In the past few weeks, I've splurged and picked up some books. Since Uncle Sam came through and gave me back the money I over-paid him, I figured I'd spend some of it on books. So here are the three I've purchased recently. The title links are to some quick notes on the books I've posted over at PastoralEpistles.com.
- Miller, James D. The Pastoral Letters as Composite Documents. Miller applies form and redaction criticism to the Pastorals and in the process finds very little that he would consider having its origin with Paul. I don't agree with his method or conclusion (I think he's seeing what he wants to see ... but then again, I probably am too) but the book is good to read to get an idea of the differing views of authorship/development of the Pastoral Epistles. I'm about halfway through reading this book. My frustration is that Miller writes well — his prose and argument is very clear — I just think he's wrong. There is of course some obvious content of a non-Pauline origin (e.g. the creedal statement in 1Ti 2.5-6 and also 1Ti 3.16) but I don't see any argument against why Paul himself couldn't have co-opted that material for his own purposes in composition of the letter.
- Van Neste, Ray. Cohesion and Structure in the Pastoral Epistles. Van Neste responds to Miller's thesis with a viewpoint that the Pastorals really are cohesive in structure. I haven't read this yet, I'll dig into it after finishing Miller's book.
- Kenny, Anthony. A Stylometric Study of the New Testament. Kenny's study is the primary work in this area. I just got the book yesterday (found it cheaper than the $100 retail via a used bookseller) and am itching to get into it. This has been recommended to me from three different sources, each of whom I hold in high esteem in this area — so I figured I'd have to get the book. Should be fun to work through, and it should help me in analysing the three-word-phrase data I've been generating and thinking about.
Next I'll have to actually get some new bookshelves.