Secularism and Biblical Studies – Edited by Roland Boer

More seriously, by focusing solely on religion, he does notindex his tale to the vast changes under way in the compo-sition of the Roman aristocracy, studied to revolutionaryeffect by K.-J. Hölkeskamp. Nor does he explain why hestudies only cults imported through state action. Nonethe-less, this is a fine book that can be read with profit.

Clifford AndoUniversity of Chicago

THE IDEA OF IAMBOS. By Andrea Rotstein. Oxford:Oxford University Press, 2010. Pp. ix + 388; figures, tables.$135.00.

Ancient literary genres can be defined by the social andhistorical circumstances that gave rise to them, by theirperformance modes and contexts, and by metrical or otherformal criteria. Such definitions, however, do not remainstatic but shift in accordance with new needs and classifica-tions such as educational institutions or editorial practices.In this study, derived from her doctoral dissertation, Rot-stein tackles an old and particularly knotty question con-cerning the meaning of iambos, not in order to arrive at asingle definitive answer but, on the contrary, to trace theevolution of term and its shifting usage. The idea of iambusexhibits a striking development in which the corpus by poetswho are considered iambists, like Archilochus, embraces awide range of topics, performance settings, and formal fea-tures, yet the term is also used in a narrow sense to denotea specific metrical rhythm or to refer to poetry of invectiveand insult. Rotstein meticulously reviews the evidence fromthe earliest, seventh century BCE, to Aristotle in the Poetics,the Hellenistic scholar poets, and the late grammarians, toshow how Archilochus becomes the prototype for the genreof iambus and the poet of abuse and blame. Her monograph,in turn, provides a model for a complex and nuanced discus-sion of an ancient literary genre.

Jenny Strauss ClayUniversity of Virginia

ARBITRI NUGAE: PETRONIUS’ SHORT POEMS INTHE SATYRICA. By Aldo Setaioli. Studien zur klassischenPhilologie 165. Frankfurt am Main: Peter Lang, 2011.Pp. 433. $101.95.

The Satyrica is, apart from two papyrus fragments, theonly ancient “novel” which incorporates poems. Over thecourse of more than ten years, Setaioli has written a seriesof articles in Italian and Spanish publications on most ofthese poems individually, and in this book covers them all(except the two long poems delivered by a poetaster) in arevised English version. He has added a general introduc-tion and three appendices, one of which touches on analleged relationship between Petronius and the Gospel ofJohn’s account of a healing miracle, and another which ana-lyzes contacts between Petronius’ parodic and the Greeknovelists’ serious use of erotic topics. Many of the poemsembody the first-person narrator’s subsequent reflections,after a significant temporal gap on the events that he has

recounted. They are therefore part of the wider context,and are carefully analyzed by Setaioli in this light. He doesnot deal with the poems transmitted under Petronius’ nameby outside sources precisely because they lack a context,though he makes an exception for one. Setaioli displaysadmirable mastery both of relevant Greco–Roman texts andmodern bibliography, and offers thorough, balanced, andacute exegesis. My one criticism is that his defenses of thetransmitted text sometimes strain credulity; likewise in133.3.3-4, he favors a patently absurd “emendation” of anadmittedly corrupt text merely because of palaeographicalfacility. Unfortunately, there is no index that could havedirected the reader to, for example, “Epicureanism.”

Edward CourtneyUniversity of Virginia

CHALLENGES TO THE POWER OF ZEUS IN EARLYGREEK POETRY. By Norika Yasumura. London: BristolClassical Press, 2011 xi + 223. $80.00.

In the Homeric poems, Zeus reigns supreme as fatherof gods and men amid a somewhat unruly divine family.Hesiod’s Theogony recounts how Zeus came to power aftereither defeating or forming alliances with older divinities,deposing his father, and sharing power among the Olympi-ans. But even in Homer we find hints of more seriousthreats to Zeus’s rule in the possibility of a male heirmightier than his father or a rebellion on the part of theother Olympians, especially his wife Hera and his brotherPoseidon. Yasumura summarizes the work of scholars likeSlatkin on Thetis and the dangers of a successor to Zeus aswell as my own work on the Homeric Hymns whereboth Hera and Aphrodite pose challenges to Zeus’ssupremacy—although she does not deal with the Hymn toDemeter in which the goddess threatens not only Zeus butall the Olympians by blocking the venue of sacrifice. Lessconvincingly, the author attempts to link the Gigantomachyto Hera and Poseidon’s resistance to Zeus’s rule. Neitherthe poetic nor the visual record suggests that Zeus’s wife orbrother allied themselves with the Giants against him.Yasumura also does not deal with Zeus’s marital policies,which in many cases are intended to forestall potentialchallenges to his continued domination. Nevertheless,Yasumura offers a useful synthesis of a critical componentof early Greek theological thought.

Jenny Strauss ClayUniversity of Virginia

Christian OriginsSECULARISM AND BIBLICAL STUDIES. Edited byRoland Boer. London: Equinox, 2010. Pp. 219. Cloth, £60.00/$99.95; paper, £19.99/$34.95.

