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Tyndale Bulletin
Vol.50.1 (May 1999) |
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Articles
S. MOTYER (London Bible College)
N. KIUCHI (Tokyo Christian University)
D.A. DESILVA (Ashland Theological Seminary, Ohio)
J.W. OLLEY (Baptist Theological College, Western Australia)
J.R. HARRISON (Wesley Institute for Ministry and Arts, Sydney)
A. HUI (China Evangelical Seminary, Taipei)
M.A. SHIELDS (University of Sydney)
M. BONNINGTON (St John's College, Durham)
Dissertation Summaries
- T.L. WILDER
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- A.H. NICHOLS
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Abstracts
The Psalm quotations of Hebrews 1: A hermeneutic-free
zone?
- S. MOTYER (London Bible College)
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- The Old Testament quotations in Hebrews 1:5-13 pose a serious challenge to
an evangelical hermeneutic that seeks to be self-conscious and responsible in
its handling of biblical texts. These quotations appear, in contrast, wilful
and arbitrary in their application to Christ. Assuming that some kind of
hermeneutic steers them, even if it produces wilful and arbitrary results,
this essay reviews the various suggestions about its nature, and then proposes
a version of typology as the guiding hermeneutic - a version which might even
be termed 'deconstructionist' in its underlying rationale.
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Spirituality in offering a peace offering
- N. KIUCHI (Tokyo Christian University)
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- Study of the symbolic meaning of the offerings in Leviticus has been
hampered by the fact that the text rarely spells out the significance of the
rituals or rites. This study proposes an approach to the text of Leviticus
that, taking the peace offering as an example, investigates the motive of the
offerer. On the basis of explicit references in Leviticus 7:12 and 7:16 to
three kinds of motive it is argued that Leviticus 3 has the purpose of turning
the Israelites to the Lord, and that the shedding of blood symbolises the
atonement for general sinfulness. This leads to the conclusion that the motive
or purpose of an offerer and the ritual are inseparable, and that the
prescriptive text of Leviticus 3 itself assumes that the inner motive of an
offerer must be expressed outwardly in making a peace offering.
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Hebrews 6:4-8: A socio-rhetorical
investigation (Part 1)
- D.A. DESILVA (Ashland Theological Seminary, Ohio)
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- Socio-rhetorical interpretation pursues a richly textured exegesis of
Scripture through co-ordinating multiple methods of reading and investigating
texts. This interpretive model is put to the test as it is applied to Hebrews
6:4-8. In this, the first instalment of a two-part article, Hebrews 6:4-8 is
analysed within the contexts of classical rhetoric, Jewish and Graeco-Roman
intertexture, and prominent aspects of the first-century social and cultural
environment. This passage presents an argument 'from the contrary' supporting
the author's deliberative agenda of promoting commitment to Jesus and fellow
believers, drawing heavily on the social codes of patronage obligations as
well as a wide spectrum of intertextual resources. Perseverance is shown to be
the only just and expedient course of action, since it alone preserves
obligations of gratitude. Part 2 of this article (to appear in Tyndale
Bulletin 50.2) will examine the ideology promoted within the passage and how
it contributes to the author?s rhetorical goals. A final section will attempt
to answer the questions raised by the investigation of the social context of
ancient patronage for the appropriateness of such ideological constructs as
'eternal security' or 'unpardonable sin' when applied in an absolute sense to
the dynamic relationship between God and God's clients.
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Trust in the LORD?: Hezekiah, Kings and
Isaiah
- J.W. OLLEY (Baptist Theological College, Western Australia)
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- The Hezekiah narrative (2 Kings 18-20 // Isaiah 36-39) is unique in the
Former Prophets in its repeated use of batach 'trust, rely on'. An exploration
of the context and content of batach in the narrative and elsewhere in Isaiah,
Psalms, Proverbs and other prophetic literature points to a consistent pattern
of true and false grounds for 'trust'. In particular there is no basis in the
'inviolability of Zion'. The drama of the narrative is sharper in the context
of Isaiah and may have been shaped soon after Sennacherib's death, with
possible wisdom influence. At the same time, the redactor of Kings has seen
'trust' as a key feature in Hezekiah's reign. The relevance of the narrative
to readers of the canonical Kings and Isaiah is also considered. There is
significance for all in the worship of YHWH alone together with humble
obedience. It is his honour that is affirmed among the nations.
