Socio-Rhetorical Interpretation


Emory Studies in Early Christianity

Robbins Home Page

Robbins Curriculum Vitae

Patterns of Persuasion in the Gospels
  • Ancient Quotes and Anecdotes
  • Jesus the Teacher
  • New Boundaries in Old Territory
  • Exploring the Texture of Texts
  • The Tapestry of Early Christian Discourse

    Emory University Department of Religion

    Robbins faculty profile



  • Vernon K. Robbins
    Publications 1973—2007

    Emory University
    Atlanta, Georgia

    I. BOOKS

    II. EDITING

    III. ARTICLES AND ESSAYS

    "Beginnings and Developments in Socio-Rhetorical Interpretation" (May 1, 2004).

    2006-2007
    2001-2005
    1996-2000
    1991-1995
    1985-1990
    1981-1984
    1973-1980

    "Lukan and Johannine Tradition in the Qur'an: A Story of Auslegungsgeschichte and Wirkungsgeschichte." In Prospects for a Story and Programme: Essays on Räisänen's Beyond New Testament Theology. Todd Penner, ed. Helsinki: Finnish Exegetical Society, forthcoming.

    "The Rhetorical Full-Turn in Biblical Interpretation and Its Relevance for Feminist Hermeneutics." In Her Master's Tools? Feminist and Postcolonial Engagements of Historical-Critical Discourse, Caroline Vander Stichele and Todd Penner, eds. Global Perspectives on Biblical Scholarship 9; Atlanta: Society of Biblical Literature and Leiden: Brill, 2005: 109-127.

    "Where is Wuellner's Anti-Hermeneutical Hermeneutic Taking Us? From Schleiermacher to Thistleton and Beyond." In Rhetorics and Hermeneutics: Wilhelm Wuellner and His Influence. James D. Hester and J. David Hester (Amador), eds. Emory Studies in Early Christianity 9; New York/London: T & T Clark International, 2004: 105-125.

    "The Sensory-Aesthetic Texture of the Compassionate Samaritan Parable in Luke 10." In Literary Encounters with the Reign of God. Sharon H. Ringe and H. C. Paul Kim, eds. New York/London: T & T Clark, 2004: 247-264.

    "A Prolegomenon to the Relation of the Qur'an and the Bible." With Gordon D. Newby. In Bible and Qur'an: Essays in Scriptural Intertetextuality. John C. Reeves, ed. Symposium Series 24; Atlanta: Society of Biblical Literature, 2003: 23-42.

    "The Legacy of 2 Corinthians 12:2-4 in the Apocalypse of Paul." In Paul and the Corinthians. Trevor J. Burke and J. Keith Elliott, eds. Leiden: Brill, 2003: 327-339.

    "The Intertexture of Apocalyptic Discourse in the Gospel of Mark." In The Intertexture of Apocalyptic Discourse in the New Testament. D. F. Watson, ed. SBL Symposium Series 14. Atlanta: Society of Biblical Literature, 2002: 11-44.

    "Argumentative Textures in Socio-Rhetorical Interpretation." In Argumentation in Biblical Texts: Essays from the 2000 Lund Conference. A. Eriksson, T. H. Olbricht, and W. Übelacker, eds. Emory Studies in Early Christianity. Harrisburg: Trinity Press International, 2002: 27-65. (Html)

    "A Comparison of Mishnah Gittin 1:1-2:2 and James 2:1-13 from a Perspective of Greco-Roman Rhetorical Elaboration." In Jack N. Lightstone, Mishnah and the Social Formation of the Early Rabbinic Guild: A Socio-Rhetorical Approach. Studies in Christianity and Judaism 11. Waterloo: Wilfred Laurier University Press for the Canadian Corporation for Studies in Religion, 2002: 201-216.

    "The Rhetorical Full-Turn in Biblical Interpretation: Reconfiguring Rhetorical-Political Analysis." In Rhetorical Criticism and the Bible: Essays from the 1998 Florence Conference. S. E. Porter and T. H. Olbricht, eds. Journal for the Study of the New Testament Supplement Series. Sheffield Academic Press, 2002: 48-60.

    "Why Participate in African Biblical Interpretation?", Mary N. Getui, Tinyiko S. Maluleke, and Justin Ukpong (eds.), Interpreting the New Testament in Africa. Nairobi, Kenya: Acton Publishers, 2001: 275-91.