In this book, sixteen essays by different voices addressthe relationship between secularism and biblical studies.The first part, “Initial engagement at the forum,” has two

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articles (Fox; Berlinerblau) that situate the debate. Thesecond part gathers five articles (Boer; Stentröm; Lemche;Brett; Penner) that engage the thought-provoking manifestoadvanced by Boer. Penner’s article, “Is Boer Among theProphets? Transforming the Legacy of Marxian Critique,”stands out for its nuance and sophistication, which is lackingin the other contributions to this section. Hector Avalos pro-vides the first of four essays in Part 3 by developing andclarifying his plea to end biblical studies as we know it(other articles are contributed by Marchal, Omerzu, andChia). The final part opens with an excellent article byBlanton, “Neither Religious nor Secular: On Saving the Criticin Biblical-Criticism,” which joins Penner’s nuancing of thedifferent terms at stake. The book’s final four articles comefrom Conrad, Brenner, Amit, and Davies. As expected froman edited volume, the expertise level of the articles is unevenand, in this case, the approach of the subject is far fromunified. Indeed, one may question why some articles areincluded at all. In addition, there is a serious lack of effort tosituate the project as part of larger conversations takingplace in biblical studies and religious studies. In otherwords, the articles, as a whole, suffer from being under-theorized, and give the impression that the project is stillsearching for a point of anchor. Notwithstanding these flaws,some of the articles are stimulating and provocative enoughto warrant further scholarly attention.

Ronald CharlesUniversity of Toronto

HERMENEIA ON CD-ROM 2.0: NEW TESTAMENTINCLUDING CONTINENTAL COMMENTARIES.Minneapolis: Fortress Press, 2011. CD-ROM, $599.00.

The Hermeneia and the Continental Commentary seriesare well known to scholars of the Bible. As with any com-mentary series, the quality and utility of each individualvolume varies by virtue of the writer of each. Yet almostuniversally, these commentaries are recognized as attaininga high standard of historical critical scholarship and are wellworth consulting when one is researching biblical texts. For-tress Press has now made these commentaries availableelectronically for use within the Logos Bible Softwaresystem. Since print editions of individual volumes have beenreviewed upon publication, I will leave aside an assessmentof content and rather note features unique to the digitalversions. Commentaries on this CD-ROM include all 31volumes published to date in the Hermeneia New Testamentseries: biblical books including both old and new commen-taries on specific books (still missing are Ephesians, Philip-pians, 1-2 Thessalonians, 2 Peter, Jude, and Luke 10-24), TheSermon on the Mount, The Critical Edition of Q, The Didache,Ignatius of Antioch, Shepherd of Hermas, Odes of Solomon, 1Enoch 1 (1-36, 81-108), Fourth Ezra, and Apostolic Tradition.On screen, each commentary reflects the layout of the origi-nal print versions. Each section is provided with a freshtranslation and detailed exegetical commentary. The foot-notes appear in a pop-up dialogue box when using mouse

scroll over. Excursuses elaborate on particularly interestingpoints in the text. Within the text each biblical reference islinked to a version of the Bible, which opens up at that versewith a click (the default is the KJV, but other versions can beused if owned within Logos). Accessing the commentarieswithin Logos is fairly easy. All the titles appear in “MyLibrary” under the name of the commentary (usually thebiblical book treated), the name of the author, and under“Bible. NT Name of Book.” It would be nice had they also beencollected under the heading “Hermeneia,” but that is a minorirritant. Overall, the Hermeneia series integrates nicely intothe Logos system, which allows for customization of fontsize, color, style, and format as well as book marking and theaddition of notes. The commentary texts are also fullysearchable, and one can cut and paste text into a word pro-cessor with automatic footnoting. Fortress Press hasrecently announced the discontinuation of the CD-ROM infavor of electronic download through the Logos Bible Soft-ware site (http://www.logos.com/product/7756/hermeneia-new-testament), albeit for the same retail price. This is adefinite improvement, as it will allow for easier accessbeyond computers on devices such as iPads, tablets, andiPhones. For those who can afford it, this collection is a greattool for research. If you are planning to purchase the entireHermenia set, then this is the way to go, as it is muchcheaper than purchasing individual print editions and offersmuch more flexibility of use. Fortress also offers their entireHermenia collection (both testaments and the extras) forinstitutional use by four simultaneous users for $1750.Again, this is a worthwhile investment for those researchlibraries moving into digital resources.

Richard S. AscoughSchool of Religion, Queen’s University

ANTHROPOLOGY IN THE NEW TESTAMENT ANDITS ANCIENT CONTEXTS. Edited by Michael Labahnand Outi Lehtipuu. Contributions to Biblical Exegesis andTheology 54. Leuven: Peeters, 2010. Pp. xi + 256. Paper,€38.00.

This collection of German and English essays on Aristo-telian anthropology (as opposed to cultural or social anthro-pology) covers a number of topics: the nature of impurity inQumran (I. Fröhlich); ritual (im)purity among early Chris-tians (T. Holmén); the body in Paul (L. Scornaienchi); Paulineanthropology from a Greco–Roman perspective (M. Meiser);spirit, soul, and body in Philo and Paul (G. van Kooten);Gnostic understanding of the soul (P. Vähäkangas); religiousand philosophical conversion (M. Herrero de Jáuregui); spiri-tual and bodily resurrection (O. Lehtipuu); the anthropologyof grave inscriptions (I. Peres); the imagery of reciprocity inthe fourth gospel (M. Gruber); and the anthropology ofHebrews (W. Übelacker). The papers in this collection,though interesting individually, only loosely cohere as a col-lection. A more serious problem, in my opinion, is the title,which relies on an idiosyncratic use of the term “anthropol-


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ogy,” a term that carries quite a different meaning in theacademy than the one imagined in this book.

