What's in the Word: Rethinking the Socio-Rhetorical Character of the New Testament

by Ben Witherington III

Overview

Written in clear, and at times colorful, prose, Ben Witherington's What's in the Word explains how the recognition of the oral and socio-rhetorical character of the New Testament and its environment necessitates a change in how the New Testament literature is read. Expanding on the work in which he has been fruitfully engaged for over a quarter century, Witherington challenges the previously assured results of historical criticism and demonstrates chapter by chapter how the socio-rhetorical study shifts the paradigm.

Taken together, the chapters in What's in the Word coalesce around three of Witherington's ongoing academic concerns: orality and rhetoric; New Testament history, including issues of authenticity and canonicity; and the exegesis of given words in their canonical and socio-cultural contexts. Always unpredictable, this book never fails to pique interest and proffer instruction.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781602585119
Publisher:	Baylor University Press
Publication date:	11/01/2011
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
Pages:	203
File size:	1 MB

About the Author

Ben Witherington III is Professor of New Testament for Doctoral Studies, Asbury Theological Seminary. His publications include Troubled Waters: Rethinking the Theology of Baptism (2007), Making a Meal of It: Rethinking the Theology of the Lord's Supper (2007), The Living Word of God: Rethinking the Theology of the Bible (2007), and The Problem with Evangelical Theology: Testing the Exegetical Foundations of Calvinism, Dispensationalism, Wesleyanism, and Pentecostalism, Revised and Expanded Edition (2015).

Table of Contents

Invitation to the Dance

Chapter One: Oral Examination: How Did ‘Oral’ Texts Function in a Rhetorical Culture?

Chapter Two: Canonical Pseudepigrapha—Is It an Oxymoron?

Chapter Three: Rethinking and Redescribing Scribal Culture

Chapter Four: The Question of Sermons and Homilies in the New Testament

Chapter Five: Rom. 7.7-25– Retelling Adam’s Tale

Chapter Six: What’s in a Name? Rethinking the Historical Figure of the Beloved Disciple in the 4th Gospel

Chapter Seven: What’s in a Word? Part One: Eidolothuton

Chapter Eight: What’s In A Word? Part Two—Porneia

Chapter Nine: What’s in a Phrase?—‘No Male and Female’ (Gal. 3.28)

Chapter Ten: Christianity in the Making’: Oral Mystery or Eyewitness History?

Chapter Eleven: Rethinking the Canonizing of the New Testament

Chapter Twelve: Sign Posts along the Way—On Taking the Less Travelled Path

What People are Saying About This

This book tackles a series of contentious subjects with clarity and verve. It may even change your mind on some.

Richard J. Erickson

This book's fascinating observations give stimulating guidance in hearing the texts as they were very likely meant to be heard.

Richard Bauckham

Witherington here shows how fruitful socio-rhetorical perspective can be. His lively and accessible style make for stimulating reading.

Darrell Bock

This book tackles a series of contentious subjects with clarity and verve. It may even change your mind on some.

Editorial Reviews

... [Witherington] easily demonstrates that history and theology simply cannot be separated.

Review of Biblical Literature

... a fascinating discussion.... [Witherington] is correct that social history and Greco-Roman rhetoric are now more purposely employed in interpretation and have made significant advances in our understanding of the NT—advances he masterfully demonstrates throughout this volume.

Interpretation - Duane F. Watson

... interesting, varied, provocative, well written and worthwhile.

Journal for the Study of the New Testament - David Wenham

"... [Witherington] easily demonstrates that history and theology simply cannot be separated."
--Review of Biblical Literature (May 2012)

"... a fascinating discussion. ... [Witherington] is correct that social history and Greco-Roman rhetoric are now more purposely employed in interpretation and have made significant advances in our understanding of the NT—advances he masterfully demonstrates throughout this volume.
--Duane F. Watson, Interpretation (2011, 65:3)

"Witherington here shows how fruitful socio-rhetorical perspective can be. His lively and accessible style make for stimulating reading."

--Richard Bauckham, Professor of New Testament, St. Mary's College, University of St. Andrews

"This book's fascinating observations give stimuluating guidance in hearing the texts as they were very likely meant to be heard."

--Richard J. Erickson, Associate Professor of New Testament, Fuller Theological Seminary

"This book tackles a series of contentious subjects with clarity and verve. It may even change your mind on some."

--Darrell Bock, Research Professor of New Testament Studies, Dallas Theological Seminary

From the Publisher