The Conversion of the Imagination contains some of the best work on Paul by first-rate New Testament scholar Richard B. Hays. These essays probe Paul's approach to scriptural interpretation, showing h
The Conversion of the Imagination contains some of the best work on Paul by first-rate New Testament scholar Richard B. Hays. These essays probe Paul's approach to scriptural interpretation, showing how Paul's reading of the Hebrew Scriptures reshaped the theological vision of his churches.
Hays's analysis of intertextual echoes in Paul's letters has touched off exciting debate among Pauline scholars and made more recognizable the contours of Paul's thought. These studies contain some of the early work leading up to Hays's seminal Echoes of Scripture in the Letters of Paul and also show how Hays has responded to critics and further developed his thought in the years since. Among the many subjects covered here are Paul's christological application of Psalms, Paul's revisionary interpretation of the Law, and the influence of the Old Testament on Paul's ethical teachings and ecclesiology.
Luke Timothy Johnson
"In Echoes of Scripture in the Letters of Paul, Richard Hays distinguished himself as an interpreter of rare literary skill. He brings the same ear for scriptural nuance to this welcome collection of essays: The Conversion of the Imagination extends and strengthens the argument of Echoes, showing how little one can appreciate Paul without also appreciating the apostle's profound and subtle engagement with Israel's Scripture."
Victor Paul Furnish
"Richard Hays not only invites us to consider the formative role that Israel's Scripture played in Paul's thought. He also challenges us to learn from the apostle what it means to read Scripture faithfully, attentive to its 'gracious word of promise.' These are important essays, devoted to a critical topic, from a noted New Testament interpreter."
Anvil
"The Conversion of the Imagination is a must for anyone interested in the use of Scripture within Scripture. It will encourage and inform those who want to learn better how to listen to the Christian Scriptures themselves, as distinct from what others write about them."
Review of Biblical Literature
"Hays's own lyrical and evocative style of writing is an ideal vehicle for exploring Paul's own lyrical and evocative uses of Scripture. . . . Richard Hays has made a seminal contribution to biblical hermeneutics . . . . It is always fruitful to be in dialogue with him."
Reviews in Religion and Theology
"Makes some of [Richard Hay's most important work more readily accessible to a new generation of readers. . . Merits sustained attention from all who seek to understand better the role and function of scripture in Paul's letters and thoughts."
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