Hebrews: A Guide - By Andrew Lincoln

Religious Studies Review • VOLUME 36 • NUMBER 2 • JUNE 2010 these early Christian documents. Johnson then traces the alleged development of this saying through two distinct lines of tradition (Q 12:33 and Thomas 76:3), and possibly a third line (Mark 10:21). In Johnson’s reconstruction, James and Matthew drew upon the Q version of the saying, while John and Colossians drew upon the version preserved in Thomas. According to Johnson, Luke’s version was developed from a combination of the versions in Q, Thomas, and (possibly) Mark. As with any investigation of this sort, the conclusions are tentative and will prove persuasive only to those who share most or all of Johnson’s presumptions about the historical relationships between the various documents. Still, even those who remain skeptical about Johnson’s conclusions will find the book admirable in its depth of analysis and rigor of investigation. Thomas E. Phillips Point Loma Nazarene University relatively unknown body of Greek art, and to encourage a greater appreciation of its value by amateur and scholar alike. Anna Stelow University of Virginia Christian Origins NEW TESTAMENT TEXT AND TRANSLATION COMMENTARY: COMMENTARY ON THE VARIANT READINGS OF THE ANCIENT NEW TESTAMENT MANUSCRIPTS AND HOW THEY RELATE TO THE MAJOR ENGLISH TRANSLATIONS. By Philip W. Comfort. Carol Stream, IL: Tyndale House, 2008. Pp. xlii + 899. $39.99. Comfort aims to provide a commentary on NT variant readings that affect interpretation and translation (with the emphasis falling more heavily on the latter) accessible to those who read English and those who know some Greek. The introduction offers a nice overview of the principles and practice of NT textual criticism (supplemented by material in the appendices), and a detailed introduction to the book. The main section offers a clear explanation of and comments about individual variation units. His coverage is more extensive than Metzger’s well-known Textual Commentary or Omanson’s adaptation of it; for Philippians, for example, Metzger comments on twenty-nine variants, whereas Comfort discusses forty-four—a 50 percent increase. Comfort is commendably transparent about his own methodological biases: He places significantly more weight on the earliest manuscript evidence than he does any other sort of evidence and explains why he thinks his approach is justified. Readers will find him either commendably consistent or predictable in his analysis of readings. In a volume such as this, in which every new variant discussed offers opportunity to disagree, inevitably there will be instances where one may think that the author has not quite grasped the solution, but overall, this is a thoughtful and well-executed piece of work. For anyone whose curiosity is piqued by those ubiquitous but often cryptic footnotes in bibles that alert the reader to variations in the manuscripts, this fine volume will offer many answers. Michael W. Holmes Bethel University BEGINNING FROM JERUSALEM. By James D. G. Dunn. Christianity in the Making, 2. Grand Rapids, MI: Eerdmans, 2009. Pp. xv + 1347. $80.00; £44.99. This second volume of Dunn’s proposed trilogy (“Christianity in the Making”) is the sequel to his well-received Jesus Remembered (Eerdmans, 2003). The volume’s immense length and breadth can be appreciated by a perusal of the table of contents, beginning with a discussion of the sources and continuing through every relevant piece of literature, biblical and extra-biblical, that can cast light upon the subject. The subsections are cleverly titled: for example, “The Passion of Paul” (a combination of Acts, Philippians, Philemon, and Colossians) and “The Voiceless Peter.” Biblical experts who have read even a small part of Dunn’s vast scholarly output will be well acquainted with his modus agendi, exegetical choices, and thoroughly objective methodology that steers a middle course through the labyrinth of NT scholarship. Included are some 170 pages of bibliography and indexes. This is an indispensable reference work, hardly to be read from cover to cover, but so well arranged that each part serves as a mini-monograph by itself. No one will agree with all of Dunn’s judgments, but he furnishes copious grist for the ongoing task of scholarly analysis. Casimir Bernas Holy Trinity Abbey THE SOCIAL WORLD OF THE NEW TESTAMENT: INSIGHTS AND MODELS. Edited by Jerome H. Neyrey SEEKING THE IMPERISHABLE TREASURE: WEALTH, WISDOM, AND A JESUS SAYING. By and Eric C. Stewart. Peabody, MA: Hendrickson Publishers, 2008. Pp. vii + 295. $24.95. In 1991, the Context Group published The Social World of Luke-Acts, a collection of articles aimed at introducing readers to the value of cultural anthropology. The present volume continues this project, expanding its horizon with many of the same models and authors. In part one, “SocialScientific Criticism,” B. J. Malina argues for the value of rhetorical and social–scientific criticism, highlighting the differences between the first-century Mediterranean context Steven R. Johnson. Eugene, OR: Cascade Books, 2008. Pp. 183. Paper, $22.99. This well-conceived and well-argued volume examines an early Christian saying about gathering fruit (either figs or grapes) from various kinds of plants (Luke 12:33; Mark 10:21; Jas 5:2-3; Matt 6:19-20; John 6:27; Col 3:1-2; Gospel of Thomas 76:3). Johnson reconstructs a plausible archetype, which he theorizes to lie behind all the forms preserved in 147 Religious Studies Review • VOLUME 36 • NUMBER 2 • JUNE 2010 two decades, Wolter has updated some and completely rewritten other articles. Although he originally wrote the