In keeping with the trend around the blogesphere (I’m always trying to stay trendy, you know), I figured I’d let you know what I’ll be doing at SBL in Atlanta.
I’ll be reading a paper (at the same session as James McGrath or was that in a specific Matthew session?) in the Intertextuality in the New Testament Consultation. My paper is entitled, “Toward a Theory of Narrative Transformation: The Importance of First Context in Paul’s Scriptural Citations.” Actually, if it makes any difference to whether or not you come, I promise that I won’t be “reading” my paper (=boring), but rather giving a presentation (=marginally less boring). At any rate, here’s the abstract:
A perennial question when adjudicating the significance of intertextuality in the NT is the extent to which the original context of the quoted passage should influence our understanding of its NT usage. This paper provides some preliminary building blocks for constructing a theory of “narrative transformation” in Paul’s citations of scripture.
This model suggests that a full understanding of Paul’s hermeneutical method requires the reader to take stock of the narrative dynamics within which the OT passage originally found its coherence. However, this attention to first context provides the reader not with a meaning that Paul imports into his text, but with a story that he transforms by bringing it to bear on his work as an apostle of a crucified and resurrected messiah.
This paper will make a preliminary case for a model of narrative transformation by examining Paul’s citation of Isa 59:20 in Rom 11:26 and of Ps 68:10 in Rom 15:3. In the former case, attention to the original narrative movement, in conjunction with Paul’s alteration of the text and his broader argument in Romans 11, will show the power of the theory to provide an interpretation that clarifies the meaning of a perennially challenging text. With this in place, the second investigation will highlight the potential for a theory of narrative transformation to open up possibilities for fresh, even provocative understandings of Paul’s theology by bringing the narrative of the psalm more fully into conversation with the situation in Rome.
By investigating the importance of “narrative dynamics” in two scriptural passages that are not narrative in genre, the paper hopes to underscore the broadly applicable nature of “narrative transformation,” and its importance even for interpreting passages that might not, at first glance, seem amenable to such an approach.
I will also be participating in a panel discussion entitled, “From Dissertation to Publication: Advice from Editors and Authors.”
…and drinking a lot.
May I read a copy of it at some point? I would like to see how OT narrative is handled in connection with an epistle.
Sounds like a great paper. I look forward to it!
I’m glad there are still a few new things to do with Paul, and I’m glad I’m not the one doing them.
Interesting topic. I really like the idea of presenting not reading the paper. I have given much thought to that myself, but considering this is my first time to present at SBL national, I think I’d better just keep it simple. I’d love to see more scholars present rather than read at these sorts of events.
“This model suggests that a full understanding of Paul’s hermeneutical method requires the reader to take stock of the narrative dynamics within which the OT passage originally found its coherence…”
Daniel, are you here referring to the ancient hearers of Paul’s letters or modern readers? Regardless, do you think Paul expected his ancient hearers to do this?