Zeba CrookCarleton University, Ottawa

STUDIES IN NEW TESTAMENT LEXICOGRAPHY:ADVANCING TOWARDS A FULL DIACHRONICAPPROACH WITH THE GREEK LANGUAGE. ByDavid S. Hasselbrook. WUNT II/303. Tübingen: MohrSiebeck, 2011. Pp. xxviii + 249. Paper, €64.00.

Following a path marked out by Caragounis (who builton foundations laid by Hatzidakis, Jannaris, and others), thisrevised dissertation seeks to fill a perceived void created byan approach to NT lexicography that limits its focus toAncient and Hellenistic Greek, arguing that a “thoroughlydiachronic approach that includes the later phases of theGreek language is needed to provide a more complete under-standing of the vocabulary of the New Testament.” Chapter 1surveys “The relation of Modern Greek to the New Testa-ment and sources of the Oral language,” while Chapter 2examines the sources and presentation format of NT lexi-cons. Chapter 3 presents a “full diachronic approach” foreight NT words (�κτρωμα , τρ γω� , παιδαγωγ ς� , καταϕιλ ω� ,προσϕ γ ιον� , � �ρεθ ζω, ε σακο ω� , καταλ ω ), and Chapter 4offers a final summary and assessment. Chapters 2 and 3gather a great deal of information from a collection ofsources that very few libraries will hold in its entirety(though the style and format of presentation at times canbe wearying to work through; one might well read thesummaries or conclusions before approaching the data). Theperspective this volume embodies is increasingly acknowl-edged, and those interested in it will find value here; thebook should be in every research library supportinggraduate-level study of the NT or other Hellenistic literaturein the original language.

Michael W. HolmesBethel University

TRADITIONS OF THE RABBIS FROM THE ERA OFTHE NEW TESTAMENT. VOLUME 2A. FEASTSAND SABBATHS: PASSOVER AND ATONEMENT.By David Instone-Brewer. Grand Rapids, MI: Eerdmans,2011. Pp. xviii + 382. Paper, $60.00.

Instone-Brewer’s book is Volume 2A in an ambitiousmultivolume work that seeks to collect and interpret rab-binic traditions dating to before the destruction of theTemple (70 CE) in order to explore their relevance for NTinterpretation. In this volume, he uses the methodology fordating laid out in the first, something of central importancefor his project. That methodology, which builds on the workof Neusner and others and views the Mishnah’s attributionsas generally reliable, will be the primary target for critics. Inthis volume, the first concerning the second order of theMishnah, Moed (festivals), Instone-Brewer focuses on tradi-tions regarding Sabbath observance, the Passover, theTemple Tax, and the Day of Atonement (Tractates Shabbat,

Pesachim, Sheqalim and Yoma, respectively). He provideseach tradition in unvocalized Hebrew with an English trans-lation along with comments, notes on dating (rating eachone), and sometimes a section about the tradition’s rel-evance for the NT. Throughout the work, Instone-Brewer’sknowledge of the literature is evident, and his many insightsinto pre-70 Judaism should be taken seriously. This workwill prove an invaluable starting point for any NT interpreterthat bears in mind the difficult and controversial nature ofdating rabbinic material.

Thomas AndersonLondon School of Theology

STONE AND DUNG, OIL AND SPIT: JEWISH DAILYLIFE IN THE TIME OF JESUS. By Jodi Magness. GrandRapids, MI: Eerdmans, 2011. Pp. xvi + 335. Paper, $25.00.

Magness uses archaeological and literary evidence tobring to light Jewish daily life in Palestine from the mid-firstcentury BCE through 70 CE. Although she demonstrates herown expertise on the Qumran site, she also draws upon awide range of archaeological studies and literary texts fromthe period (notably the NT texts and Josephus) and beyond(rabbinic writings) to illustrate “quotidian activities.” Fullchapters are devoted to bodily purity, food purity, householdvessels, dining, Sabbath, coins, clothing, “oil and spit,” toilet,and burial. Forty-eight black and white photographs anddrawings illustrate various points, though the inclusion of atopographical map of Palestine would have been nice. Attimes, Magness gets somewhat technical for the averageundergraduate (e.g., engaging interlocutors in debate overdetails). Elsewhere, her broad descriptions do not haveenough nuance for scholarly readers, although she doesinclude extensive footnotes (relegated to the end, thuskeeping the text uncluttered). Nevertheless, the book as awhole strikes the right balance to be useful both to studentand scholarly audiences. It will prove particularly effectiveas a textbook in courses on second temple Judaism, thehistorical Jesus, and the general context of the NT. Thisvolume is highly recommended.


APOCALYPSE AGAINST EMPIRE: THEOLOGIES OFRESISTANCE IN EARLY JUDAISM. By Anathea E.Portier-Young. Grand Rapids, MI: Eerdmans, 2011.Pp. xxiii + 462. Cloth, $50.00.

Portier-Young argues that Daniel, The Apocalypse ofWeeks, and the Book of Dreams are calls for resistance toAntiochus’s attempts to enforce his imperialistic ideology. InPart 1, she engages with recent literature on imperialisticideology and resistance and lays the theoretical groundworkfor the remainder of the book. Part 2 is a detailed and anengaging review of the imperialistic ideology of the Seleucidempire and in particular the actions of Antiochus IV Epiph-anes. Antiochus’s actions are not those of a madman ormerely the clash of two cultures. Rather, he engages in a


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reign of terror designed to de-create the Jewish people and tore-create his empire. Portier-Young challenges a number oflong standing views about Antiochus and the intersectionbetween Judaism and Hellenism. In Part 3, Portier-Youngshows how the three Jewish apocalypses oppose Antiochus’sclaims by presenting a counterview of the world and God’srule. This is a fascinating book that advances discussionsabout the Jewish apocalyptic literature, as well as openingnew pathways for thinking about the important events inJewish history of the second century BCE.

