Description
Book SynopsisIn Pauline Language and the Pastoral Epistles Jermo van Nes questions the common assumption in New Testament scholarship that language variation is necessarily due to author variation. By using the so-called Pastoral Epistles (PE) as a test-case, Van Nes demonstrates by means of statistical linguistics that only one out of five of their major lexical and syntactic peculiarities differs significantly from other Pauline writings. Most of the PE’s linguistic peculiarities are shown to differ considerably in the Corpus Paulinum, but modern studies in classics and linguistics suggest that factors other than author variation account equally if not better for this variation. Since all of these explanatory factors are compatible with current authorship hypotheses of the PE, Van Nes suggests to no longer use language as a criterion in debates about their authenticity.
Trade Review"It would be difficult to overstate the significance of this contribution to the study of the Pastoral Epistles. Any future work on the language of the Pastoral Epistles or the authorship question will have to reckon with this study. The work is careful and judicious. The presentation is clear and helpfully delineated." - Ray Van Neste, Union University, JETS 62.2 (June 2019). "Die gut gegliederte und gut lesbare Studie bereichert und erweitert die bestehende Diskussion." - Bernhard Mutschler, Ludwigsburg, Theologische Literaturzeitung 144 (2019). "Van Nes sets a new standard for precision in the study of linguistic variation in the Corpus Paulinum (....) He offers a formidable case against those who deny Pauline authorship of the PE on the basis of language (...)This book is important for all Pauline scholars and essential for scholars of the PE." - Christopher R. Hutson, Abilene Christian University, The Journal of Theological Studies, NS May 2019.
Table of ContentsContents Acknowledgements List of Tables List of Figures List of Abbreviations Introduction Part 1 The Linguistic Problem of the Pastoral Epistles 1 Origins of the Problem: Founding Figures 1.0 Introduction 1.1 E. Evanson 1.2 F. D. E. Schleiermacher 1.3 J. G. Eichhorn 1.4 H. J. Holtzmann 1.5 P. N. Harrison 1.6 Conclusion 2 Constituents of the Problem: Linguistic Peculiarities 2.0 Introduction 2.1 Peculiarities of Vocabulary 2.1.1 Grecisms 2.1.2 Un-Paulinisms 2.2 Peculiarities of Syntax 2.2.1 Ὡς 2.2.2 Articles 2.2.3 Prepositions 2.2.1 Univariate Statistics 2.2.2 Multivariate Statistics 2.3 Conclusion 3 Solutions to the Problem: Authorship Hypotheses 3.0 Introduction 3.1 Orthonymity Hypotheses 3.1.1 Statistical Fallacies 3.1.2 Derivative Words 3.1.3 Preformed Traditions 3.1.4 Age 3.1.5 Addressees 3.1.6 Subject Matter 3.1.7 Textuality (versus Orality) 3.1.8 Stylistic Adaptation 3.1.9 Register 3.1.1 Luke 3.1.2 Tychicus 3.2 Pseudonymity Hypotheses 3.2.1 Luke 3.2.2 Timothy 3.2.3 Polycarp 3.3 Partial Orthonymity Hypotheses 3.4 Conclusion Part 2 The Linguistic Problem of the Pastoral Epistles Reconsidered 4 Approaching the Problem: Methodological Considerations 4.0 Introduction 4.1 Linguistic Criticism 4.2 Towards a Linguistic Analysis of the Corpus Paulinum 4.2.1 Consistency Model 4.2.2 Resemblance Model 4.2.3 Population Model 4.2.1 Quantitative Analysis 4.2.2 Qualitative Analysis 4.2.1 Post-Pauline Interpolations? 4.2.2 Co-authors and/or Secretaries? 4.3 Conclusion 5 Pauline Vocabulary: New Perspectives 5.0 Introduction 5.1 Hapax Legomena 5.1.1 Quotations 5.1.2 Proper Nouns 5.1.3 Productivity 5.1.4 Age 5.2 Lexical Richness 5.2.1 Emotionality 5.2.2 Age 5.2.3 Topicality 5.2.4 Textuality (versus Orality) 5.3 Missing Indeclinables 5.3.1 Subjectivity 5.3.2 Emotionality 5.3.3 Textuality (versus Orality) 5.4 Conclusion 6 Pauline Syntax: New Perspectives 6.0 Introduction 6.1. Interclausal Relations 6.1.1 Parataxis 6.1.2 Hypotaxis 6.1.1 Age 6.1.2 Textuality (versus Orality) 6.2 Structural Irregularities 6.2.1 Parentheses 6.2.2 Anacolutha 6.2.3 Ellipses 6.2.1 Emotionality 6.2.2 Textuality (versus Orality) 6.3 Conclusion Conclusion Appendix 1 Hapax Legomena in the Corpus Paulinum Appendix 2 Lexical Richness in the Corpus Paulinum Appendix 3 Missing Indeclinables in the Corpus Paulinum Appendix 4 Interclausal Relations in the Corpus Paulinum Appendix 5 Structural Irregularities in the Corpus Paulinum Bibliography Index of Modern Authors
