In this lucid expose the second letter to the Thessalonians is approached from a historical perspective. The letter is read as part of a process of communication between its sender and the original addressees, making it accessible to the modern reader.
2 Thessalonians includes a translation of the short Greek text; an historical examination of the letter's genre, authorship and religious milieu; an introduction to apocalyptic eschatology and an extensive commentary on the letter.
Maarten Menken's book will appeal to theologians, ministers of religion, students of theology and...

This study approaches the Epistle to the Ephesians in a radically different way from traditional commentaries. Rather than analysing each individual verse, Martin Kitchen examines the complete text within the framework of contemporary biblical criticism. He acknowledges the debt which biblical studies owes to historical method, while at the same time recognizing the need to view the Epistle against the background of recent literary approaches to New Testament texts. Ephesians also takes into account the important questions of whether the Epistle was written by St Paul and, if not,...

This study approaches the Epistle to the Ephesians in a radically different way from traditional commentaries. Rather than analysing each individual verse, Martin Kitchen examines the complete text within the framework of contemporary biblical criticism. He acknowledges the debt which biblical studies owes to historical method, while at the same time recognizing the need to view the Epistle against the background of recent literary approaches to New Testament texts. Ephesians also takes into account the important questions of whether the Epistle was written by St Paul and, if not,...

John's Gospel is an innovative study which shows how the current plurality of literary methodologies can be used effectively to illuminate the text of the fourth gospel. Dr Stibbe, the well-respected author of three previous volumes on St John, uses the methods of structuralism, deconstructionism and narrative criticism in his interpretation. A detailed introduction makes his book accessible to the non-specialist.
The book is an invaluable guide to John's Gospel for all those interested in the Bible as literature. It is important reading for all theologians, students of...

John's Gospel is an innovative study which shows how the current plurality of literary methodologies can be used effectively to illuminate the text of the fourth gospel. Dr Stibbe, the well-respected author of three previous volumes on St John, uses the methods of structuralism, deconstructionism and narrative criticism in his interpretation. A detailed introduction makes his book accessible to the non-specialist.
The book is an invaluable guide to John's Gospel for all those interested in the Bible as literature. It is important reading for all theologians, students of...

A fresh assessment of the workings of animal symbolism in diverse cultures. Based on first-hand field research among peoples as dissimilar as the Mongolian nomads, Aboriginal Australians, Inuit hunters and the cultivators of Africa and Papua New Guinea, this study reconsiders the concept of totemism and exposes common fallacies in symbolic interpretation.

Reading the New Testament is the lead volume to the successful New Testament Readings Series. It analyzes the many ways in which the New Testament can be read and interpreted.
Rather than prescribing one 'correct' way of reading, this study offers an overview of and introduction to the most influential theories of recent scholarship, discussing the background against which such theories are developed. It shows the advantages of combining methods of reading, thus stimulating an interaction between various approaches, illustrated by the individual volumes in the...

Reading the New Testament is the lead volume to the successful New Testament Readings Series. It analyzes the many ways in which the New Testament can be read and interpreted.
Rather than prescribing one 'correct' way of reading, this study offers an overview of and introduction to the most influential theories of recent scholarship, discussing the background against which such theories are developed. It shows the advantages of combining methods of reading, thus stimulating an interaction between various approaches, illustrated by the individual volumes in the...

The Epistle of James raises particular historical problems about the origins of Christianity and its relation to contemporary Judaism. This text contextualizes the Epistle of James within the canon of Scripture and analyzes the historical context of James. The Epistle of James includes a considerable range of types of material, aphorisms, parabolic sayings, prophetic oracles, apocalyptic statements, interpretation of the law and ethical parensis. Richard Bauckham explores the different types of material included in the text and demonstrates how a close appreciation of these literary aspects...

Paul's Letter to the Galatians is central to the understanding of the relation of Paul and the law, and contains important historical, social and theological material. This book provides a detailed interpretation of the text, drawing on contemporary and modern literary models. It outlines the problems often associated with reading Galatians, the context of the text, its rhetoric, and its intercultural and social implications.