Jason MastonHighland Theological College UHI

CRUCIFIXION IN ANTIQUITY. By Gunnar Samuelsson.WUNT II/310. Tübingen: Mohr Siebeck, 2011. Pp. xxx + 357.Paper, €79.00.

This study pursues the claim that Jesus never died onthe cross. Though sensationalistic (especially in the hands ofthe media), the claim is ultimately anticlimactic and sober.Samuelsson investigates every instance of the language ofcrucifixion in ancient Greek, Latin, and Hebrew sources:Homer and Aesop, classical historians and philosophers,playwrights and orators, Hellenistic and Roman historians,ancient papyri, Roman philosophers and poets, as well astexts from the Hebrew Bible and Second Temple Jewish lit-erature, and finally the NT. Samuelsson asks six questions inthis work: What was the terminology of crucifixion? Whatpunishment do the terms describe? What words do the NTauthors use to describe the death of Jesus? How is crucifixiondefined by previous scholars? How have lexica defined theseterms? And finally, what is the best way to understand thepunishment of crucifixion? Samuelsson concludes thathowever Jesus died, it was not by being attached to a cross,and in fact the NT texts, properly understood, do not evenmake such a claim. This study is highly persuasive.

Zeba CrookCarleton University, Ottawa

JESUS AND THE HISTORIANS. By Alexander J. M. Wed-derburn. WUNT 269. Tübingen: Mohr Siebeck, 2010.Pp. xi + 383. Cloth, $197.50.

In this major work, Wedderburn continues his longtimeobsession with the historicity of the Jesus traditions; see, forexample the two slightly different evaluations of his earlierwork on Jesus’s resurrection in RSR 26 (2000) 375, whereinhe vigorously defends his historical agnosticism concerningthe Jesus traditions. Here, Wedderburn continues in thesame agnostic vein, discussing the old and new quests of thehistorical Jesus, with special attention paid to the views ofWright, Schüssler Fiorenza, Dunn, Denton, and McKnight.After expounding the functions of memory and oral formu-lations in the Biblical traditions, Wedderburn devotes achapter to the primal question: who did Jesus think he was?A Christological epilogue sums up his views. Dedicatedscholars will appreciate the nuances of Wedderburn’s ency-clopedic command of the primary and secondary literature

and his often-convincing arguments, even when he himselfadmits that many historical reconstructions can “never bemore than probable and provisional.” There is here no con-solation for Biblical fundamentalists.

Casimir BernasHoly Trinity Abbey

JESUS OF NAZARETH: AN INDEPENDENT HISTO-RIAN’S ACCOUNT OF HIS LIFE AND TEACHING. ByMaurice Casey. New York: T & T Clark, 2010. Pp. xvi + 560.Paper, $39.95.

The contents of this massive quest of the historical Jesus(for that is what it is) starts with a history of the “quest” andcontinues with a survey of the “historically reliable” sources,the historical method, the life and teaching of Jesus (hisunderstanding of God, exorcisms and healings, moral teach-ing), and conflicts with opponents, death, and resurrection?(with a question mark). Casey places his treatment of theGospel of John in an appendix along with the Gospel ofThomas, the Gospel of Philip, the Secret Gospel of Mark, andother sources that are not “historically reliable.” Anyonefamiliar with Casey’s previous writings will be prepared forthe general thrust of this volume (see for example, RSR 19[1993] 165), namely a general skepticism toward any formof supernaturalism in the sources. There is an immenseamount of valuable information in the volume, but readerswho are scholars and at the same time committed to a reli-gious tradition will consider themselves as “independent” asCasey; after all, there is no such thing as value-free interpre-tation, and empathy is no hindrance but is rather a help ininterpreting religious texts.


THE MYSTERY OF THE LAST SUPPER: RECON-STRUCTING THE FINAL DAYS OF JESUS. By Colin J.Humphreys. New York: Cambridge University Press, 2011.Pp. xiii + 244. Cloth, $75.00; Paper, $24.99.

The author, a professor and research director in theDepartment of Metallurgy at the University of Cambridge,attempts to reconcile the divergent dates of the crucifixionand Last Supper in the Synoptic Gospels (it is presented asthe Passover meal) and the Gospel of John (it is eaten thenight prior to the Passover). For Humphreys, both are right:in John, Jesus uses the official sunset-to-sunset lunar calen-dar for his Last Supper, a calendar adopted from the Baby-lonians. The Synoptics, on the other hand, have Jesus usinga different calendar, also lunar, but this time sunrise-to-sunrise, based on an Egyptian religious system mentioned inthe Book of Exodus; a calendar used by Samaritans andothers, and hence not an anomaly if also used by Jesus. Withthe help of Oxford astrophysicist G. Waddington, Hum-phreys also reconstructs the exact dates for the Last Supper(Wednesday, April 1, 33 CE) and crucifixion (Friday, April 3,33 CE). Humphreys’s solutions may prove attractive toreaders who demand from the Bible an absolute accuracy in


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matters even calendrical; but for readers who accept that theBible can manipulate history in the service of theology (orwho deny outright that the Last Supper was a Passovermeal), such solutions are irrelevant.