essays independently of each other, in this volume he attempts to establish a common thread in three major sections on Jesus, Paul, and Luke-Acts, suggesting that this arrangement reflects the continuity between the message of Jesus and the church after Easter. Jesus’ claim to be God’s agent of eschatological salvation, declaring that the response to him determines one’s status at the final judgment, continues in Paul’s proclamation of the gospel as eschatological salvation through Jesus. The message of salvation in LukeActs coheres with both Jesus’ focus on his own message and deeds, and Paul’s focus on the death and resurrection of Jesus. A final section treats themes of a more general interest. While the continuity of this theme is not evident in all of the articles, this volume contains seminal articles that make valuable contributions to the study of the theology and ethos of the early church. James W. Thompson Abilene Christian University and the context of modern readers. In part two, “Institutions,” K. C. Hanson, A. Batten, and D. E. Oakman examine the impact of kinship, patron–client relationships, and the problem of debt in agrarian Palestine and the epistle of James. In part three, “Culture,” Neyrey, J. H. Elliott, Oakman, R. L. Rohrbaugh, S. Scott Bartchy, and J. J. Pilch explore the roll of honor and shame, purity, social location, gender, space, healing, the evil eye, and limited good in Q, James, Luke, Mark, Paul, Acts, Galatians, and John. Finally, in part four, “Modal Personality,” Malina and Neyrey paint a portrait of Paul in light of the primary marker of identity in the ancient world, the corporate personality. Each essay begins with a brief introduction and defense of the model being employed, which is a valuable addition, especially for those who question the validity of social–scientific readings. Matthew R. Hauge Claremont Graduate University DIE EVANGELIEN UND DIE APOSTELGESCHICHTE: STUDIEN ZU IHRER THEOLOGIE UND ZU IHRER GESCHICHTE. By Andreas Lindemann. Wis- THE GOSPEL OF MARK. By Mary Healy. Catholic Commentary on Sacred Scripture. Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Academic, 2008. Pp. 348. $19.99. This popular commentary belongs to a series designed for use in pastoral ministry and lay development in the Catholic tradition. The commentary prints and comments on the NAB, the translation approved for liturgical use in the United States. While historical and literary matters are introduced, the focus is on Mark’s meaning for faith. Photographs (e.g., Jordan River, Capernaum synagogue ruins, firstcentury fishing boat, oil lamp, millstone, scale model of the Herodian temple, ankle bone of a crucified man, and the Arch of Titus) and sidebars on biblical backgrounds (e.g., messiah, Galilee, Sabbath, Pharisees, Sea of Galilee, LXX, Herod and Herodias, Pilate, and Gehenna) reflect the volume’s introductory nature. “Living Tradition” sidebars (e.g., baptism, disciple, exorcisms, fasting, and cost of discipleship), drawn from largely homiletic writings, illustrate the commentary’s devotional nature. Thus, the author describes Mark as full of “joy,” even though written in what were difficult times to be a Christian, and explains Mark’s purpose as an invitation to its readers to embark on a spiritual journey. The volume does not intend to further Markan scholarship. Richard Walsh Methodist University senschaftliche Untersuchungen zum Neuen Testament, 241. Tübingen: Mohr Siebeck, 2009. Pp. viii + 422. €114.00. The successor of H. Conzelmann collects sixteen essays (one new, another originally in English) under four headings: Mark, Q and Luke/Acts, John, and the theology and interpretation of the Gospels. Each section has a substantial introduction. Seven essays devoted to passages in Mark will make this a useful resource for those who work on that Gospel. One piece takes up issues surrounding Q. Three deal with important Lucan themes: the unity of Luke and Acts, the summaries in the latter, and the story of the Ethiopian official in the light of the gentile mission in Acts 8-11. Two Johannine studies deal with ecclesiology and law. The final section begins with an investigation of the possibility of attributing theologies to the particular Synoptic evangelists and of denominating a theology of the Synoptics. A clear and generally accepted understanding of “theology” is a vital prerequisite. Lindemann then turns to the challenges that postmodern thought has brought to the traditional critical study of miracle. The final offering takes up the problem of the Jewish Jesus as the universal savior of the Gospels. This collection is a testament to Lindemann’s thorough, judicious, and informed scholarship, rarely adventurous, never cloudy, and always worth reading. Research libraries should acquire this volume. Richard I. Pervo Saint Paul, MN MARK. By Robert H. Stein. Baker Exegetical Commentary on the NT. Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Academic, 2008. Pp. xxii + 823. $54.99. Stein’s commentary on Mark in the BECNT series is the result of a long career of one of the foremost scholars writing from a traditional perspective. While he gives evidence for several traditional views concerning Mark’s origins (Roman provenance, John and Mark’s authorship, dependence on a THEOLOGIE UND ETHOS IM FRÜHEN CHRISTENTUM: STUDIEN ZU JESUS, PAULUS UND LUKAS. By Michael Wolter. Wissenschaftliche Untersuchungen zum Neuen Testament, 236. Tübingen: Mohr Siebeck, 2009. Pp. x + 539. €129.00. In this collection of twenty-one essays, which appeared in journals and collected works over a period of more than 148 Religious Studies Review • VOLUME 36 • NUMBER 2 • JUNE 2010 cal and historical tools” in conjunction with the “full use of . . . classical languages” to “lay bare the ancient meaning of a biblical work.” In an information-rich and readable style, he convincingly argues for fresh ideas such as: 1) a composition date of 110-20 CE; 2) the author’s use of sources from Paul and Josephus; and 3) the book of Acts as a “popular” work. After the introduction, Pervo divides Acts into fiftyseven pericopes, each with a section of analysis and verseby-verse commentary; he ends with five appendices of relevant cognate material. Interspersed among the pericope divisions are thirty-seven excursuses on topics ranging from glossolalia and prophecy in Acts, to Syrian Antioch, to Lucan “Natural Theology.” Especially noteworthy are both Pervo’s detailed footnotes, which abundantly cite ancient sources as well as modern scholarship, and his treatment of the longer Western (and specifically the D) Text, for which he presents parallel D Text passages. Note that the bibliography has a separate section for commentaries. Without a doubt, Pervo has produced a definitive commentary on Acts. Patricia Walters Rockford College Petrine tradition, etc.), his main task in the commentary, explicating the Markan message (not reconstructing preMarkan traditions or the history of the early church), does not depend on any of these views. Stein discerns several theological emphases in the gospel: Christology, “the Messianic Secret,” the disciples, discipleship, and the death of Jesus Christ. These themes cohere with the overarching Markan message that Stein posits, the proclamation of “Jesus Christ, the Son of God” (Mark 1:1). Stein has extensive knowledge of Markan scholarship but does not interact with much “non-traditional” scholarship (liberation, feminist, contextual approaches). His expert knowledge of Greek is evident throughout the commentary as well as his ability to express exegetical nuances with clear accessible language. This allows the commentary to be useful to a variety of readers. Serious students of Mark and the gospels, pastors, scholars, and laity, as well as seminary and divinity school libraries will find Stein’s commentary a valuable resource. Thomas Anderson London School of Theology THE SPIRITUAL LANDSCAPE OF MARK. By Bonnie B. Thurston. Collegeville, MN: Liturgical Press, 2008. Pp. xv + 84. $12.95. This devotional book began as talks for the sisters of the Society of the Sacred Cross at Tymawr. Prayers introduce each chapter, and the author’s poetry illustrates her points. She explicates the geographical locations of Mark as mythological symbols (following Jung and Campbell), as theological insights into the life of Jesus, and as symbols of the contemporary disciple’s spiritual journey. The book’s focus falls on the last. The locations discussed include cave (not in Mark, but necessary for Jungian musings), wilderness, house, lake, mountain, valley, city, cross, and garden. The individual chapters take up these locations, and their ambiguity (e.g., the wilderness is both danger and promise), as the author moves linearly through Mark. The book’s heart is an excursus on an icon of the transfiguration appearing on the book’s cover. While the book is devotional, not academic, the author is versed in Markan scholarship, and one occasionally finds academic insights. The substantive references, however, are to “spiritual life” books. Thus, despite the thesis, references to academic works on the topic (e.g., W. Marxsen, E. Lohmeyer, or E. Struthers Malbon) do not appear. The work will be useful to those using Mark devotionally. Richard Walsh Methodist University “HELLENISTEN” IN DER APOSTELGESCHICHTE: HISTORISCHE UND EXEGETISCHE UNTERSUCHUNGEN ZU APG 6,1; 9,29; 11,20. By Michael Zugmann. Wissenschaftliche Untersuchungen zum Neuen Testament, 2/264. Tübingen: Mohr Siebeck, 2009. Pp. xii + 497. $167.50. Acts 6:1, 9:29, and (the textually uncertain) 11:20 use the term Hellēnistēs. Zugmann accepts all three and finds three different meanings. The first 294 pages of this 2008 dissertation from Mainz are a thorough exploration of the use of Greek by non-Hellenes and related subjects. The conclusions are not new, but the research is exhaustive: “Hellenists” speak Greek. The final chapter, which fills 112 pages, seeks to provide a theological profile of the non-Christian Jewish “Hellenists,” immigrants who wished to protect their heritage, and of the Greek-speaking circle represented by Stephen, which developed a theology following the conflict described in Acts 6. Zugmann proposes that soteriological and christological reflection led to criticism of the Temple. The enterprise is grounded in the general historical reliability of Acts 1-7. Those who have doubts about these data—and such doubts are well grounded and substantial—will have major reservations about Zugmann’s thesis, but they will profit from considering his arguments. This book is a requirement for research collections. Richard I. Pervo Saint Paul, MN ACTS: A COMMENTARY. By Richard I. Pervo. Hermeneia—A Critical and Historical Commentary on the Bible. Minneapolis, MN: Fortress Press, 2009. Pp. xxxvi + 812. $85.00. A valuable asset to the library of biblical scholars and graduate students, Pervo’s commentary on Acts clearly meets the standard of excellence established for the Hermeneia series. That is, Pervo applies the “full range of philologi- THE CHURCH’S GUIDE FOR READING PAUL: THE CANONICAL SHAPING OF THE PAULINE CORPUS. By Brevard S. Childs. Grand Rapids, MI: Eerdmans, 2008. Pp. xi + 276. $28.00. In this posthumously published monograph, Childs argues for