    "The Socio-Rhetorical Role of Old Testament Scripture in Luke 4-19." In Z Noveho Zakona /From the New Testament: Sbornik k narozeninam Prof. ThDr. Zdenka Sazavy. Hana Tonzarova and Petr Melmuk, eds. Praha: Vydala Cirkev ceskoslovenska husitska, 2001: 81-93.

    "Historical, Rhetorical, Literary, Linguistic, Cultural, and Artistic Intertextuality: A Response." Semeia 80 (1999) 299-303.

    "Rhetorical Ritual: Apocalyptic Discourse in Mark 13." In Vision and Persuasion: Rhetorical Dimensions of Apocalyptic Discourse. G. Carey and L. G. Bloomquist, eds. St. Louis, MO: Chalice Press, 1999: 95-121.

    "The Claims of the Prologues and Greco-Roman Rhetoric: The Prefaces to Luke and Acts in Light of Greco-Roman Rhetorical Strategies." In Jesus and the Heritage of Israel: Luke's Narrative Claim upon Israel's Legacy. D. P. Moessner, ed. Harrisburg, PA: Trinity Press International, 1999: 63-83.

    "Enthymemic Texture in the Gospel of Thomas." In 1998 Society of Biblical Literature Seminar Papers. Atlanta: Scholars Press, 1998: 343-366.

    "From Enthymeme to Theology in Luke 11:1-13." In Literary Studies in Luke-Acts: A Collection of Essays in Honor of Joseph B. Tyson. R. P. Thompson and T. E. Phillips, eds. Macon, GA: Mercer Univ. Press, 1998: 191-214.

    "Socio-Rhetorical Hermeneutics and Commentary." In EPI TO AYTO. Essays in honour of Petr Pokorny. J. Mrazek, R. Dvorakova, and S. Brodsky, eds. Praha-Trebenice, Czech Republic: Mlyn, 1998: 284-297.

    "Response" and "Dialogue between Vernon Robbins and Reviews," Journal for the Study of the New Testament 70 (1998) 101-115. A response to reviews in "Vernon Robbins's Socio-Rhetorical Criticism: A Review," JSNT 70 (1998) 69-100.

    "Rhetorical Composition and Sources in the Gospel of Thomas." In 1997 Society of Biblical Literature Seminar Papers. Atlanta: Scholars Press, 1997: 86-114. (Pdf)

    "The Present and Future of Rhetorical Analysis." In The Rhetorical Analysis of Scripture: Essays from the 1995 London Conference. S. E. Porter and T. H. Olbricht, eds. Journal for the Study of the New Testament Supplement Series 146. Sheffield: Sheffield Academic Press, 1997: 24-52.

    "Making Christian Culture in the Epistle of James." Scriptura 59 (1996) 341-351.

    "The Dialectical Nature of Early Christian Discourse." Scriptura 59 (1996) 353-362.

    "Narrative in Ancient Rhetoric and Rhetoric in Ancient Narrative." In 1996 Society of Biblical Literature Seminar Papers. Atlanta: Scholars Press, 1996: 368-384.

    "Foreword." In John G. Cook, The Structure and Persuasive Power of Mark: A Linguistic Approach. Atlanta: Scholars Press, 1995: xiii-xvii.

    "Social-Scientific Criticism and Literary Studies: Prospects for Cooperation in Biblical Interpretation", in Modelling Early Christianity: Social-Scientific Studies of the New Testament in Its Context. P. F. Esler, ed. London: Routledge, 1995: 274-289.

    "Divine Dialogue and the Lord's Prayer: Socio-Rhetorical Interpretation of Sacred Texts." Dialogue 28 (1995) 117-146.

    "Socio-Rhetorical Criticism: Mary, Elizabeth, and the Magnificat as a Test Case." In The New Literary Criticism and the New Testament. E. S. Malbon and E. V. McKnight, eds. Sheffield: Sheffield Academic Press, 1994: 164-209.

    "The Ritual of Reading and Reading a Text as a Ritual: Observations on Mieke Bal's Death & Dissymmetry." In In Good Company: Essays in Honor of Robert Detweiler. D. Jasper and M. Ledbetter, eds. Atlanta: Scholars Press, 1994: 385-401.

    "Oral, Rhetorical, and Literary Cultures: A Response." Semeia 65 (1994) 75-91.