THE MESSIAH, HIS BROTHERS, AND THENATIONS (MATTHEW 1.1-17). By Jason B. Hood.Library of New Testament Studies 441. New York: T & TClark, 2011. Pp. xii + 193. Cloth, $110.00.

In a revision of his doctoral thesis (Highland TheologicalCollege and University of Aberdeen 2009), Hood proposes anew interpretation of elements in the still-vexing genealogyof Mt 1:1-17: why does Matthew add “and his brothers” to thenames of Judah and Jechoniah in 1:2 and 1:11? In addition,why are four Gentile women mentioned in 1:3, 5-6? To solvethese problems, Hood studies the literary background andcharacteristics and functions of Biblical genealogies, as wellas previous interpretations of the texts in question. His ownsolution: the Biblical texts show both Judah and Jechoniah assacrificing themselves in service to their “brothers,” in orderto further the restoration of Israel. As such, they manifest atrait similar to that of Jesus, who is God’s agent in the res-toration of the new Israel. As for Tamar, Rahab, Ruth, andUriah, they are mentioned because they are Gentiles, notbecause they are women! As Gentiles, they point to the uni-versal mission of the Messiah, a mission that concludes thestory of the true Israel. Hood’s solutions are attractive andcertainly worthy of consideration.


A COMPARATIVE HANDBOOK TO THE GOSPEL OFMARK: COMPARISONS WITH PSEUDEPIGRAPHA,THE QUMRAN SCROLLS, AND RABBINIC LITERA-TURE. Edited by Bruce Chilton, Darrell Bock, Daniel M.Gurtner, Jacob Neusner, Lawrence H. Schiffman, and DanielOden. The New Testament Gospels in Their Judaic Contexts1. Leiden: Brill, 2010. Pp. xii + 596. Cloth, $247.00.

In contrast to Strack and Billerbeck’s influential Kom-mentar zum Neuen Testament aus Talmud und Midrasch,which viewed the Judaism of Mark’s epoch as unitary andrepresented in the rabbinic literature, the book under con-sideration is keenly aware of the diversity of Judaism in thesecond Temple period and beyond. The book, edited by anumber of established scholars, presents comparative textsfrom the Pseudepigrapha, Josephus and Philo, the QumranScrolls, and rabbinic literature (organized by pericope inMarkan order). Each body of literature covered in the volumeis given a useful introduction. Each section includes a newtranslation of the Markan pericope, references to relevanttexts from the Hebrew Bible and Apocrypha, the texts ofcomparative passages, and finally comments from theeditors often containing Aramaic retroversion for compara-tive purposes. These comments are designed to provide

analysis for commentators while not giving interpretationsof the passages. Appendices on rabbinic rules of interpreta-tion, the Son of Man and Jesus, rabbi as a title of Jesus, andsynagogues, are brief but valuable additions that highlightimportant themes emerging from the literature. Anystudent, scholar, or institution that recognizes the impor-tance of Mark’s Judaic context for interpretation will findthis volume indispensable.

Thomas M. AndersonLondon School of Theology

MARK 8-16: A NEW TRANSLATION WITH INTRO-DUCTION AND COMMENTARY. By Joel Marcus. TheAnchor Yale Bible 27A. New Haven: Yale University Press,2009. Pp. lx + 573-1182. Cloth, $55.00.

The format of this second volume of Marcus’s Marktranslation and commentary in the Anchor Yale Bible Seriesis that of the series: translation, then notes (textual, gram-matical, exegetical), and finally commentary aimed atexplaining the historical, literary, and theological meaningof the passage. Marcus maintains his view that a Jewish/Gentile mixed community in the era of the Jewish War(66-73 CE) is the Sitz im Leben of the Gospel, something thathe mentions throughout. He draws on the suffering servantmotif of Deutero-Isaiah to make sense of the gospel’s secondhalf, which transitions from the powerful acts of healing thatcharacterize the first half to an emphasis on the suffering ofJesus and his followers. Mark also adapts the Jewish apoca-lyptic hope for an act of divine liberation and claims that acthappens surprisingly in Jesus’s death, an event that Marcusinterprets eschatologically. Marcus’s grasp of ancient Jewishand Greek sources is evident, and he provides many inter-esting and relevant parallels. He interacts with interpretersfrom throughout the history of interpretation and oftenoffers interesting theological reflections. This volume is asignificant achievement in Markan scholarship and will be avaluable resource for students, pastors, and scholars alike.

Thomas AndersonLondon School of Theology

THE DANIELIC ESCHATOLOGICAL HOUR IN THEJOHANNINE LITERATURE. By Stefanos Mihalios.Library of New Testament Studies 436. London: T & T Clark,2011. Pp. xiv + 209. Cloth, $120.00.

