Wow! eBook
The Word is Near You: A Study of Deuteronomy 30:12-14 in Paul's Letter to the Romans in a Jewish Context: 144 Reprint 2012 Edition
Author(s): Bekken (Author)
- Publisher: De Gruyter
- Publication Date: 20 Nov. 2007
- Edition: Reprint 2012
- Language: English
- Print length: 310 pages
- ISBN-10: 9783110193411
- ISBN-13: 3110193418
Book Description
The study deals with a difficult and much-debated text in Paul’s Letter to the Romans, 9:30-10:21. The study in particular analyses Paul’suse and interpretation of Deuteronomy 30:12-14 in Romans 10:4-17. Scholars have characterized Paul’s exegesis here as idiosyncratic, fanciful, baffling, and arbitrary. By a comparison with Jewish writings near Paul in time, such as the writings of Philo of Alexandria and Baruch, the thesis is argued that Paul’s treatment of Deuteronomy 30:12-14 can be located within Jewish exegetical method, expository structure, terminology as well as content and context. In comparison with Baruch and Philo, it has been shown that Paul’shandling of Deuteronomy 30:12-14 can be placed within a Jewish context as to the way the biblical quotations are rendered. The thesis is substantiated that Paul’s expository rendering of Deuteronomy 30:12-14 follows the method of exegetical paraphrase of a biblical quotation. So, in comparison with Baruch and Philo, Paul’s interpretative rendering of Deuteronomy 30:12-14 falls within a form of exposition, in which words, phrases and sentences from the Old Testament quotation are either repeated or replaced by interpretative terms and supplemented with other qualifying terms. Thus, Paul’schristological exposition of Deut 30:12-14 can be located within the method of exegetical paraphrase, with a parallel in Baruch’s application of this OT Scripture to the personified ‘Wisdom’.
Editorial Reviews
Review
“Anyone doing advanced research on Paul’s usage of Scripture or on Romans 9-11 will find a stimulating conversation partner here.”
Max Rogland in: Presbyterion Convenant Seminary Review 36/1
About the Author
Per Jarle Bekken, Oslo University College, Oslo, Norway.