greater attention to the whole Pauline corpus in 149 Religious Studies Review • VOLUME 36 • NUMBER 2 • JUNE 2010 the NT. While not attributing all 13 letters to Paul himself, Childs contends that this distinction has blinded interpreters to the larger canonical role that Paul plays, particularly in the pastorals and other disputed letters. Accordingly, Childs maintains that readers should look first at Romans for the more systematic treatment of issues and then study the rest of the Pauline corpus through to the pastorals. This is based upon the idea that the role of the pastorals was not so much to create theology but to situate the authority of Paul’s other letters. Importantly, Childs models this methodology and addresses several key Pauline motifs. As a helpful addition to the field of theological interpretation, Childs rightly points to the larger role that Paul plays in the NT and helpfully argues for reading these texts together instead of always dividing them up. However, the ahistorical treatment of Romans ignores the particularity out of which that letter, and others, arose. Ben Blackwell Durham University cultural immersion rather than any formal study of Aristotle, Cicero, and Quintilian, whose discussions of metaphor are summarized in the opening chapter. Separate chapters devoted to the use of particular images in the argument of each of the seven undisputed letters (with only rare glances at the six disputed letters) comprise the bulk of the volume. Although the linguistic variety of the letters prohibits an exhaustive treatment of Paul’s use of metaphor—analysis of allusions to God as “Father” and “Lord” could easily fill up additional volumes—the concluding survey of the semantic domains from which he draws his language (e.g., kinship, the body, the senses, agriculture, animals) clearly demonstrate that the apostle is a man with feet firmly planted in both Jewish and Hellenistic cultures. With Collins as their companion, reading Paul’s letters will be a richer experience for beginning and advanced students alike. This is highly recommended. Patrick Gray Rhodes College AS IT IS WRITTEN: STUDYING PAUL’S USE OF SCRIPTURE. Edited by Stanley E. Porter and Christopher THE OFFERING OF THE GENTILES. By David J. Downs. Wissenschaftliche Untersuchungen zum Neuen Testament, 2/248. Tübingen: Mohr Siebeck, 2008. Pp. xv + 204. Paper, €54.00. Downs explores the organization and collection of the relief fund for the Jerusalem church, which “demanded a considerable amount of Paul’s time and energy over the course of a number of years” yet has received only sporadic scholarly attention. The introductory chapter probes the strengths and weaknesses of four interpretive trends, identifying three core issues that each receive a chapter-length treatment. Chapter 2 concludes that Paul was involved in administering at least two relief funds, one early (Gal 2:10; Acts 11:27-30) and another later (1 Cor 16:1-4; Rom 15:1432). Chapter 3 looks at the nature of benefaction within Jewish and polytheist associations as the sociocultural and rhetorical context of Paul’s framing the offering as a cultic act. Chapter 4 provides a detailed exegetical examination of passages in which Paul discusses the collection explicitly (1 Cor 16:1-4; 2 Cor 8:1-9:15; Rom 15:14-32), with particular attention to Paul’s framing metaphors of the collection as “worship” and as “harvest.” The reciprocity between giver and recipient is framed vertically toward God as the one who ultimately is responsible for all benefaction. Erudite and convincing, this book is the new touch point for future research on Paul’s collection for the Jerusalem church. Richard S. Ascough Queen’s University at Kingston D. Stanley. Society of Biblical Literature Symposium Series, 50. Atlanta, GA: Society of Biblical Literature, 2008. Pp. xi + 376. $44.95. In keeping with SBL’s Symposium Series format, As It Is Written brings together a collection of papers presented at the 2006-07 SBL Annual Meetings. The collection represents divergent views on the question of Paul’s use of the Scriptures. Its intention is twofold: to demonstrate the reasons behind these views and to chart new directions for such study. As an overview of the current state of scholarship, As It Is Written addresses the dominant movements in the field. For example, R. Hays’ methodology figures prominently in several essays, including Porter’s “Allusions and Echoes” essay, which offers a substantial challenge to Hays’ approach. Roy Ciampa’s focus upon the thematic nature of Paul’s use of the Scripture, along with Steven DiMattei’s essay on Paul’s narratival hermeneutic, stands out as two much-needed reassessments of the traditional presuppositions. While this collection as a whole gives one a good impression of the divergent views within the field (in the English-speaking world), it would have been more effective had the writers’ essays interacted with one another in an effort to draw the beginnings of a consensus. Nevertheless, as a resource, As It Is Written aptly presents the status of the question of Paul and his Scriptures. Mark A. Jennings Marquette University THE POWER OF IMAGES IN PAUL. By Raymond F. SOLUS DEUS: UNTERSUCHUNGEN ZUR REDE VON GOTT IM BRIEF DES PAULUS AN DIE RÖMER. By Collins. Collegeville, MN: Liturgical Press, 2008. Pp. xv + 307. Paper, $49.95. “If ever there was a master of metaphor in the history of early Christianity,” according to Collins, that master was Paul. Collins believes that Paul learned rhetoric through Jochen Flebbe. Beihefte zur Zeitschrift für die neutestamentliche Wissenschaft und die Kunde der älteren Kirche, 158. Berlin: