Alicia J. Batten

By What Authority?

Biblical Studies & Commentaries

“In his new book on the Gospel of Luke, Jerome Neyrey integrates his expertise in both social scientific and rhetorical analysis. Neyrey offers a close reading of Luke 1–4, arguing that even before Jesus began teaching in the synagogue in chapter 4, Luke had ‘groomed’ the audience to be receptive to Jesus as a public speaker. This engaging book is clear evidence for the value of attention to culture and rhetoric when approaching ancient Mediterranean texts.”

Finding A Woman's Place

Biblical Studies & Commentaries

“"This insightful and diverse collection of essays is a fitting tribute to a scholar and teacher who has contributed so much to our understanding of the social worlds and literatures of early Christianity. Carolyn Osiek has helped her colleagues and students to imagine--thoughtfully and precisely--ancient people and their daily lives. This book honours her by following her careful scholarly practice, opening up new questions and ideas to explore.”

Jesus and Marginal Women

Biblical Studies & Commentaries

“This book employs a variety of social scientific models, and includes chapters that respectively analyze contextual issues and specific stories of Jesus and women in the Gospel of Matthew. Stuart Love persuasively argues that while the Gospel of Matthew does not advocate social and gender egalitarianism, it does attempt to promote Jesus's vision of a new surrogate family of God that challenges the structures of the agrarian household. This book is a welcome addition to studies on the Gospel of Matthew as well as those on women in early Christianity.”

Slaves in the New Testament

Biblical Studies & Commentaries

“J. Albert Harrill, an expert on the topic of slavery in the New Testament, forcefully argues that a variety of New Testament texts reflect and promote an ideology of mastery that supported the Roman moral notion of 'auctoritas.' Moreover, he extends his analysis to Christian martyr stories and apologies, revealing that these narratives may challenge ancient ideologies of family as they relate to gender, but reinforce those ideologies in the case of slavery. Finally, he discusses the use of the New Testament in debates about slavery in antebellum America. From this examination he concludes that biblical scholarship cannot solve current conflicts over family values; rather, contemporary moral debate influences developments in biblical criticism. This is a challenging book that will compel interpreters not only to reevaluate some key early Christian texts that relate to slavery and Roman ideologies of mastery and masculinity, but to reflect more generally about the role of the Bible within religious debates about family.”

The Epistle of James

Biblical Studies & Commentaries

“This collection of essays tackles some of the difficult syntactic and structural aspects of James, at both macro and micro levels, through the use of modern linguistic analyses. Those working in linguistic approaches to the New Testament, as well as scholars who study the Letter of James in general, will want to consult this book.”

The Letter of James

Biblical Studies & Commentaries

“Although others have observed chiastic patterns in the Letter of James, John Paul Heil focuses upon macro- and microchiastic units determined primarily by linguistic parallels rather than thematic ones. At the heart of James, as revealed by its structure, Heil proposes a new unifying theme; that of 'worship to live by.' Provocative and clearly written, this book deserves consideration by all those interested in contemporary analyses of the 'right strawy epistle.'”