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Paul, eschatology and the Augustan age of
grace
- J.R. HARRISON (Wesley Institute for Ministry and Arts, Sydney)
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- This article proposes that Paul worked on two cultural fronts in
describing the reign of grace (Rom. 5:12-21) and the new creation (Rom.
8:18-39). Paul?s references to the 'two ages', the fall of Adam and the new
creation, were fundamental to Jewish apocalyptic eschatology. However, Paul's
language of grace in Romans 5, with its emphasis on excess and abundance,
would have evoked imperial associations. In the first century, the
eschatological age of Augustus marked a watershed in beneficence. Paul's point
to the Roman Christians was plain: Christ's grace surpassed the very best the
Caesars had to offer.
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The spirit of prophecy and Pauline
pneumatology
- A. HUI (China Evangelical Seminary, Taipei)
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- The present article assesses the relationship of the concept of the Spirit
of prophecy in Judaism to Pauline pneumatology. Since the functions and
effects of the Spirit of prophecy in Judaism are disputed, the scholarly
debate is reviewed, followed by a comparison of the Jewish concept and the
Pauline view of the Spirit, demonstrating points of commonality and
difference.
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Ecclesiastes and the end of
wisdom
- M.A. SHIELDS (University of Sydney)
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- Many readers of Ecclesiastes have contrived to discover orthodox meaning
for the words of Qohelet. An examination of two such readings reveals the
shortcomings of both and paves the way for an alternative understanding of the
book. Close analysis of the epilogue reveals that, although partially
favourable towards Qohelet himself, the epilogist is unequivocally critical of
the sages as a group. It appears that the epilogist may thus have employed
Qohelet's words in order to reveal the failure of the sages and warn their
prospective students to adhere to the commands of God. The book of
Ecclesiastes thus functions as a tract designed to discredit the wisdom
movement, using the sage Qohelet's own words in order to do so.
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Review article: Galatians, by Philip F.
Esler
- M. BONNINGTON (St John's College, Durham)
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- Philip Esler's new contribution to the Routledge NT Readings series is one
of the boldest and most comprehensive attempts to use social scientific
methods to shed new light on a NT text. In his study of Galatians, Esler
examines a letter that has been subject not only to much renewed theological
analysis in the light of the 'new perspective on Paul' but has also be a
central locus of rhetorical criticism.
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New Testament pseudonymity and deception
- T.L. WILDER
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- This study provides afresh an answer to the question: 'If pseudonymous
letters exist in the New Testament, what can be said about their intention and
reception?' Chapter 1 provides a survey of scholarship, which shows the need
for the present inquiry.
Three views currently dominate the issue: (1) they
were not written to deceive their readers regarding their authorship, but
nonetheless their readers were deceived; (2) they were not written to deceive
their readers, and they did not in fact do so; and (3) they were written to
deceive their readers and they were successful in doing so.
A fourth
alternative, standing in contrast to the previous three, is that no
pseudonymous works exist in the NT.
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Translating the Bible
- A.H. NICHOLS
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- Developments in translation theory have externalised processes used
intuitively by translators for centuries. The literature on Bible translation
in particular over the last half century is dominated by Eugene A. Nida and
his protégés in the United Bible Societies (UBS) and Wycliffe Bible
Translators whose work is informed by a wealth of inter-cultural
experience.
This thesis is a critique of the Dynamic Equivalence (DE)
theory of translation propounded by Nida, exemplified in the Good News Bible
(GNB), and promoted in non-Western languages by the UBS.
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