Sarcasm in Paul's Letters

Matthew Pawlak offers the first treatment of sarcasm in New Testament studies, analyzing sarcastic passages across Paul's letters and supporting his identification with 400 examples from ancient texts. His volume advances our understanding of various discussions in Pauline scholarship.

Format: Hardback
Length: 300 pages
Publication date: 22 December 2022
Publisher: Cambridge University Press

Matthew Pawlak presents the first comprehensive study of sarcasm in New Testament scholarship, delving into an extensive analysis of sarcastic passages across the undisputed letters of Paul. Through meticulous examination, he identifies instances of sarcasm in Paul's writings and explores its impact on our understanding of his rhetoric and relationships with the Early Christian congregations in Galatia, Rome, and Corinth. Pawlak's identification of sarcasm is fortified by a comprehensive dataset comprising 400 examples drawn from a diverse array of ancient texts, including significant case studies on the Septuagint version of Job, the prophets, and Lucian of Samosata. This extensive data set enables the identification of the typical linguistic signals of sarcasm in ancient Greek and its various rhetorical functions. Moreover, Pawlak addresses several ongoing debates within Pauline scholarship, shedding light on key aspects such as the abrupt opening of Galatians, the diatribe in Romans, the Corinthian slogans in First Corinthians, and the "fool's speech" found in Second Corinthians 10–13. By undertaking this comprehensive analysis, Pawlak's volume contributes significantly to our understanding of Paul's writings and their historical context, enriching our appreciation of the complexities of his rhetorical style and the dynamics of his relationships with his fellow believers.

Weight: 523g
ISBN-13: 9781009271912