An Introduction to the Catholic Epistles

Reviews / Votes

This is a concise, well-written introduction to the study of an all-too-often neglected corpus of New Testament texts. Lockett's insightful examination of the historical-critical issues that pertain to James, 1-2 Peter, and Jude is augmented with an illuminating exploration of new methodological approaches that have been appropriated in the study of the Catholic Epistles. What may be the most stimulating feature of this book is Lockett's discussion regarding the canonical shaping and function of these texts. A new generation of students will benefit greatly from this well-informed appraisal of Catholic Epistles scholarship. - Kelly D. Liebengood, LeTourneau University, USA. -- Kelly D. Liebengood 'Throughout the history of modern New Testament scholarship the Catholic Epistles have been the most neglected part of the New Testament canon, and this remains the case today despite some excellent recent work on them. Many students probably learn little about them. Darian Lockett's book will certainly help to remedy this situation. It is accessible to students and to a wider interested readership and opens up for them the scholarship on these books in a lucid and comprehensive way. He deals not only with the usual introductory questions and the standard historical critical studies, but also with the contributions of the newer methodologies: social scientific criticism, narrative criticism and canonical criticism. He considers the Catholic Epistles not only as individual texts, but also as forming a canonical collection. On the many disputed issues, he sets out the various arguments, leaving readers to reach their own conclusions. He presents the material in a way that will spark readers' interest and stimulate them to engage with the Catholic Epistles for themselves.' - Richard Bauckham, UK. -- Richard Bauckham