    "Interpreting Miracle Culture and Parable Culture in Mark 4-11." Svensk Exegetisk Årsbok 59 (1994) 59-81.

    "Rhetoric and Culture: Exploring Types of Cultural Rhetoric in a Text." In Rhetoric and the New Testament: Essays from the 1992 Heidelberg Conference. S. E. Porter and T. H. Olbricht, eds. Sheffield: JSOT Press, 1993: 443-463.

    "Progymnastic Rhetorical Composition and Pre-Gospel Traditions: A New Approach." In The Synoptic Gospels: Source Criticism and the New Literary Criticism. C. Focant, ed. BETL 110. Leuven: Leuven Univ. Press, 1993: 111-147.

    "Biblical Sources for Pronouncement Stories in the Gospels." (With Miriam Dean-Otting). Semeia 64 (1993) 95-115.

    "Paradigms in Homer, Pindar, the Tragedians, and the New Testament." (With Øivind Andersen). Semeia 64 (1993) 3-31.

    "Introduction: Using Rhetorical Discussions of the Chreia to Interpret Pronouncement Stories." Semeia 64 (1993) vii-xvii.

    "A Socio-Rhetorical Look at the Work of John Knox on Luke-Acts." In Cadbury, Knox, and Talbert: American Contributions to the Study of Acts. M. C. Parsons and J. B. Tyson, eds. Atlanta: Scholars Press, 1992: 91-105.

    "The Reversed Contextualization of Psalm 22 in the Markan Crucifixion: A Socio-Rhetorical Analysis." In The Four Gospels 1992. Festschrift Frans Neirynck, Vol. 2. F. van Segbroeck, C. M. Tuckett, G. Van Belle, J. Verheyden, eds. BETL 100. Leuven: Leuven Univ. Press, 1992: 1161-1183.

    "Apophthegm." In The Anchor Bible Dictionary. D. N. Freedman, ed. New York: Doubleday, 1992: 1:307-309.

    "Form Criticism: New Testament." In The Anchor Bible Dictionary. D. N. Freedman, ed. New York: Doubleday, 1992: 2:841-844.

    "Using a Socio-Rhetorical Poetics to Develop a Unified Method: The Woman who Anointed Jesus as a Test Case." In 1992 SBL Seminar Papers. E. H. Lovering, Jr. Atlanta: Scholars Press, 1992: 302-319.

    "A Male Reads a Feminist Reading: The Dialogical Nature of Pippin's Power." Semeia 59 (1992) 211-217.

    "The Social Location of the Implied Author of Luke-Acts." In The Social World of Luke-Acts: Models for Interpretation. J. H. Neyrey, ed. Peabody, MA: Hendrickson, 1991: 305-332.

    "Writing as a Rhetorical Act in Plutarch and the Gospels." In Persuasive Artistry: Studies in New Testament Rhetoric in Honor of George A. Kennedy. D. F. Watson, ed. Sheffield: JSOT Press, 1991: 157-186.

    "Luke-Acts: A Mixed Population Seeks a Home in the Roman Empire." In Images of Empire. L. Alexander. Sheffield: JSOT Press, 1991: 202-221.

    "From New Criticism and the New Hermeneutic to Poststructuralism: Twentieth Century Hermeneutics." In Reading The Text: Biblical Criticism and Literary Theory. S. Prickett, ed. (With Robert Detweiler). Oxford: Basil Blackwell, 1991: 225-280.

    "Text and Context in Recent Studies of the Gospel of Mark." Religious Studies Review 17 (1991) 16-23.

    "Beelzebul Controversy in Mark and Luke: Rhetorical and Social Analysis." Forum 7.3-4 (1991) 261-277.

    "A Socio-Rhetorical Response: Contexts of Interaction and Forms of Exhortation." Semeia 50 (1990) 261-271.

    "Interpreting the Gospel of Mark as a Jewish Document in a Graeco-Roman World." In New Perspectives on Ancient Judaism. P. V. M. Flesher, ed. Lanham, New York: Univ. Press of America, 1990: 47-72.

    "Pronouncement Stories from a Rhetorical Perspective." Forum 4.2 (1988) 3-32.

    "The Crucifixion and the Speech of Jesus." Forum 4.1 (1988) 33-46.

