Letters and Homilies for Hellenized Christians, Volume I: A Socio-Rhetorical Commentary on Titus, 1–2 Timothy and 1–3 John

by Ben Witherington III

Publishers:

IVP Academic; Apollos

, 2006

Overview

In this socio-rhetorical analytical commentary, Dr. Ben Witherington takes fresh look at the pastoral epistles and Johannine correspondence and provides an analysis of the documents in their socio-religious context discussing their provenance, character, and importance. Dr. Witherington focuses on the unique insights that arise through the social-rhetorical analysis. Throughout, he makes the case for Luke as Paul’s amanuensis for these letters, as well as a strenuous argument against New Testament pseudepigrapha.

In the Logos edition, this volume is enhanced by amazing functionality. Important terms link to dictionaries, encyclopedias, and a wealth of other resources in your digital library. Perform powerful searches to find exactly what you’re looking for. Take the discussion with you using tablet and mobile apps. With Logos Bible Software, the most efficient and comprehensive research tools are in one place, so you get the most out of your study.

If you like this resource be sure to check out IVP New Testament Studies Collection (14 vols.).

Key Features

• Provides an extended annotated bibliography
• Addresses the issue of contemporary theological and practical concern
• Focuses on the text’s relevancy for today’s readers

Praise for the Print Edition

. . . this commentary provides solid interpretation of these letters in a very readable style. It is accessible and profitable to the layperson and scholar alike. . . . well worth the investment of time and money.

—Duane F. Watson, professor of New Testament studies, Malone University

Product Details

• Title: Letters and Homilies for Hellenized Christians, Volume I: A Socio-Rhetorical Commentary on Titus, 1–2 Timothy and 1–3 John
• Author: Ben Witherington III
• Publisher: IVP
• Publication Date: 2006
• Pages: 623
• Resource Type: Monographs
• Topic: Biblical Studies

About Ben Witherington

Ben Witherington III (PhD, University of Durham, England) is Professor of New Testament at Asbury Theological Seminary in Wilmore, Kentucky. He is the author of many books on the New Testament, including Women and the Genesis of Christianity, Jesus the Sage, The Jesus Quest and The Paul Quest. A frequent contributor to Beliefnet.com, Witherington has also appeared on numerous TV news programs such as Dateline, 60 Minutes, 20/20 and the Peter Jennings ABC special Jesus and Paul—The Word and the Witness

Contents

Top Highlights

“It is important to recognize that in this section Paul is correcting the behavior of men as well as that of women, and this means that he is dealing with problems and misconduct here. He is not describing his vision of what an ideal worship service under ideal conditions would look like. Furthermore, it needs to be stressed from the outset that the correction of an abuse of a privilege, such as the privilege of speaking (for example, praying or teaching) in worship, is not the same as ruling out the privilege altogether.” (Page 211)

“This theme of Eve’s deception is found also in 2 Corinthians 11:3 (cf. Sir 25:24), where Paul is suggesting that it could happen to any of the Corinthians, male or female. It is unlikely that Paul thought that falling prey to deception was an inherent flaw in women to which men were not subject.” (Page 229)

“Rather, I suggest that although the subject in 1 Timothy 2:15 surely is women in general (which would include Jesus’ mother), ‘the childbearing’ is indeed a reference to a particular birth, that of Jesus. The point is that it was through woman that the fall came, and through woman redemption came as well.” (Page 230)

“‘A text is pseudonymous when it is not by the person whose name it bears in the sense that it is written after his death by another person or during his life by another person who was not in some way commissioned to do so.’” (Page 28)

“Epideictic rhetoric is by nature repetitive and even hyperbolic, seeking to strengthen adherence to values already adopted or embraced by the audience and also to draw out the implications of those values. This is quite clearly the kind of rhetoric found in the homily that we call 1 John.” (Page 431)

Product Details

• Title: Letters and Homilies for Hellenized Christians, Volume I: A Socio-Rhetorical Commentary on Titus, 1–2 Timothy and 1–3 John
• Author: Ben Witherington III
• Series: Letters and Homilies
• Publishers: IVP Academic, Apollos
• Print Publication Date: 2006
• Logos Release Date: 2011
• Era: era:contemporary
• Language: English
• Resources: 1
• Format: Digital › Logos Research Edition
• Subjects: Bible. N.T. Pastoral Epistles › Commentaries; Bible. N.T. Pastoral Epistles › Socio-rhetorical criticism; Bible. N.T. Epistles of John › Commentaries; Bible. N.T. Epistles of John › Socio-rhetorical criticism; Bible. N.T. Titus › Commentaries; Bible. N.T. 1 Timothy › Commentaries; Bible. N.T. 2 Timothy › Commentaries; Bible. N.T. 1 John › Commentaries; Bible. N.T. 2 John › Commentaries; Bible. N.T. 3 John › Commentaries
• ISBNs: 9780830867219, 9781844741434, 9780830829316, 9780830829330, 083086721X, 1844741435, 0830829318, 0830829334
• Resource ID: LLS:LETTERSHOMILIES01
• Resource Type: Bible Commentary
• Metadata Last Updated: 2022-09-30T01:09:42Z

About Ben Witherington III

Ben Witherington III (PhD, University of Durham) is Jean R. Amos Professor of New Testament for Doctoral Studies at Asbury Theological Seminary. A prominent evangelical scholar, he is also on the doctoral faculty at St. Andrews University in Scotland. Witherington has written over forty books, including The Jesus Quest and The Paul Quest, both of which were selected as top biblical studies works by Christianity Today. His other works include The Indelible Image, Women and the Genesis of Christianity, The Gospel Code, A Week in the Life of Corinth and commentaries on the entire New Testament. He also writes for many church and scholarly publications and is a frequent contributor to Patheos and Beliefnet. Witherington is an elected member of the prestigious Studiorum Novi Testamenti Societas, a society dedicated to New Testament studies. He is a John Wesley Fellow for Life, a research fellow at Cambridge University and a member of numerous professional organizations, including the Society of Biblical Literature, Society for the Study of the New Testament and the Institute for Biblical Research. He previously taught at institutions like Ashland Theological Seminary, Vanderbilt University, Duke Divinity School and Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary. An ordained pastor in the United Methodist Church and a popular lecturer, Witherington has presented seminars for churches, colleges and biblical meetings around the world. He has led numerous study tours through the lands of the Bible and is known for bringing the text to life through incisive historical and cultural analysis. Along with many interviews on radio and television networks across the country, Witherington has been seen in programs such as 60 Minutes, 20/20, Dateline and the Peter Jennings ABC special Jesus and Paul—The Word and the Witness.