Letters and Homilies for Hellenized Christians: A Socio-Rhetorical Commentary on 1-2 Peter

by Ben Witherington III

Letters and Homilies for Hellenized Christians, Volume 2 is the third of three volumes extending Ben Witherington's innovative socio-rhetorical analysis of New Testament books to the latter-Pauline and non-Pauline corpora. By dividing the volumes according to the socioreligious contexts for which they were written, Witherington sheds fresh light on the documents, their provenance, character and importance. Throughout, Witherington shows his thorough knowledge of recent literature on these texts and focuses his attention on the unique insights brought about through socio-rhetorical analysis that either reinforces or corrects those gleaned from other approaches. "Bridging the Horizons" sections point to the relevance of the text for believers today, making this volume of special value to pastors and general readers as well as to students and scholars.

432 pages, Hardcover

First published January 9, 2008

About the author

Ben Witherington III (PhD, University of Durham) is Amos Professor of New Testament for Doctoral Studies at Asbury Theological Seminary in Wilmore, Kentucky, and is on the doctoral faculty at the University of St. Andrews in Scotland. He is the author or coauthor of more than thirty books, including The Jesus Quest, The Paul Quest, and The New York Times bestseller The Brother of Jesus. He has appeared on the History Channel, NBC, ABC, CBS, and CNN.

Reviews

[Steve Penner · Rating 3 out of 5]

In enjoy Witherington's commentaries. He comes out of the Wesleyan tradition and provides a good balance to the Reformed commentators I read as well. In this series he takes a little bit more of historical critical position on authorship and dating of II Peter believing it to be the work of Linus of Rome using first-hand knowledge of Peter's teaching, thus dating it later than Peter's death. But he still sees the letter as authentic Petrine teaching and authoritative. Witherington's intention in this series of commentaries is to show how classical rhetorical patterns of speech are adapted into the catholic epistles and make them somewhat unique. Would recommend this series to pastor's in their sermon preparation.