, JR.

Paget, J. C. — 2008-04-02

Jesus and the Eyewitnesses: The Gospels as Eyewitness Testimony. By RICHARD BAUCKHAM.

Bond, H. K. — 2008-04-02

From Q to 'Secret' Mark: A Composition History of the Earliest Narrative Theology. By HUGH M. HUMPHREY.

Tuckett, C. — 2008-04-02

Die Deutung des Todes Jesu im Markusevangelium: Eine exegetische Studie zu den Leidens- und Auferstehungsansagen. By ALEXANDER WEIHS.

Morgan, R. — 2008-04-02

The Interpretation of the Gospel of Luke, Volume 1: From Apostolic Times through the Nineteenth Century. By SEAN P. KEALY. * The Interpretation of the Gospel of Luke in the Twentieth Century, Volume 2. By SEAN P. KEALY.

Gregory, A. — 2008-04-02

Paulus und Johannes: Exegetische Studien zur paulinischen und johanneischen Theologie und Literatur. Edited by DIETER SANGER and ULRICH MELL.

Raisanen, H. — 2008-04-02

Befriending the Beloved Disciple: A Jewish Reading of the Gospel of John. By ADELE REINHARTZ

Bond, H. — 2008-04-02

The Acts of the Apostles: What Really Happened in the Earliest Days of the Church. By GERD LUDEMANN, assisted by TOM HALL.

Gregory, A. — 2008-04-02

Paul, the Stoics, and the Body of Christ. By MICHELLE V. LEE.

Thorsteinsson, R. M. — 2008-04-02

Paul's Use of the Old Testament in Romans 9.1-9: An Intertextual and Theological Exegesis. By BRIAN J. ABASCIANO.

Marshall, I. H. — 2008-04-02

1 Corinthians: A Shorter Exegetical and Pastoral Commentary. By ANTHONY C. THISELTON.

Horrell, D. G. — 2008-04-02

1 and 2 Thessalonians: A Socio-Rhetorical Commentary. By BEN WITHERINGTON III.

Horrell, D. G. — 2008-04-02

The Letters to Timothy and Titus. By PHILIP H. TOWNER.

Travis, S. — 2008-04-02

Der unterschatzte Petrus: Zwei Studien. By MARTIN HENGEL.

Verheyden, J. — 2008-04-02

The Spirit of the Book of Revelation. By ROBBY WADDELL.

Boxall, I. — 2008-04-02

Deuteronomy in the New Testament: The New Testament and the Scriptures of Israel. Edited by STEVE MOYISE and MAATEN J. J. MENKEN.

Foster, P. — 2008-04-02

Isaiah in the New Testament: The New Testament and the Scriptures of Israel. Edited by STEVE MOYISE and MAATEN J. J. MENKEN.

Foster, P. — 2008-04-02

Interpreting Translation: Studies on the LXX and Ezekiel in Honour of Johan Lust. Edited by F. GARCIA MARTINEZ and M. VERVENNE, with the collaboration of B. DOYLE.

Salvesen, A. G. — 2008-04-02

Recovering the Original Gospel of Thomas: A History of the Gospel and its Growth. By APRIL D. DECONICK.

Perrin, N. — 2008-04-02

Current Trends in the Study of Midrash. Edited by CAROL BAKHOS.

Lipton, D. — 2008-04-02

Hans-Georg von Mutius: Die hebraischen Bibelzitate beim englischen Scholastiker Odo: Versuch einer Revaluation. Edited by JOHANN MAIER.

De Visscher, E. — 2008-04-02

Rudolf Bultmann: Theologie als Kritik. Ausgewahlte Rezensionen und Forschungsberichte. Edited by MATTHIAS DREHER and KLAUS W. MULLER. * Rudolf Bultmann als Kritiker in seinen Rezensionen und Forschungsberichten. By MATTHIAS DREHER.

Morgan, R. — 2008-04-02

Repertoire general des auteurs ecclesiastiques latins de l'Antiquite et du haut Moyen Age. Fifth edition. By ROGER GRYSON.

Elliott, J. K. — 2008-04-02

Die Wurde des Menschen: Ein Beitrag zur Anthropologie in der alten Kirche. By ULRICH VOLP.

Zachhuber, J. — 2008-04-02

The Early Christian Book. Edited by WILLIAM E. KLINGSHIRN and LINDA SAFRAN.

White, C. — 2008-04-02

Rhetoric and Reality in Early Christianities. Edited by WILLI BRAUN.

Hammond, C. — 2008-04-02

Ignatius of Antioch: A Martyr Bishop and the Origin of Episcopacy. By ALLEN BRENT.

Hall, S. G. — 2008-04-02

Papia di Hierapolis: Esposizione degli oracoli del signore. I frammenti. Introduzione, testo, traduzione e note. Edited by ENRICO NORELLI.

Bauckham, R. — 2008-04-02

Justin martyr: Apologie pour les chretiens. Introduction, traduction, et commentaire. By CHARLES MUNIER. * Justin: Apologie pour les chretiens. Edited by CHARLES MUNIER.

Lorraine Buck, P. — 2008-04-02

Los misterios de la vida de Cristo en Justino Martir. By JOSE GRANADOS.

