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Beverly Roberts Gaventa (ed.), Apocalyptic Paul: Cosmos and Anthropos in Romans 5-8 (Baylor University Press, 2013).

Abstract

"Romans 5-8 revolve around God's dramatic cosmic activity and its implications for humanity and all of creation. Apocalyptic Paul measures the power of Paul's rhetoric about the relationship of cosmic power to the Law, interpretations of righteousness and the self, and the link between grace and obedience. A revealing study of Paul's understanding of humanity in light of God's apocalyptic action through Jesus Christ, Apocalyptic Paul illuminates Romans 5-8 and shows how critical this neglected part of Romans was to Paul's literary project."--Publisher description.

"Romans 5-8 are explored, pressed, and at times―as they should be―simply celebrated. Every reader interested in Paul will benefit from this interplay of theology, exegesis, and subtle intertextuality, threaded through with church tradition. Perhaps most importantly, many of the apostle's most powerful and challenging thoughts are on display here at the hands of some of his most significant and gifted current interpreters."--Douglas A. Campbell, Associate Professor of New Testament, Duke Divinity School

"This volume brings us into the company of seasoned Pauline scholars focused on the center of Paul's Epistle to the Romans. The conversation among these experts all sympathetic (though not all in the same way) to the designation of Paul as an 'apocalyptic' figure, reveals richly informed engagement with the text and honest wrestling with the large questions of cosmology and anthropology raised by Romans 5-8. Altogether the essays in this volume stand as a profoundly stimulating, challenging, crucial, and timely contribution to the conversation about Paul's interpretation of the gospel in what remains for the time being contested territory."―-Alexandra Brown, Jessie Ball duPont Professor of Religion, Washington and Lee University

"We are indebted to Beverly Gaventa for this fine collection. This is an unusually strong series of studies by respected Paul scholars that should be of interest to anyone preaching and teaching from Romans, especially Romans 5-8."-―A. Katherine Grieb, Professor of New Testament, Virginia Theological Seminary

"...this handsomely presented volume is surely welcome as an excellent sampling of the rich interpretive possibilities of apocalyptic for coming to grips with the cosmic dimensions of Paul's thought, not only in Rom 5–8 but in his letters in general. It will serve well as an introduction to apocalyptic for advanced students of Paul and as a scholarly contribution to the theological interpretation of Romans."―-Timothy Gombis, Grand Rapids Theological Seminary, Review of Biblical Literature

"A fine introduction to the apocalyptic Paul."―-Michael J. Gorman, St. Mary's Seminary and University, Interpretation

"Treat yourself to the complexity of this volume, but do so with your favorite translation of Romans 5-8 close in hand, never far from the artistry of Paul's narrative and the complexity of his own voice[Gaventa's collection] is a rich feast for those who hunger to learn ― and be challenged ― in our ongoing conversation with the Apostle Paul."-―Sean Miller, Pastor of Potomac Presbyterian Church, The Presbyterian Outlook

"This book is a fantastic addition to Pauline and New Testament studies...All scholars, pastors, and students will find this book to be both intellectually stimulating and a helpful aid."-―Jared Brown, Wheaton Blog

"On the whole, Apocalyptic Paul provides insightful reflection on the cosmological and anthropological implications of Paul's argument in Romans 5–8, while providing plenty of avenues for further contemplation of the letter more generally. Anyone who engages with these essays will enter into a conversation of lasting importance for Pauline studies."―-Eric Lewellen, Scottish Journal of Theology

"This volume brings us into the company of seasoned Pauline scholars focused on the center of Paul's Epistle to the Romans. The conversation among these experts all sympathetic (though not all in the same way) to the designation of Paul as an 'apocalyptic' figure, reveals richly informed engagement with the text and honest wrestling with the large questions of cosmology and anthropology raised by Romans 5-8. Altogether the essays in this volume stand as a profoundly stimulating, challenging, crucial, and timely contribution to the conversation about Paul's interpretation of the gospel in what remains for the time being contested territory."--Alexandra Brown, Jessie Ball duPont Professor of Religion, Washington and Lee University

"Romans 5-8 are explored, pressed, and at times―as they should be―simply celebrated. Every reader interested in Paul will benefit from this interplay of theology, exegesis, and subtle intertextuality, threaded through with church tradition. Perhaps most importantly, many of the apostle's most powerful and challenging thoughts are on display here at the hands of some of his most significant and gifted current interpreters."-- Douglas A. Campbell, Associate Professor of New Testament, Duke Divinity School

"We are indebted to Beverly Gaventa for this fine collection. This is an unusually strong series of studies by respected Paul scholars that should be of interest to anyone preaching and teaching from Romans, especially Romans 5-8."--A. Katherine Grieb, Professor of New Testament, Virginia Theological Seminary.

Editions

Published by Baylor University Press, 2013.

Contents

• Paul's mythologizing program in Romans 5-8, by Martinus C. de Boer
• Righteousness, cosmic and microcosmic, by Stephen Westerholm
• A tale of two gardens: Augustine's narrative interpretation of Romans 5, by Benjamin Myers
• Under Grace: The Christ-gift and the construction of a Christian Habitus, by John M.G. Barclay
• The Shape of the "I": the Psalter, the Gospel, and the speaker in Romans 7, by Beverly Roberts Gaventa
• Double Participation and the responsible self in Romans 5-8, by Susan Eastman
• The Love of God is a sovereign thing: the witness of Romans 8:31-39 and the Royal Office of Jesus Christ, by Philip G. Ziegler
• Creation, Cosmos, and Conflict in Romans 8-9, by Neil Elliott
• Afterword: The Human Moral Drama, J. Louis Martyn

External links