Opening Paul's Letters

April 1, 2012

Gray (religious studies, Rhodes Coll.; Godly Fear: The Epistle to the Hebrews and Greco-Roman Critiques of Superstition) provides an easily accessible introduction to Paul's epistles and the canonical letters often attributed to him. Gray's careful literary analysis focuses especially on the letters' literary genre and on various subgenres found within the letters. As a diaspora Jew, Paul's native language was Greek, so Gray emphasizes Greek literary genres and forms, but he also references Hebrew literary customs. The book excels in placing Paul in his cultural context, in considering the characteristics of the audiences to whom he wrote, as well as in explaining how he read Scripture--specifically, the Septuagint. Gray also considers important issues of literary dating and of authorship, pseudonymity, and attribution in first-century C.E. culture. VERDICT An excellent undergraduate- or seminary-level introduction to Paul's writings and to the role of genre in literary interpretation, this will also interest general readers looking for a deeper understanding of the Pauline contributions to the Gospels.--Carolyn M. Craft, emerita, Longwood Univ., Farmville, VA

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