Vernon K. Robbins

1 Corinthians

Biblical Studies & Commentaries

“This commentary deeply embeds Paul in Jewish, Greek, and Roman moral, political, mythical, and religious beliefs and practices in the ancient Mediterranean world. The challenge for the reader is how to translate, transfer, or reconfigure these beliefs and practices into a Christian lifestyle in a highly different but related world during the twenty-first Century.”

Acknowledging the Divine Benefactor

Biblical Studies & Commentaries

“This book uses the new form of socio-rhetorical commentary that the Rhetoric of Religious Antiquity Project is refining in the Society of Biblical Literature. Following the new format, Callan presents work in progress on 2 Peter that expands socio-rhetorical interpretation beyond its earlier emphasis on the texture of texts by framing his commentary with sections on the rhetography and rhetorical force of the text. This preview points positively forward toward the potential of fully-developed commentary on texts using this format.”

Catch the Bird but Watch the Wave

Biblical Studies & Commentaries

Foreword

“Fatilua’s interpretation of the Lukan story of the rich man who went away grieving is guided by the Samoan tradition of sailing across the oceans and then returning to Samoa to live once more among his own village, country, and people. As Fatilua travels academically throughout Asian, African, and North American biblical interpretation to catch the bird (a satisfactory interpretation) while watching the wave (modern currents of biblical scholarship), he keeps his eye on God’s call to discipleship from his parents, community, nation, and Pacific Island region.”

Encounter with the New Testament

Biblical Studies & Commentaries

“One of the most exciting books available for introducing students to the New Testament at the beginning of the twenty-first century. Firmly and accurately grounded in literary and historical understanding, it dynamically leads the student into issues that have been emerging in recent theological, ethic, and social scientific, theological, and psychological discussion and debate about early Christianity and its heritage into the present. A wonderful contribution.”

Exploring Intertextuality

Biblical Studies & Commentaries

“Truly an abundant feast for anyone from general reader to advanced scholar. A deeply savored display of intertextuality from traditional and nontraditional literary approaches to twenty-first-century strategies that negotiate rhetoric, linguistics, orality, and post-structuralism. A rich menu of clear definition and discussion of key theoretical reasoning fortified with well-developed interpretation of specific texts. Rare indeed will be persons who feel there was nothing on the menu for them in this volume.”

Good Sex, Second Edition

Ethics, Culture & Social Issues

“This is a remarkable book. The extended dialogue between the authors in Part III is a brave exploration of sex and sexuality. For all who wish to wrestle seriously with the wide range of views in our world today about sex, love, and the Bible, this is a truly amazing resource.”

Hebrew Gospel

Biblical Studies & Commentaries

“An important study. By showing an aspect of the intertextuality of Mark, it helps to break the impasse concerning the lack of predecessors to the gospel form. Also, it raises the issue of 'intertopicality' - the presence of common topi and type scenes in the gospels.”

Host, Guest, Enemy, and Friend

Biblical Studies & Commentaries

“This landmark study . . . represents [an] outstanding achievement in the field of New Testament studies. No other study to date has achieved the level of analysis of characterization in a narratological mode, nor has any achieved a greater integration of narratological analysis with social scientific analysis.”

Transforming Culture

Arts & Literature

“In the rough and tumble of modern media and film, Danforth formulates a dynamic model to guide makers of Christian film and TV video in creating an alternative consciousness to dominant culture. The wide reach of her model evokes excitement for rebuilding Christian culture at the same time that it exhibits the conflicts and disagreements that gnaw at the divided Christianity of our time. This merger of Walter Brueggemann's understanding of the prophetic imagination with socio-rhetorical strategies of interpretation leaves no doubt for readers that they are encountering an energetic young scholar with a strong desire to make the 21st century a better place for humankind.”

We Are Who We Think We Were

Ethics, Culture & Social Issues

“A masterful, energetic exploration of the interface between our construction of historical storylines and our ethics. This book is a welcome plea for locating dialogues across differences at the center of Christian beliefs and practices during the twenty-first century.”