This book is an important contribution to the study ofthe Hebrew Bible background to the Gospel of John. Takingthe Johannine motif of the “hour” (hôra), Mihalios arguesthat its biblical setting lies in the eschatological concept ofthe hour in the Book of Daniel. The author first examines thenotion of eschatological time in the Hebrew Bible, includingDaniel, and also in other Jewish literature, concluding that itis associated particularly with ideas of judgment and resur-rection. Mihalios then examines the usage of the “hour” infour passages in the Gospel of John. This motif is found incontexts relating to the eschatological temple (John 4:21,23); judgment and eternal life (John 5:25, 28); Jesus’s own


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death and resurrection as eschatological fulfillment (John12:23, 37); and eschatological tribulation (John 16:16-33).From there, the book examines the first Johannine epistleand its more general eschatological themes linked to idea of“the last hour” (1 John 2:18). Overall, the book is well orga-nized and well written, fluid and lucid in style, and persua-sive in argument. It is a helpful and illuminating study thatcontributes well to our understanding of the Hebrew Biblebackground of the Fourth Gospel, elucidating the particularemphases of Johannine eschatology.

Dorothy A. LeeMCD University of Divinity, Melbourne, Australia

THE JEWISH WORLD AROUND THE NEW TESTA-MENT. By Richard Bauckham. Grand Rapids, MI: BakerAcademic, 2010. Pp. 560. Paper, $60.00.

Bauckham’s book, originally published in Mohr Sie-beck’s WUNT series, is a collection of articles treating theimportance of second Temple Judaism and its literature forunderstanding the NT. The book’s 23 studies, written andpublished between 1976 and 2008, explore the importanceof “extra-canonical” Jewish literature for reconstructing thebackground of the NT. While he argues for continuitybetween second Temple Judaism and early Christianity, healso holds that early Jewish literature must be understood inits own right before being used to understand the NT. Thisresults in a diverse collection of articles: some contribute tothe understanding of early Judaism and its literature (TheRise of Apocalyptic; Josephus’ Account of the Temple; Cov-enant, Law and Salvation in the Jewish Apocalypses), whilesome use that literature to illuminate NT texts (The Rel-evance of Extra-Canonical Jewish Texts to New TestamentStudy; The Restoration of Israel in Luke-Acts; The Horariumof Adam, and the Chronology of the Passion). Though somemay question the degree to which Bauckham sees continuitybetween early Jewish and Christian texts, his many insightsdeserve consideration. This important volume, now availablein a North American paperback edition, belongs in anyserious NT library.

Thomas M. AndersonLondon School of Theology

APOSTELDEKRET UND ANTIKES VEREINSWE-SEN: GEMEINSCHAFT UND IHRE ORDNUNG. Editedby Markus Öhler. WUNT 195. Tübingen: Mohr Siebeck,2011. Pp. viii + 411. Cloth, €114.00.

The product of a 2009 conference in Vienna, this volumeexamines the apostolic decree of Acts 15 from a variety ofperspectives. The essays are in two broad groups. The firstset treats the decree itself: the Judean context of the decree(F. Avemarie; H. Lohr; L.T. Stuckenbruck); the historical cir-cumstances that elicited the decree (W. Pratscher); the theo-logically integrative function (or effect) of the apostolicdecree at the level of canon formation (M. Klinghardt); acomparison on the decree in Acts with parallel develop-ments such as the Didache (M. Myllykoski); and the influ-

ence (or lack of influence) of the decree on later ecclesialpractice. What is most innovative about the volume is thesecond part and the efforts to place early Christian practicein the context of Greco–Roman associative behavior: A. Guts-feld discusses the integrative functions of associations inrelation to civic society; J. Steinhauer surveys cult-groupsassociated with the Egyptian deities in Greece; A. Bendlin’sessay on the cultores Dianae et Antinoi provides both a newreading of the texts and a superb discussion; R. Ascoughuses data from associations to argue that in Acts 15, Lukepresents Christ’s groups as “good Romanized members ofsociety whose association poses no threat to the establishedRoman ordo” (313); E. Ebel argues that formulation of theApostolic decree as a response to internal conflict is paral-leled in pagan associations; and M. Öhler’s essay continueshis work detailing numerous points of comparison betweenLuke’s representation of the early church and associations.This is a must-read for anyone interested in Luke–Acts or thesocial history of the Jesus Movement.

John S. KloppenborgDepartment for the Study of Religion, University of

Toronto

PERFECT MARTYR: THE STONING OF STEPHENAND THE CONSTRUCTION OF CHRISTIAN IDEN-TITY. By Shelly Matthews. New York: Oxford UniversityPress, 2010. Pp. viii + 226. Cloth, $65.00.

This sophisticated and powerful study focuses on therole played by the martyrdom of Stephen in constructingChristian identity. Beginning with a critical overview of con-temporary scholarship, Matthews concludes that Luke–Actsneither challenges Roman imperial values nor is positivetoward Jews. Her arguments are based on astute exegesis oftexts and attention to historical context, including the rise ofMarcion-like convictions. She then examines Stephen’sstory in Acts 6-7, reading it alongside other early martyrdomliterature, including the martyrdom of James, to clarify theparticular rhetorical strategies in Acts. For Matthews, Acts isunique in highlighting both the unrelenting animosity ofJews toward Jesus-followers and the lack of violent opposi-tion to them by the state. The narrative thus establishes thedifference between nonbelieving Jews and Jesus-followersfrom an imperial perspective. Stephen’s story effectivelycontinues and emphasizes Luke’s pattern, which portraysJews negatively and Christians as remarkably merciful. Mat-thews’s careful, honest, and detailed work is persuasive andchallenging. She detaches Stephen from discussions of his-toricity and makes an excellent case for his narrative por-trayal in opposition to the violent Jews, also detached fromhistory and fabricated by the Acts narrative. The book is acompelling turning point in discussions of Jewish–Christianrelations in Acts. Anyone with interest in how one groupconstructs itself in opposition to another, both in scriptureand in present contexts, should read it.

