Journal for the Study of

the New Testament

http://jnt.sagepub.com

Morris, Leon, The First and Second Epistles to the

Thessalonians (Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, rev. cdn,
1991), pp. xvi + 278. $27.95, ISBN 0-8028-2168-5
Journal for the Study of the New Testament 1993; 15; 122
DOI: 10.1177/0142064X9301504911
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1993 SAGE Publications. All rights reserved. Not for commercial use or
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122
MORRIS, Leon, The First and Second Epistles to the Thessalonians (Grand Rapids:
Eerdmans, rev. cdn, 1991), pp. xvi + 278. $27.95, ISBN 0-8028-2168-5.
One of the most notable changes in this revised edition (the first edition appeared
in

1959) is the use of the New International Version instead of the American
Standard Version of 1901. There is also reference to several of the more important
recent commentaries, including those by F.F. Bruce and E. Best. Morris holds to
fairly conservative opinions regarding Pauline authorship (both epistles are hy Paul),
and dates them to around 50 CE. This commentary has many of the strengths associated with Morriss work, including significant attention to theology and the practical
consequences of faith. This is only incidentally a commentary on the Greek text, with
most of the comments confined to footnotes and handled in a fairly wooden way.
SEP
WINGER, Michael, By What Law? The Meaning of ν&oacgr;μ&oacgr;ς in the Letters of Paul
(SBLDS, 128; Atlanta: Scholars Press, 1992), pp. xiv +236. N.p., ISBN 1-55540593-2

(paper).

In this Columbia University doctoral thesis, Winger paves new ground by defining and utilizing an informed lexical-semantic model to analyse Pauls use of v6poq.
He makes a useful (though not always perfectly clear) distinction between meaning
and reference (I think that Lyonss distinction among sense, reference and denotation
would have helped here). He uses these two categories to overcome the traditional
hurdles in discussing the use of vopoS. Based upon Pauline usage, Winger establishes seven semantic components of the word (its meaning), and then he examines
its possible referents in the Pauline literature. He concludcs that in most instances
Paul does refer to the Jewish law (even this conclusion must be nuanced, as Winger
does), but there are other referents as well, including non-Jewish law, indefinite law,
law in general and generic law. Paul is aware that the term vopo5 can be used in a
variety of ways. This is confirmed in an analysis of Gal. 2.15-21 and Rom. 7.1425. In his exegesis of these passages Winger takes several unpopular positions. At
various points Wingers individual lexical analyses may hc open to question, but he
confirms and goes a long way toward substantiating what most exegetes have long
known, and that is that Pauls use of the term v6po~ cannot be forced into referring
to

any

single thing.
SEP

Miscellaneous
FEE, Gordon D., Gospel and Spirit: Issues in New Testament Hermeneutics
(Peabody, MA: Hendrickson, 1991), pp. xiv + 143. N.p., ISBN 0-9433575-78-8.
One of the most important questions for biblical interpreters has always been how
does one interpret a text? Gordon Fees book presents a number of answers which
are in the center of both the evangelical and Pentecostal tradition. He argues for
methods ranging from social and hihlical context (his first essay) to authorial intent
(his second, third and fourth essays). In his fifth essay he discusses the role that
tradition, in a number of its nuances, plays in interpretation. The last three essays are

Downloaded from http://jnt.sagepub.com by Andreas Gerstacker on November

23, 2007
1993 SAGE Publications. All rights reserved. Not for commercial use or
unauthorized distribution.