de Gruyter, 2008. Pp. xiv + 509. €118.00. Flebbe’s doctoral dissertation (University of Bonn) considers the significance of the subject of “God”—especially the 150 Religious Studies Review • VOLUME 36 • NUMBER 2 • JUNE 2010 for an early high Christology based on Paul’s attributing to Jesus Christ titles and roles that Jews would normally reserve for the one God. Fee also regularly compares the accuracy and utility of various modern translations and ends each major section with a set of pastoral insights based on the message of the text. Although I do not think that this work rates as highly as his previous major commentaries on Philippians and 1 Corinthians in the same series, it still has much to offer and is welcome as one of only a handful of detailed commentaries on 1 and 2 Thessalonians. Nijay K. Gupta Ashland Theological Seminary speech of God—in Paul’s letter to the Romans. He contends that this neglected concept in NT theology and the study of Romans—in comparison to the categories of Christology, anthropology, and the New Perspective on Paul—is in fact the crucial element of Paul’s argument in the letter. He traces the theme through selected passages in the rhetorical framework of Paul’s argument. As he offers solid exegetical and theological readings of Romans, he grants insights into critical issues in Pauline studies (e.g., the righteousness of God). He perceives that Paul, as a Jewish scriptural interpreter, perceives God’s actions (through Jesus Christ) in continuity with the Jewish traditions. Although, at times, Flebbe seems to push the envelope too far for a Theozentrik interpretation and thereby diminishes a christological one, his strong arguments do urge scholars to take seriously the significance of God in Paul’s theology. Overall, Flebbe’s excellent study contributes to the recent important discussions on Pauline theology and Romans, and is recommended for scholars. V. Henry T. Nguyen Loyola Marymount University DER BRIEF AN DIE EPHESER. By Gerhard Sellin. Kritisch-exegetischer Kommentar über das Neue Testament, 8. Göttingen: Vandenhoeck & Ruprecht, 2008. Pp. 496. €78.90. Sellin’s commentary on Ephesians is a welcome addition to the KEK series, because it replaces the last edition, which was published in 1902. His volume does not give much discussion to introductory matters and is more of an exegetical engagement with the Greek text rather than issues surrounding it. Readers looking for in-depth discussions and fresh angles in major issues of studies in Ephesians will be disappointed. For instance, Sellin very briefly discusses the issue of authorship, which is covered in only two pages in the introduction. He merely works from the general consensus that the letter is deutero-Pauline. Although he does pay attention to the prevailing philosophical influences on the author’s articulation of Paul’s theology, he does not contribute much new knowledge to the scholarship on Ephesians. One quibble with the book is its lack of indices (e.g., scripture, ancient sources, and modern authors) beyond the one-page index of topics and one-page index of Greek concepts. Overall, this commentary is a contribution to the recent growing number of critical commentaries in German. Students and scholars should consult this commentary for its careful interaction and interpretation of the text. V. Henry T. Nguyen Loyola Marymount University PHILIPPIANS AND PHILEMON. By Charles B. Cousar. NT Library. Louisville, KY: Westminster John Knox, 2009. Pp. 129. Cloth, $29.95. Charles Cousar’s commentary on Philippians and Philemon is probably not going to attract much attention in an academic world already overcrowded with Pauline interpretive and reference resources. What is more, this volume is surprisingly slim—a mere 129 pages. (For comparison, the volume on Colossians is well over 300 pages.) Also, this commentary series, as a whole, lacks a particular niche, though Cousar tends to focus on the literary character of the text (with some interest in ancient rhetoric) and the theological concepts and themes. What is distinctive about Cousar’s approach to Paul is his interest in cosmology and apocalyptic thought. In terms of influences, he repeatedly turns to the words and ideas of Karl Barth. While Cousar does engage with most of the major exegetical challenges in the text, this would not serve students well as their only Philippians reference work. It would be particularly useful to those who have read and appreciated Cousar’s work on Paul’s theology of the cross. Nijay K. Gupta Ashland Theological Seminary EPHESIANS. By Peter S. Williamson. Catholic Commentary on Sacred Scripture. Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Academic, 2009. Pp. 219. Paper, $19.99. The series of which this commentary is a part seeks “to serve the ministry of the Word of God in the life and mission of the Church” by connecting exegesis to liturgy, catechesis, theology, and communal life. Each pericope (in the NAB translation) is followed by a short list of relevant Scripture passages, uses in the Roman lectionary, and section references to the Catholic catechism. While the author does due diligence with respect to key interpretive questions, the focus of the series is on “the meaning of the text for faith and life.” Williamson regards Ephesians as an authentically Pauline composition intended as a circular THE FIRST AND SECOND LETTERS TO THE THESSALONIANS. By Gordon D. Fee. New International Commentary on the New Testament. Grand Rapids, MI: Eerdmans, 2009. Pp. 404. Cloth, $44.00. In this replacement of L. Morris’ 1991 commentary, G. D. Fee, now the general editor of the