Edwards, M. J. — 2008-04-02

The Branches of the Gospel of John: The Reception of the Fourth Gospel in the Early Church. By KYLE KEEFER.

Edwards, M. J. — 2008-04-02

Das Corpus Johanneum bei Irenaus von Lyon: Studien und Kommentar zum dritten Buch von Adversus Haereses. By BERNHARD MUTSCHLER.

Edwards, M. J. — 2008-04-02

Early Patristic Readings of Romans. Edited by KATHY L. GACA and L. L. WELBORN.

Edwards, M. J. — 2008-04-02

Il Commento a Giovanni di Origene: Il testo e i suoi contesti. Atti dell'VIII Convegno di Studi del Gruppo Italiano di Ricerca su Origene e la Tradizione Alessandrina (Roma, 28-30 settembre 2004). Edited by EMANUELA PRINZIVALLI.

Edwards, M. J. — 2008-04-02

The Soul and Spirit of Scripture within Origen's Exegesis. By ELIZABETH ANN DIVELY LAURO.

Gould, G. — 2008-04-02

Cyprian and the Bishops of Rome: Questions of Papal Primacy in the Early Church. By GEOFFREY D. DUNN.

Hall, S. G. — 2008-04-02

Eusebius and the Jewish Authors: His Citation Technique in an Apologetic Context. By SABRINA INOWLOCKI.

Whealey, A. — 2008-04-02

La Theologie Trinitaire d'Athanase d'Alexandrie. By XAVIER MORALES.

Teal, A. — 2008-04-02

L'Ancien Testament dans l'ecclesiologie des Peres: Une lecture des Constitutions apostoliques. By JOSEPH G. MUELLER.

Stewart-Sykes, A. — 2008-04-02

Histoire du catechumenat dans l'eglise ancienne. By PAUL L. GAVRILYUK.

Stewart-Sykes, A. — 2008-04-02

The Asketikon of St Basil the Great. By ANNA M. SILVAS.

Plested, M. — 2008-04-02

Gregory of Nyssa: The Letters. Translated by ANNA M. SILVAS.

Meredith, A. — 2008-04-02

Jerome: Trois vies de moines. Paul, Malchus, Hilarion. Critical text by EDGARDO M. MORALES. Translated by PIERRE LECLERC.

Winterbottom, M. — 2008-04-02

Marriage, Celibacy, and Heresy in Ancient Christianity: The Jovinianist Controversy. By DAVID G. HUNTER.

Hartney, A. — 2008-04-02

Christianity and the Secular. By ROBERT A. MARKUS.

Meredith, A. — 2008-04-02

Socrate de Constantinople: Histoire ecclesiastique. Livre VII. Greek text by ed. G. C. HANSEN. Translated by {dagger}PIERRE PERICHON, SJ and PIERRE MARAVAL.

Hall, S. G. — 2008-04-02

The Acts of the Council of Chalcedon. 3 volumes. Translated with introduction and notes by RICHARD PRICE and MICHAELGADDIS.

Wickham, L. R. — 2008-04-02

"Ante Altaria": Les Rites antiques de la messe dominicale en Gaule, en Espagne et en Italie du Nord. By MATTHIEU SMYTH.

Jeanes, G. — 2008-04-02

Union and Distinction in the Thought of St. Maximus the Confessor. By MELCHISEDEC TORONEN.

Milkov, K. — 2008-04-02

Petri Abaelardi Opera Theologica, Vol. 6: Sententie Magistri Petri Abaelardi. Edited by DAVID LUSCOMBE. Liber Sententiarum Magistri Petri. Edited by CONSTANT J. MEWS.

Ward, B. — 2008-04-02

The Personal Correspondence of Hildegard of Bingen: Selected Letters. Edited by JOSEPH L. BAIRD.

Reynolds, H. — 2008-04-02

The Privilege of Poverty: Clare of Assisi, Agnes of Prague, and the Struggle for a Franciscan Rule for Women. By JOAN MUELLER.

Berend, N. — 2008-04-02

The Legends of the Holy Harlots: Thais and Pelagia in Medieval Spanish Literature. By ANDREW M. BERESFORD.

Ward, B. — 2008-04-02

Lollards of Coventry, 1486-1522. Edited and translated by SHANNON MCSHEFFREY and NORMAN TANNER.

Rex, R. — 2008-04-02

Caspar Schwenckfeld: Eight Writings on Christian Beliefs. Edited by H. H. DRAKE WILLIAMS III. Translated by EDWARD J. FURCHA, JAMES GRANT GEBBIE, ELMER S. GERHARD, FRED A. GRATER, DAVID W. MCKINLEY, CHRISTIAN AMBLER WILLIAMS, and H. H. DRAKE WILLIAMS III. Foreword by DAVID F. WELLS.

Bagchi, D. — 2008-04-02

Reformation Sources: The Letters of Wolfgang Capito and his Fellow Reformers in Alsace and Switzerland. Edited by ERIKA RUMMEL and MILTON KOOISTRA.

Methuen, C. — 2008-04-02

Christian Magistrate and Territorial Church: Johannes Brenz and the German Reformation. By JAMES M. ESTES.

Matheson, P. — 2008-04-02

Scripture and Scholarship in Early Modern England. Edited by ARIEL HESSAYON and NICHOLAS KEENE.

Methuen, C. — 2008-04-02