( 3 reviews )
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Posted: Feb 11 2009
Even if you are not convinced by every aspect of the author's argument, this is an excellent book, one of the very best examples of how to present scholarly research for a general audience. The book advances a carefully reasoned, thoroughly researched thesis about the origin and purpose of the NewTestament collection of Paul's epistles. It explains clearly, avoids academic jargon, and even includes illustrations showing what the ancient manuscripts look like and what a modern critical edition of the New Testament looks like. Trobisch's thesis is that Paul himself initiated the collection of his epistles by creating a literary unit consisting of Romans, 1 Corinthians, 2 Corinthians, and Galatians, with Romans chapter 16 as its "cover note." The current form of the text is not the way the letters were originally sent but reflects their state after Paul edited them for publication. After Paul's death, his disciples expanded this collection by adding nine more, and at some point Hebrews was added as the 14th epistle. The thesis has profound implications for how we understand these New Testament texts, the New Testament canon, and the development of early Christianity. Trobisch argues that Paul created the original package of four books primarily as his testament against the Jerusalem Christian leaders (including James and Peter) and their insistence that Jewish Law observance including circumcision is necessary for Christians. This dispute is intricately tied to the collection Paul was taking up for Jerusalem, which he was afraid would be rejected along with his anti-circumcision message. As Trobisch puts it when he proposes this interpretation, "The whole story takes on a macabre tone. Suddenly it sounds more like a story of money and crime than a passage from the New Testament." (p.89) For example, the warning against divisive people in Romans 16:17-19 is now to be read as a warning against James and Peter and their ilk, addressed not to Rome but to Paul's home base in Ephesus: "I urge you, brothers, to watch out for those who cause divisions and put obstacles in your way that are contrary to the teaching you have learned. Keep away from them. For such people are not serving our Lord Christ, but their own appetites. By smooth talk and flattery they deceive the minds of na??ve people. Everyone has heard about your obedience, so I am full of joy over you; but I want you to be wise about what is good, and innocent about what is evil." Another interesting example is in 1 Corinthians. In chapter 7 Paul praises his own ability to remain unmarried while allowing that marriage is OK for people who are "unable to control themselves." When two chapters later he alludes to the married status of "the brothers of the Lord [James] and Cephas [Peter], " he is deliberately portraying them in a negative light. Trobisch suggests that the struggle between Paul and the Jerusalem leaders may also have been the impetus for the creation and publication of the entire body of literature that would become the New Testament. As he observes, the rest of the New Testament makes it appear that Paul has won the battle: "The picture conveyed by the writings of the New Testament to their readers is one of unity. The conflict between Paul and Jerusalem was resolved." (p.98) The reader of Trobisch's book is left to speculate for himself or herself as to whether that picture of unity was a contrary-to-fact literary fiction or if by some miracle Paul's bitterest enemies came around to see things his way in the end.
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( 1 of 1 found this review helpful ) Posted: Feb 11 2009
Even if you are not convinced by every aspect of the author's argument, this is an excellent book, one of the very best examples of how to present scholarly research for a general audience. The book advances a carefully reasoned, thoroughly researched thesis about the origin and purpose of the NewTestament collection of Paul's epistles. It explains clearly, avoids academic jargon, and even includes illustrations showing what the ancient manuscripts look like and what a modern critical edition of the New Testament looks like. Trobisch's thesis is that Paul himself initiated the collection of his epistles by creating a literary unit consisting of Romans, 1 Corinthians, 2 Corinthians, and Galatians, with Romans chapter 16 as its "cover note." The current form of the text is not the way the letters were originally sent but reflects their state after Paul edited them for publication. After Paul's death, his disciples expanded this collection by adding nine more, and at some point Hebrews was added as the 14th epistle. The thesis has profound implications for how we understand these New Testament texts, the New Testament canon, and the development of early Christianity. Trobisch argues that Paul created the original package of four books primarily as his testament against the Jerusalem Christian leaders (including James and Peter) and their insistence that Jewish Law observance including circumcision is necessary for Christians. This dispute is intricately tied to the collection Paul was taking up for Jerusalem, which he was afraid would be rejected along with his anti-circumcision message. As Trobisch puts it when he proposes this interpretation, "The whole story takes on a macabre tone. Suddenly it sounds more like a story of money and crime than a passage from the New Testament." (p.89) For example, the warning against divisive people in Romans 16:17-19 is now to be read as a warning against James and Peter and their ilk, addressed not to Rome but to Paul's home base in Ephesus: "I urge you, brothers, to watch out for those who cause divisions and put obstacles in your way that are contrary to the teaching you have learned. Keep away from them. For such people are not serving our Lord Christ, but their own appetites. By smooth talk and flattery they deceive the minds of naïve people. Everyone has heard about your obedience, so I am full of joy over you; but I want you to be wise about what is good, and innocent about what is evil." Another interesting example is in 1 Corinthians. In chapter 7 Paul praises his own ability to remain unmarried while allowing that marriage is OK for people who are "unable to control themselves." When two chapters later he alludes to the married status of "the brothers of the Lord [James] and Cephas [Peter], " he is deliberately portraying them in a negative light. Trobisch suggests that the struggle between Paul and the Jerusalem leaders may also have been the impetus for the creation and publication of the entire body of literature that would become the New Testament. As he observes, the rest of the New Testament makes it appear that Paul has won the battle: "The picture conveyed by the writings of the New Testament to their readers is one of unity. The conflict between Paul and Jerusalem was resolved." (p.98) The reader of Trobisch's book is left to speculate for himself or herself as to whether that picture of unity was a contrary-to-fact literary fiction or if by some miracle Paul's bitterest enemies came around to see things his way in the end.
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( 12 of 12 found this review helpful ) Posted: Aug 4 2002
In this absolutely fascinating book, Professor David Trobisch of the University of Heidelberg looks at the Pauline letters of the New Testament. He begins by examining ancient Bible manuscripts, drawing conclusions about how the New Testament was organized (which is not quite the same way that it is organized in modern Bibles). Then he examines the Pauline letters, and their organization, coming to the conclusion that (like many ancient authors) the Apostle Paul actually created the first letter collection (Romans, I & II Corinthians and Galatians). He examines how this collection would have been organized, what its purpose was, and what it has to say about the rest of the New Testament.I must say that this book really impressed me. The author uses sound reasoning to draw the conclusions he makes, and succeeds in presenting them in a very convincing manner. Also, his writing succeeded in making me care about where he was going, keeping me from putting the book down!I must say that if you are looking for any earth-shattering new revelations (secret codes, new theology, etc.), you won't find it here. What is here, though, is a fascinating look at the New Testament, and what it means. I loved this book, finding it totally engrossing, and I highly recommend it to you.[By coincidence, lately I was reading the Apocryphal book, The Epistles of Paul the Apostle to Seneca, with Seneca's to Paul. Near the beginning, Seneca is quoted as saying, "We were much delighted with your book of many Epistles, which you have wrote to some cities and chief towns of provinces..." Professor Trobisch's book suggests that Paul may indeed have had a "book of many Epistles."]