    "The Chreia." In Greco-Roman Literature and the New Testament. D. E. Aune, ed. Atlanta: Scholars Press, 1988: 1-23.

    "Rhetorical argument about lamps and light in early Christian gospels." In Context, Festskrift til Peder Johan Borgen. P. W. Böckman and R. E. Kristiansen, eds. Relieff 24 (Universitetet i Trondheim: Tapir, 1987): 177-195.

    "The Woman who Touched Jesus' Garment: Socio-Rhetorical Analysis of the Synoptic Accounts." New Testament Studies 33 (1987) 502-515.

    "Pragmatic Relations as a Criterion for Authentic Sayings." Forum 1.3 (1985) 35-63.

    "Picking Up the Fragments: From Crossan`s Analysis to Rhetorical Analysis." Forum 1.2 (1985) 31-64.

    "A Rhetorical Typology for Classifying and Analyzing Pronouncement Stories." In Society of Biblical Literature Seminar Papers. K. H. Richards, ed. Chico, Calif.: Scholars Press, 1984: 93-122.

    "Pronouncement Stories and Jesus' Blessing of the Children: A Rhetorical Approach." Semeia 29 (1983) 43-74. [Originally published in: Society of Biblical Literature Seminar Papers. K. H. Richards, ed. Chico, Calif.: Scholars Press, 1982: 407-430. Responses added in republication.]

    "Mark I.14-20: An Interpretation at the Intersection of Jewish and Graeco-Roman Traditions." New Testament Studies 28 (1982) 220-236.

    "Pronouncement Stories and Jesus' Blessing of the Children: A Rhetorical Approach." In Society of Biblical Literature Seminar Papers. K. H. Richards, ed. Chico, Calif.: Scholars Press, 1982: 407-430.

    "Laudation Stories in the Gospel of Luke and Plutarch's Alexander." In Society of Biblical Literature Seminar Papers. K. H. Richards, ed. Chico, Calif.: Scholars Press, 1981: 293-308.

    "Classifying Pronouncement Stories in Plutarch's Parallel Lives." Semeia 20 (1981) 29-52.

    "Summons and Outline in Mark: The Three-Step Progression." Novum Testamentum 23 (1981) 97-114.

    "Rhetoric and Biblical Criticism." (With John H. Patton) Quarterly Journal of Speech 66 (1980) 327-337.

    "Mark as Genre." In Society of Biblical Literature Seminar Papers. P. J. Achtemeier, ed. Chico, Calif.: Scholars Press, 1980: 371-399.

    "Prefaces in Greco-Roman Biography and Luke-Acts." Perspectives in Religious Studies 6 (1979) 94-108. [Originally published in: Society of Biblical Literature Seminar Papers. P. J. Achtemeier, ed. Missoula, Mont.: Scholars Press, 1978: 2:193-207.]

    "Structuralism in Biblical Interpretation and Theology." The Thomist 42 (1978) 349-372.

    "Pronouncement Stories in Plutarch's Lives of Alexander and Julius Caesar." In Society of Biblical Literature Seminar Papers. P. J. Achtemeier, ed. Missoula, Mont.: Scholars Press, 1978: 2:21-38.

    "By Land and By Sea: The We-Passages and Ancient Sea Voyages." In Perspectives on Luke-Acts. C. H. Talbert, ed. Perspectives in Religious Studies, Special Studies Series, No. 5. Macon, Ga: Mercer Univ. Press and Edinburgh: T.& T. Clark, 1978: 215-242. [This article combines "The We-Passages in Acts and Ancient Sea Voyages" (1975) with "By Land and By Sea: A Study in Acts 13-28." In Society of Biblical Literature Seminar Papers. Missoula, Mont.: Scholars Press, 1976: 381-396.]

    "Last Meal—Preparation, Betrayal, and Absence—Mark 14:12-25." In The Passion in Mark. W. Kelber, ed. Philadelphia: Fortress Press, 1976: 21-40.

    "The We-Passages in Acts and Ancient Sea Voyages." Biblical Research 20 (1975) 5-18.

    "Dynameis and Semeia in Mark." Biblical Research 18 (1973) 1-16.

    "The Healing of Blind Bartimaeus (Mark 10:46-52) in the Markan Theology." Journal of Biblical Literature 92 (1973) 224-243.

    Pages maintained by Vernon K. Robbins; updated December 13, 2004
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