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Evaluates the role played by Paul's use of the Apollos name in his argumentation against dissention in the community of Corinth.

Addresses the question of whether the book of "Revelation" was written as an 'anti-magical' polemic and explores the concept and definition of 'magic' from both modern and first-century standpoints.

Presents a multi-level approach to "Mark 15:34" arguing that a contextual reading of "Psalms 22:2" does not negate or dilute the presentation of Jesus as one in distress. This book discusses the patterns of the textual and liturgical use of the psalms and the presence of the motif of the Righteous Sufferer in Mark's socio-cultural milieu.

Scholarly interest in intertextuality remains as keen as ever. Armed with new questions, interpreters seek to understand better the function of older scripture in later scripture. The essays assembled in the present collection address these questions. These essays treat pre-Christian texts, as well as Christian texts, that make use of older sacred tradition. They analyze the respective uses of scripture in diverse Jewish and Christian traditions. Some of these studies are concerned with discreet bodies of writings, such as the Dead Sea Scrolls, while others are concerned with versions of scriptures, such as the Hebrew or Old Greek, and text critical issues. Other studies are concerned with how scripture is interpreted as part of apocalyptic and eschatology. Early Christian Literature and Intertextuality includes essays that explore the use of Old Testament scripture in the Gospels and Acts. Other studies examine the apostle Paul''s interpretation of scripture in his letters, while other studies look at non-Pauline writings and their utilization of scripture. Some of the studies in this collection show how older scripture clarifies important points of teaching or resolves social conflict. Law, conversion, anthropology, paradise, and Messianism are among the themes treated in these studies, themes rooted in important ways in older sacred tradition. The collection concludes with studies on two important Christian interpreters, Syriac-speaking Aphrahat in the east and Latin-speaking Augustine in the west. [Part of the LNTS sub series Studies in Scripture in Early Judaism and Christianity (SSEJC), volume 14]

Presents a scholarly discussion on Pauline theology by leading Pauline scholars. This book contains essays on the letters and theology of the Apostle Paul from leading Pauline scholars which are based on papers given in the first Finnish national seminar on Paul held in the University of Helsinki in January 2007.

Offers a discussion of the use of the Aramaic term 'son of man' in the light of over 30 examples of the use of this term by speakers who are referring to themselves. This book discusses authentic examples of this idiom in the teaching of Jesus, with Aramaic reconstructions of each saying (Chapters 4-9).

Examines the impact of the methodological developments in New Testament studies to the letter of James. This work contains the description of the methodological approach; the application of the methodological approach to James; and, a conclusion identifying how the methodological approach contributes to an understanding of the letter.

Establishes the distinctiveness of Matthew by comparing his theological perspective with his major sources, Mark and Q, and with the two remaining Gospels, the Pauline epistles, the "Letter to the Hebrews" and the "Epistle of James".

Studies the word order of the "Gospel of Luke", and some of its prominent messages, with consideration of systemic functional linguistic theories. This book focuses on the relative positions of four constituents of different types of Lukan clauses, and traces the foregrounded messages of the Gospel based on the related marked word order patterns.

Re-examines the presentation, theology, and origins of Christian martyrdom up to the beginning of the Decian persecutions. However, this project argues that, far from being a deviant strand of early Christianity, radical martyrdom was a significant, and widely held idealized form of Christ-devotion in the late first to early third centuries.

"The Farewell Discourse" (John 13-17) is a climactic portion of "John's Gospel", which serves as a hinge on which the entire Gospel narrative pivots from Jesus' public ministry to his Passion. This is an analysis, employing the elements of Greco-Roman rhetoric.

Explores Paul's conception of maturity, paying attention to the maturation process and the role of the local church in facilitating this process. An exegetical-theological study of the seven generally accepted epistles, this work makes heuristic use of three studies for the purpose of illuminating Paul's thoughts regarding maturity.

