Paul and the Language of Scripture: Citation Technique in the Pauline Epistles and Contemporary Literature

by Christopher D. Stanley

Explicit quotations from the Jewish Scriptures play a vital role in several of the apostle Paul's letters to struggling Christian congregations. In most cases the wording of these quotations differs markedly from all known versions of the biblical text. Studies of Paul's use of scripture routinely note the problem and suggest possible solutions, but none to date has made this phenomenon the primary object of investigation. The present study aims to remedy this deficiency with a careful examination of the way Paul and other ancient authors handled the wording of their explicit quotations. In drawing general conclusions, Dr Stanley examines the broader social environment that made 'interpretive renderings' a normal and accepted part of the literary landscape of antiquity.

408 pages, Hardcover

First published January 29, 1993

About the author

Christopher D. Stanley recently retired as a Professor in the Department of Theology and Franciscan Studies at St. Bonaventure University in western New York, where he taught courses in biblical studies and courses that explore the role of religion in contemporary society.

Dr. Stanley has written widely in the field of biblical studies, including three authored books, three edited books, and dozens of articles in leading international journals. He has presented papers and given lectures at conferences, universities, seminaries, and churches around the world, including South Africa, Australia, New Zealand, Belgium, Austria, Romania, England, Scotland, Ireland, and India. He is a member of the Studiorum Societas Novi Testamenti (SNTS), an elite international organization of New Testament scholars, and served as the founding chair for two ongoing sections of the Society of Biblical Literature.

In recent years Dr. Stanley has expanded his repertoire into historical fiction, publishing the first two novels in a trilogy called "A Slave's Story" that takes readers into a neglected corner of the Roman world, first-century Asia Minor. The novels, titled A Rooster for Asklepios and A Bull for Pluto, are available on Amazon.com along with several of his academic books. To learn more about the novels, visit his Website for the series, http://aslavesstory.com .