Sarah HenrichLuther Seminary


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PAUL AND THE SECOND CENTURY. Edited byMichael F. Bird and Joseph R. Dodson. Library of New Tes-tament Studies 412. London: T & T Clark, 2011. Pp. xii + 270.Cloth, $140.00.

The thirteen essays collected here, each summarized byDodson in the introduction, explore the impact of Paul onChristian groups and writings in the second century. S. Porteroutlines the major theories on the development of the corpusPaulinum. C. Smith examines the Pauline influence on Igna-tius and M. Holmes that on Polycarp. Bird gives an expansivelist of intertextual references between the Ad Diognetumand the Pauline letter collection. Marcion’s “(mis)construal”of Paul regarding theology and praxis is examined by T. Still.While P. Foster denies a perceivable Pauline influence onJustin, N. Perrin investigates Paul’s high standing among theValentinians. J. Willitts argues that Torah-observant JewishChristians are not essentially anti-Pauline. A. Gregory drawsa comparison of the Acts of Paul with the canonical Acts andthe corpus Paulinum. Irenaeus’s image of Paul is discussed byB. Blackwell, while A. Bain gives an extended overview of thereception of Paul in Tertullian. P. Hogan discusses howwomen were influenced by Paul to adopt unconventionalpublic roles, and M. Elliott describes the “triumph of Paulin-ism” around 200 AD. Although the research draws on a widevariety of sources, consideration of Acts as a second centurycomposition, a recently revived theory, would help round outthe discussions. Moreover, the image of Paul that serves asthe basis of comparison for the individual authors is nottransparent in some essays (Is it Paul of the undisputedletters or the whole NT?). Nevertheless, this welcome contri-bution to the reception history of Paul is recommended foradvanced students and scholars.

Nathanael LükeTechnische Universität Dresden

GREENING PAUL: READING THE APOSTLE IN ATIME OF ECOLOGICAL CRISIS. By David G. Horrell,Cherryl Hunt, and Christopher Southgate. Waco, TX: BaylorUniversity Press, 2010. Pp. ix + 333. Paper, $34.95.

Greening Paul is a collaborative work between a sea-soned biblical scholar (Horrell) and two British scientists(Hunt and Southgate) with great interests in ecologicalstudies. The book purports to offer an ecologically motivatedrereading of Paul’s letters in order to show that contempo-rary ethical questions and ecological values can benefit andbe informed by Paul.

The book starts off with a very helpful survey of differ-ent methods that have emerged out of an engagement of theBible in relation to ecological and environment issues. Theauthors move away from both a naïve understanding ofthe Bible as being environmentally friendly, and the Bible asbeing fundamentally opposed to any ecological agenda. Thesecond chapter clarifies the approach that informs theauthors’ investigation. The third and fourth chapter exploreRomans 8:19-23 and Colossians 1:15-20 as key Pauline textsthat inform the apostle’s narrative framework with regard to

his engagement with ecology. The book, as a whole, is inter-esting and does not resort to simplistic answers and clichés,but at times one feels that the different authorial voices arestill not in agreement, even if they hope to speak as onevoice. Also, it is true that one should not judge a book by itscover, but the cover of this book does not do justice to itscontent. The cover, and to a certain extent the title as well,gives the vague impression that this is just another fluffybook on the environment with the Bible as its pretext,whereas this book’s content is aimed at scholars and is sup-ported by solid research.

Ronald CharlesUniversity of Toronto

EPHESIANS. By Lynn H. Cohick. New Covenant Commen-tary Series. Eugene, OR: Cascade Books, 2010. Pp. xiii + 176.Paper, $22.00.

Cohick’s Ephesians offers balanced scholarly insightswith comments aimed at practical contextualization. Thisvolume is well suited for undergraduate students, pastors,and anyone else looking for a strong introductory presenta-tion of the Ephesians epistle. The author transliterates Greekterms for readers unfamiliar with the original language ofEphesians, and offers indexes to help its readers navigatethrough the text easily. Cohick provides a strong presenta-tion of the discussions surrounding Pauline authorship ofEphesians, as well as an excellent historical survey of pseud-onymity in the Greco–Roman world. Throughout her exami-nation of the text of Ephesians, she does well in coveringrelevant grammatical, historical, and theological discussionsin a way that will not overwhelm readers who may beapproaching the epistle for the first time, while also offeringinsight to those familiar with some of the issues. This bookavoids being bogged down with some of the tedious scholarlydiscussions found in commentaries aimed at a moreadvanced audience. While it would have been helpful toinclude a subject index for its readers, one would be hardpressed to find a better bargain among Ephesians’ commen-taries written for a diverse spectrum of readers.

Justin G. WinzenburgLondon School of Theology

THE CONCEPT OF THE MESSIAH IN THE SCRIP-TURES OF JUDAISM AND CHRISTIANITY. By ShirleyLucass. Library of Second Temple Studies 78. New York: T &T Clark, 2011. Pp. xv + 236. Cloth, $110.00.

