Journal for the Study of

the New Testament

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O'BRIEN, Peter. T., The Epistle to the Philippians: A

Commentary on the Greek Text (NIGTC; Grand Rapids:
Eerdmans, 1991), pp. xli + 597. N.p., ISBN 0-8028- 2392-0
Journal for the Study of the New Testament 1993; 15; 123
DOI: 10.1177/0142064X9301505013
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123
extensive bibliography make this a book well worth reading for those interested in
reader response criticism, characterization or Luke-Acts.
RAR
an

Paul

STANLEY, Christopher, D., Paul and the Language of Scripture (Cambridge:

Cambridge University Press, 1992), pp. xii + 396. N.p., ISBN 0-521-41925-5.
This volume argues that Pauls method of citing Scripture is in line with the
general methods employed by his contemporaries, both religious and non-religious.
This argument is developed in three parts. First, a foundation is laid by surveying
previous studies on the topic and by setting the (restrictive) parameters within which
the study operates. Secondly, an analysis of Pauls eighty-three Scripture citations
(as determined by the parameters mentioned above) in Romans, 1 and 2 Corinthians
and Galatians is offered. This analysis details any deviations from the Septuagintal
tradition and evaluates possible sources (textual and otherwise) for these differences
as well as the probability of correctly determining whether or not they had a Pauline
origin. Thirdly, examples of text citation are studied from Graeco-Roman (e.g.
Strabo, Heraclitus and Plutarch) and Jewish literature (e.g. texts from Qumran,
several apocryphal and pseudepigraphical texts, and several of Philos works).
Throughout the volume there are good sections of summary/conclusions, and the
entire work is brought to a very useful conclusion: the deviations from the scriptural
tradition in Pauls citations do not represent an unusually loose approach to the
Scriptural text, but follow a methodology typical of his contemporaries, both Jewish
and Graeco-Roman. Driven largely by concerns for the pastoral and rhetorical effectiveness of his work, Pauls interpretive exchanges with the biblical text would have
been openly received by his readers, possibly even expected. This work adheres to a
very high standard and is quite well documented, but it may be a bit too confident at
times.

SKS

OBRIEN, Peter. T., The Epistle

to the Philippians: A Commentary on the Greek

Text (NIGTC; Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1991), pp. xli + 597. N.p., ISBN 0-80282392-0.
This massive commentary, nearly twice the length of the same authors
commentary on Colossians and Philemon, represents a comprehensive, judicious
analysis of Pauls letter to the Philippians, delineating all sides of a given issue and

lacking any flagrant idiosyncrasies.

Part of the New International Greek Testament Commentary series, this work is
acclaimed as a full-scale critical commentary but instead seeks to divulge the
theological character behind the text by means of historical-critical-linguistic exegesis
of the Greek. It begins with a helpful bibliography (pp. xxii-xli), then goes on to
discuss the most important historical-critical questions raised by the text (pp. 3-38):
background of the city of Philippi, authorship (Pauline, according to OBrien),
integrity (one letter), date and place of writing (AD 60-62 in Rome), opponents
not

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124

(Judaizers in ch. 3; heathen residents of Philippi in 1.27-28), purpose, and

structure. Finally, OBrien turns to a detailed commentary on the text broken into its
various sections (pp. 43-555), with select bibliographies beginning each section.
The author is comfortable using the entire corpus of purportedly Pauline letters, as
well as Acts as a historical document, to interpret Philippians.
From a theological perspective the commentary is sweeping, often attempting to
set Philippians within a larger Pauline and NT theology but without losing the
individuality of the letter. From a form-critical perspective OBriens previous work
in the area of ancient letter writing proves its worth here in his treatment of Pauls
epistolary form (although its use of Watsons rhetorical analysis of Philippians is
unstudied). Adequate parallels are cited from both Jewish and Graeco-Roman background. Perhaps the strongest criticism may be directed at certain discussions of
Greek grammar. The bibliography lacks much of the recent work on New Testament
Greek grammar. OBrien apparently assumes traditional grammatical categories with
little attention to insights from modem linguistics. He shows no awareness of the
recent dialogue on the Greek verbal system in terms of verbal aspect (yet he
repeatedly appeals to the time or Aktionsart of tense forms in support of his interpretation : e.g. pp. 160, 275-76, 305, 428, 516; note also his understanding of the
negated present and aorist imperatives, e.g. p. 491), reads too much into the Greek
article, and assumes an unverified Greek word order. Moreover, complete analysis
of the Greek text is inconsistent, at times thorough and at times giving way to
theological comment. In a series purporting to deal with the Greek, one might expect
discussion on both the minute detail of each grammatical unit as well as the grammar
of the whole discourse (e.g. tense and mood usage throughout the letter).
In all, this commentary should prove to be an insightful, and extensive, resource
in both the scholars and students library on Philippians.
JTR

ESC =
SEP =

Eric S. Christianson
Stanley E. Porter

RAR =
JTR =

SKS -

Ruth-Anne Reese

Jeffrey T. Reed
Steve K. Stanley

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