series, engages in a thorough exploration of these two Pauline letters. As one expects of Fee, he masterfully handles such areas as textual criticism, grammatical and discourse analysis, and the pneumatological language within the text. As he recently wrote a major volume on Pauline Christology, Fee regularly argues 151 Religious Studies Review • VOLUME 36 • NUMBER 2 • JUNE 2010 resents an older view of the sermon and is not as nuanced as one might find among most commentaries and studies of Hebrews today. Alan C. Mitchell Georgetown University letter for several house churches in Asia. Dozens of photographs and “Biblical Background”/“Living Tradition” sidebars present perspectives—often from patristic and papal sources—typically absent from standard commentaries on such pertinent topics as slavery, spiritual warfare, and household affairs. The contents of the glossary (including such basic terms as “Gentiles,” “gospel,” “Messiah,” and “Torah”) make it plain that Williamson is writing for lay readers, who should find this a reliable guide to the text. Patrick Gray Rhodes College “WEIST NICHT AB DEN SPRECHENDEN!”: WORT GOTTES UND PARAKLESE IM HEBRAERBRIEF. By Tomasz Lewicki. Paderborner Theologische Studien, 41. Paderborn: Schöningh, 2004. Pp. 159. Paper, €26.00. Tomasz Lewicki’s published Paderborn dissertation, directed by Professor K. Backhaus, examines how the author of Hebrews employs the theology of the word of God to exhort his readers to perseverance. The conversation between God and the Son in Hebrews, recovered from scriptural citations throughout the sermon, exemplifies the relationship to God in Christ that the author of Hebrews encourages his readers to attain. Lewicki develops his thesis by first examining the presentation of a God who speaks in the exordium of Hebrews. He then looks at the Scripture as a vehicle of divine speech and shows the christological and soteriological effects of God’s speech in Christ. He concludes his study with an application of the motif of the “God who speaks” to the situation of the sermon’s recipients, drawing out the value of Hebrews as a “word of exhortation.” As such, Hebrews offers a warning and encouragement to its readers that they not “refuse the one who is speaking” (Heb 12:25) by following the example of Christ in their fidelity, boldness, and patient endurance. The practical effect of God’s speech in Christ is to bring about a transformation in believers, who encounter the God who has now spoken in a Son. In this monograph, Lewicki has made a superb contribution to the study of the theology of the word of God in Hebrews. Alan C. Mitchell Georgetown University THE EPISTLE TO THE HEBREWS AND CHRISTIAN THEOLOGY. Edited by Richard Bauckham, Daniel R. Driver, Trevor A. Hart, and Nathan MacDonald. Grand Rapids, MI: Eerdmans, 2009. Pp. xvii + 456. Paper, $36.00. Rarely do biblical scholars and systematic theologians engage in formal dialogue. This volume collects papers from the second annual St. Andrews Conference on Scripture and Theology, which convened from July 18-22, 2006 at the University of St. Andrews in Scotland, precisely for that purpose. The book’s twenty-five essays are organized under seven headings: The Christology of Hebrews; The Problem of Hebrews’ Cosmology; The Problem of Hebrews’ Supersessionism; The Soteriology of Hebrews; Hebrews and the Modern World; Hebrews’ Theology of Scripture; and The Call to Faith in Hebrews. These essays reflect the richness of the conversations that took place at the conference itself and represent the very best of biblical and theological scholarship on Hebrews. The depth and range of the essays make the book a worthwhile read for exegetes and theologians, as well as for anyone interested in exploring the theological world of Hebrews. Alan C. Mitchell Georgetown University HEBREWS. By Earl S. Johnson, Jr. Interpretation Bible Studies. Louisville, KY and London: Westminster John Knox Press, 2009. Pp. viii + 80. Paper, $12.95. As part of the Interpretation Bible Series, this book is intended for use in small groups, church school classes, larger group presentations, or for personal study. The target audience is adults or older youth. Like the other volumes in the series, this brief book collects ten key passages of a biblical book, in this case from Hebrews, that convey the substance of the book’s theology and purpose. Handy charts, tables, and sidebars accompany each discussion of the text under study, along with several “Questions for Reflection” at the end of each chapter. A “Leader’s Guide” completes the book, and a free study guide can be obtained at http:// www.wjkbooks.com. Johnson has focused his discussion of Hebrews on three aspects of the sermon’s portrait of Jesus as: 1) the revelation of God; 2) high priest; and 3) the way to salvation. The emphasis on the superiority of Christ throughout Johnson’s exposition of the Christology of Hebrews rep- HEBREWS: A GUIDE. By Andrew Lincoln. London and New York: T & T Clark, 2006. Pp. x + 129. Cloth, $100; paper, $29.95. This excellent guide to Hebrews is so economically written that it contains an immense amount of useful information for anyone interested in getting an overview of Hebrews. It is, as its title indicates, a guide and not a commentary, and a very worthwhile guide at that. Beginning with a very helpful survey of the place of Hebrews in the Christian canon and ending with a thoughtful essay on Hebrews’ continuing significance, Lincoln treats all of the major issues one encounters in Hebrews. The chapter on background issues does an admirable job of covering the basics of Hebrews, like authorship, recipients, date, and