In this unheralded but exciting treatise, Lucass com-presses in very few pages a vast amount of information on adisputed subject of immense importance to Christians andJews alike. The chapter “Jewish Writers in Dialogue” cata-logues the classic objections of Klausner, Sandmel, Vermes,and Maccoby to Jesus as Messiah. Lucass counters by notingsimilarities between Jewish and Christian messianism in theNT period: Both expected spiritual as well as physical ben-efits from the coming of the Messiah—in the future, if not thepresent—and kingship in the Ancient Near East, including


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Israel, which is one neglected key to the Messianic characterof Jesus. In this marvelous summary of messianic expecta-tions, Lucass would have strengthened her case even more ifshe had used D. Boyarin’s Border Lines: The Partition ofJudaeo-Christianity (University of Pennsylvania Press, 2004),wherein even the Logos theology of John finds precedents inJewish thinking.


THE PEOPLE’S JESUS: TRAJECTORIES IN EARLYCHRISTIANITY. By Robin Scroggs. Edited by Marshall D.Johnson. Minneapolis: Fortress Press, 2011. Pp. xiii + 241.Paper, $29.00.

Scroggs goes behind the actual NT authors (the “elite”)in order to discover (using the methods of form-criticism) thefaith of the little people, the ordinary believers of the Helle-nistic communities, whose faith formed the basis of NTliterature—a faith which in turn was concretized andexpressed in these same writings. The important “trajecto-ries” (here harking back to Scroggs’s earlier writings) arethreefold: Son of Man, Christos, and Cosmocrator (Jesus asLord of the universe). They are trajectories because they arebeliefs that stretched over time and place and underwentdevelopment. Titles of Christ, hymns, and other fragmentaryformulas employed by the little people of the Hellenisticcommunities tell more about the beliefs of the early churchthan the later writings themselves, and in turn lead back tothe beliefs of the still-earlier Palestinian communities,leading us closer to the faith of Jesus himself. For Scroggs,however, the true origin of NT theologies (deliberatelyplural) and Christologies are to be found in the faith of earlyChristians in Jesus, not the faith of Jesus—thereby indicatingwhere the true starting point of development is to be found.Scrogg’s final book is a winner; it should not be missed byany serious student of the New Testament.


THE EARLIEST HISTORY OF THE CHRISTIANGATHERING: ORIGIN, DEVELOPMENT ANDCONTENT OF THE CHRISTIAN GATHERING INTHE FIRST TO THIRD CENTURIES. Valeriy A. Alikin.Supplements to Vigiliae Christianae 102. Leiden: Brill, 2010.Pp. xvii + 342. Cloth, €119.00/$169.00.

This revised dissertation (Leiden, 2009) investigateshow early Christian communities in the first through thirdcenturies adopted and adapted practices of Greco–Romanassociations, with particular attention to banqueting. Thefirst chapter compares and contrasts the dining practices ofvoluntary, cult, Jewish, and Christian associations andtraces how Sunday became the preferred time for Christiansto gather in houses for communal meals. First and earlysecond century itinerant officers gave way to sedentary offic-ers, with the eventual predominance of bishops. Althoughoriginally meeting in the evening, by the second century

Christian groups began gathering on Sunday morning tohold services of prayer and singing before work (Chapter 2).The Lord’s Supper (“Eucharist”) continued to be shared inthe evening until the end of the second century, when itshifted to the morning and took on sacramental characteris-tics (Chapter 3). The reading of scripture at gatherings islinked to similar practices at post-banquet symposia(Chapter 4), as are the origins of preaching (Chapter 5), andsinging and prayer (Chapter 6), while other Christian ritualsare linked to association practices (Chapter 7). Overall, thisbook is an important step forward in the study of earlyChristian communities and liturgical development, buildingon foundational work on associative practices and the cen-trality of meals in the Greco–Roman world.


SAINT PETER: THE UNDERESTIMATED APOSTLE.By Martin Hengel. Translated by Thomas H. Trapp. GrandRapids, MI: Eerdmans, 2010. Pp. xiv + 161. Paper, $18.00.

To the review of the German original (see RSR 33 [2007],157) the following apposite comments are appended. ForHengel, the promise to Peter in Matt 16:17-9 is redactional.The evangelist known as Matthew is an unknown Christianscribe. No written testimonies stem from Jesus himself. TheLetters of Peter are pseudonymous, as are the PastoralEpistles (which probably stem from the time of Ignatius).Peter’s authority in the early church stems from his role as aconveyer of traditions about Jesus; there was no “office ofPeter” that survived him (Peter’s undoubted personal cha-risma was shared by no one else). The figure of Peter, con-trary to the convictions of many moderns, really does standbehind the Gospel of Mark. Peter’s walking on water and thetemple-tax pericope are legends. James was the point ofdeparture for the monarchical episcopate. Luke was prob-ably a “God-fearer.” Peter’s wife accompanied him on mis-sionary journeys. There must have been a connectionbetween Peter and the unknown Jewish founders of thechurch at Rome. In short, this is another extraordinary syn-thetic treatise by a master of twentieth-century NT studies.


History of ChristianityCHRISTIAN PEOPLES OF THE SPIRIT: A DOCU-MENTARY HISTORY OF PENTECOSTAL SPIRITU-ALITY FROM THE EARLY CHURCH TO THEPRESENT. Edited by Stanley M. Burgess. New York: NewYork University Press, 2011. Pp. vii + 311. Cloth, $79.00;paper, $25.00.

Burgess’s compilation of primary documents from theearly church to the present is an important contribution to thestudy of the Holy Spirit’s presence and activity throughoutthe ages. A work of this magnitude runs the risk of being too


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Documents

Secularism and Biblical Studies – Edited by Roland Boer