Gathers a collection of essays on the "Acts of the Apostles". This book addresses the central question 'What kind of book is "Acts"?' It argues that the differences between New Testament texts and contemporary writings in the Graeco-Roman world can be as revealing as the similarities.

A collection that explores the importance of magic within Early Christianity, an issue shared with its Old Testament and Jewish roots and with its ancient background, implying reluctance and critique. Divided into four sections, it contains studies on the use of the term "magic" in the New Testament and especially in Acts.

Creative imitation (Gk, mimesis; Lt, imitatio) was the primary literary convention of the ancient world of the first century CE. This book demonstrates that it was the principal means by which classical authors such as Virgil, Seneca, Plutarch, and Livy, composed their works. It provides an approach to scripture scholarship.

Discusses the problems of interpreting this text and looks at the major debates of its past interpreters. This text consists a detailed consideration of a range of texts which superficially seem closest to 2 Corinthians 12 in part one. It considers the text of 2 Corinthians 12:1-10 in part two in the light of the findings of part one.

Uncovers significant structuring techniques in "James" that prove to be beneficial in a number of ways. First, there exists a coherent, discernible strategy in the letter as a whole. Second, significant uses of inclusion, along with other transition techniques, draw attention to important recurring themes.

Aims to establish and explore New Testament belief in the end of the world through an investigation of texts which contain 'end of the world' language. This book engages with discussion on how Jewish and early Christian 'end of the world' was meant to be understood, and interacts especially with NT Wright's proposals.

Nature plays an important role in Jewish apocalypses. Although "Romans 8:19-22" was not written in the genre of an apocalypse, it shares the basic apocalyptic worldview. A comparison of nature in Jewish apocalypses and Romans 8:19-22 reveals important insights into the theology of early Judaism and its influence on early Christian thought.

One of the characteristic pursuits of the phase of historical Jesus research, the so-called Third Quest, has been the serious attempt to locate Jesus within first-century CE Judaism. The continuum perspective seeks to reveal a Jesus who would both be fitting within his Jewish context and would also help to understand early Christian stances.

Against the majority opinion, this study argues that the Lukan Parable of the Talents is a story about the use and abuse of power. It states that the Parable of the Pounds is used as a lens to view the characterizations of Lukan women. It explores the ways its dynamic gives insight into the dynamic operating in the Lukan women's characterizations.

The concept of Herem is found throughout the Old Testament and presented a problem to the Second Temple Jewish authors. This study suggests that readers of Luke-Acts should consider the whole Old Testament so as to understand Lukan use of the Old Testament and its attitude to the Mosaic law.

Deviating from the general tendency to seek answers to the issue of women's submission from creation accounts, this research focuses on Philippians 2:6-11 as the primary text and reason for embracing submission as the defining characteristic of a Christian community.

Identifies an ancient storytelling convention with roots in the Homeric tradition in which narratives of death and revival accentuate significant points in a story. This study also examines themes of death and revival in texts of the "Hebrew Bible", revealing a recurrent constellation of motifs.

A collection of papers delivered at the Manchester-Lausanne Seminar of June 2008, on a theme in Biblical Studies. It offers some significant studies on the general topic of the "Torah" in the New Testament with particular reference to methodological issues, to the Jesus traditions in the Gospels, and to Paul and the Law.

Varying degrees of attention are paid to Jesus' four speeches in the Galilean ministry of the "Gospel of Luke". This book examines each speech from the context of ancient rhetorical argument and pinpoints various narrative trajectories - as associated with theme, plot, characterization, and topoi - that emerge from the rhetorical texture.

Serves as a contribution to Markan studies which reads Mark's story of Jesus from a postcolonial perspective. This work shows that Mark accommodates itself into a strategic third space in between the variegated native Jewish and the Roman colonial discourses in order to enunciate its own voice.

Includes a chapter on the use of the "Minor Prophets" in the second temple literature. This book discusses the New Testament books that contain quotations from the "Minor Prophets". It offers insights into the various hermeneutical stances of the New Testament authors and the development of New Testament theology.