conceptual backgrounds. Notable among the topics that Lincoln covers are the ones on the structure and flow of the argument of Hebrews, its occasion and purposes, and its use of Jewish scriptures. Serious scholars, pastors, and beginning 152 Religious Studies Review • VOLUME 36 • NUMBER 2 • JUNE 2010 republication. Coyle has established himself as one of the leading scholars of Manichaeism in North America, and this book will be of considerable interest to those interested in Manichaeism and ancient Christianity, especially Augustine. Birger A. Pearson University of California, Santa Barbara students will benefit from this handy vade mecum to Hebrews. Alan C. Mitchell Georgetown University SOLIDARITY PERFECTED: BENEFICENT CHRISTOLOGY IN THE EPISTLE TO THE HEBREWS. By THE CODEX JUDAS PAPERS: PROCEEDINGS OF THE INTERNATIONAL CONGRESS ON THE TCHACOS CODEX HELD AT RICE UNIVERSITY, HOUSTON, TEXAS, MARCH 13-16, 2008. Edited by Kevin B. McCruden. Beihefte zur Zeitschrift für Neutestamentliche Wissenschaft, 159. Berlin and New York: de Gruyter, 2008. Pp. 159. Cloth, $105.00. This monograph takes a novel approach to the Christology of Hebrews by relating the perfection of Jesus to the ancient institutions of beneficence and philanthropia. In so doing, McCruden shows how Hebrews overcomes a strict dichotomy between an exalted, transcendent Christ and an immanent, human one. Furthermore, McCruden creates the hermeneutical category of “divine beneficence” to show how Hebrews portrays the perfection of the Son, through suffering and death, as a metaphor for his solidarity with the poor and marginal members of the Roman community to which it was addressed. Critical to McCruden’s thesis is the lexical study of the Greek verb teleioun, “to render perfect, whole, or complete,” in its four most common interpretations by commentators on Hebrews: glorification, cultic consecration, moral/ethical development, and vocational/experiential qualification. To these, McCruden adds his unique contribution by examining the evidence for a fifth interpretation drawn from the use of teleioun in nonliterary papyri, where it means “attestation.” Applied to Heb 2:5-18, “attestation” witnesses to the beneficent and philanthropic character of Christ’s perfection, placing him in solidarity with humans while maintaining his exalted status as the perfected Son. This well-researched, clearly written monograph makes a distinctive contribution the study of the Christology of Hebrews. Alan C. Mitchell Georgetown University April D. DeConick. Nag Hammadi and Manichaean Studies, 71. Leiden, The Netherlands: Brill, 2009. Pp. xxix + 637. $256.00. Published here are twenty-eight papers presented at a congress on the Tchacos Codex organized by April DeConick. The papers are arranged in six main parts, as follows: “Identity and Community” (papers by A. Logan, K. King, J. van Oort, M. Meyer, G. Robinson, and J. Turner); “Portraits of Judas” (B. Pearson, F. Bermejo Rubio, K. Sullivan, I. Dunderberg, and P. Piovanelli); “Astrological Lore” (A. DeConick, N. Denzey Lewis, G. Adamson, N. Förster, and F. Trammel); “Salvation and Praxis” (E. Pagels, B. van Os, J. Brankaer, and T. Petersen); “Text and Intertext” (L. Painchaud, S. Cazelais, M. Grosso, L. Jenott, and S. Gathercole); and “Manuscript Matters” (G. Wurst, W.-P. Funk, A. Marjanen, and J. Robinson). All but four of the papers deal in some way with the Gospel of Judas. What is interesting is that there is not a single paper that supports the heroic view of Judas Iscariot found in the first published translation of the gospel and several early books. Three of the papers deal with the (First) Apocalypse of James (TC 2 = NHC V,3). In the last paper, J. Robinson takes up codicological issues posed by the Tchacos Codex and suggests that the codex be renamed. This book is a gold mine for students and scholars working on the Gospel of Judas. Birger A. Pearson University of California, Santa Barbara FLORA TELLS A STORY: THE APOCALYPSE OF PAUL AND ITS CONTEXTS. By Michael Kaler. Waterloo, MANICHAEISM AND ITS LEGACY. By J. Kevin Coyle. Nag Hammadi and Manichaean Studies, 69. Leiden, The Netherlands: Brill, 2009. Pp. xxiv + 346. $179.00. This book is a collection of articles published in journals and conference proceedings from 1991 through 2008. Three chapters on the prophet Mani constitute part one, two of them dealing with the Acta Archelai. Part two has articles on various Manichaean themes, one of them on the Gospel of Thomas in Manichaeism (chapter 8). Part three is a groundbreaking set of four articles on women in Manichaeism. Chapters 13-19 constitute part four, treating Manichaeism and Augustine of Hippo. Especially interesting is “Augustine and Manichaeism on Contraception.” Chapters 13 and 14 were published in French and remain in French in this book. There is considerable repetition among the chapters, which could have been revised for ON: Wilfrid Laurier University Press, 2008. Pp. xiv + 258. $85.00. This is an unusual book, part scholarship, part fiction. Kaler presents first an annotated English translation of the Apocalypse of Paul (Nag Hammadi Codex V,2), based on the Coptic text presented in the Laval edition (Rosenstiehl and Kaler in BCNH “Textes” 31, Québec, 2005). This is followed by “Flora Tells a Story: A Fictional Account of the Creation of the Apocalypse of Paul,” with introduction and scholarly notes. Flora is the woman to whom the Valentinian teacher Ptolemy addressed a letter, preserved by Epiphanius. In the story, she is now a fully initiated Valentinian Christian and is eager to present a Valentinian interpretation of what really happened to Paul after his ascent to the third heaven 153 Religious Studies Review • VOLUME 36 • NUMBER 2 • JUNE 2010 accepts the view of some scholars that Adimantus is to be identified as Mani’s disciple Addas, well known to us from Oriental sources. After a brief introduction (chapter 1), van den Berg discusses the identity and biography of Adimantus based on the available sources (chapter 2). He then presents a reconstruction of Adimantus’ Disputationes (chapter 3) and a detailed analysis of its method, contents, and purposes (chapter 4). He takes up next the literary context of the Disputationes (chapter 5). In this chapter, the Capitula of the Manichaean Faustus, known to us from Augustine’s Contra Faustum, is treated extensively. van den Berg also refers to other works of Adimantus and even suggests that he was the editor of the Manichaean Kephalaia preserved in Coptic. The book concludes with a chapter of conclusions and suggestions for further research. This book is an important contribution to the study of Manichaeism in North Africa and Egypt. Birger A. Pearson University of California, Santa Barbara (2 Cor 12:2-4). The rest of the book is devoted to an extensive interpretation of the Apocalypse of Paul and its contexts, an enlargement of Kaler’s commentary in the aforementioned Laval edition. The five main sections expand on the following sentence: “The Apocalypse of Paul is a text (1) written in the late 2nd or early 3rd century by a gnostic (possibly Valentinian) author (2) showing the apostle Paul (3) as an apocalyptic hero (4) in order to authoritatively present a gnostic understanding of the cosmos and the Pauline writings” (5). This is, to my mind, the best treatment of the Apocalypse of Paul so far published. Birger A. Pearson University of California, Santa Barbara PARADISE RECONSIDERED IN GNOSTIC MYTHMAKING: RETHINKING SETHIANISM IN LIGHT OF THE OPHITE EVIDENCE. By Tuomas Rasimus. Nag Hammadi and Manichaean Studies, 68. Leiden, The Netherlands: Brill 2009. Pp. xx + 355; plates. $169.00. This book is a revised edition of the author’s 2006 dissertation, completed jointly at the University of Helsinki and Laval University in Canada. Part I is an introduction, wherein Rasimus presents the history of scholarship on the Ophites and Gnostic Sethianism. He argues that the “Sethian” system delineated by Schenke and others is only part of a larger whole, and the Ophite materials ought to be taken into account as part of a “Classic Gnostic” system. Part II is entitled “Myth and Innovation,” and compares the Ophite and Sethian speculations on the Serpent, the Creator and Archons, Sophia, and Adam and Christ. He argues for a “Sethianization” of earlier Ophite and Barbeloite myths. Part III is devoted to ritual. Rasimus considers the patristic evidence for Ophite snake worship, which he concludes is tendentious; Origen’s claim that the Ophites cursed Christ; and the evidence for Ophite rituals, which consists of both texts and amulets. While some of his arguments are not as convincing as others, for example, the connection he makes between Ophite traditions and the Corinthian opponents of Paul, there is much of value in this book, particularly for those interested in ancient Gnosticism and early Christian history. Birger A. Pearson University of California, Santa Barbara History of Christianity (Early) EARLY CHRISTIAN BOOKS IN EGYPT. By Roger S. Bagnall. Princeton, NJ: Princeton University Press, 2009. Pp. x + 110. $29.95. This book consists of four chapters, based on lectures delivered at the École Pratique des Hautes Études. The primary purpose is to critique the “self-enclosed character” of scholarship on early Christian books. At least three main assertions are made: Christian papyri dated to the second century are dated too early; Christians were not the cause of the emerging dominance of the codex; and Christian preference for the codex was likely because of Romanization by the church. Bagnall begins by noting how crucial the dating of papyri is to understanding early Christianity, but, because he finds dating hands to be too subjective, much of his discussion is based on probabilities and statistical models relating to manuscripts and their surrounding culture. The book’s most helpful contribution is the caution that scholarship on Christian papyri should not operate in isolation from papyrology in general because both areas of study have much to contribute to one another. But some of the book’s assertions and suggestions need to be examined in more detail before being accepted, especially because many are based on assumptions that need further reinforcement or debate. In such a short work, adapted from lectures, however, it is difficult to treat every argument in depth. In essence, Bagnall’s conclusion is that the earliest Christian papyri from Egypt came from the third century, when there is also more evidence of ecclesiastical hierarchy, and the use of the codex as the primary format for Scripture was a Latin influence handed down from the church in Rome. Amy M. Donaldson University of Notre Dame BIBLICAL ARGUMENT IN MANICHAEAN MISSIONARY PRACTICE: THE CASE OF ADIMANTUS AND AUGUSTINE. By J. A. van den Berg. Nag Hammadi and Manichaean Studies, 70. Leiden, The Netherlands: Brill, 2010. Pp. xii + 239. $147.00. In this revised Utrecht dissertation, van den Berg takes up the issue of biblical interpretation in Manichaeism as reflected especially in the work of the Manichaean missionary Adimantus, whose Disputationes is partially preserved in Augustine’s Contra Adimantum Manichaei discipulum, probably composed in late 393 or early 394. Van den Berg 154