As the title implies, The New Testament as Reception systematically explores the concept of the New Testament as a "reception" of various antecedents. Three of the antecedents it examines are the Old Testament, Second Temple Judaism, and Graeco-Roman culture. The contributors also explore the reception of Jesus, using as examples the Synoptic parables, Matthew's Messianic Teacher, and the Christology of the Book of Revelation. Paul is considered in a chapter on his reception in Acts, and three final chapters survey broader themes, such as feminist reception, reception history within the New Testament (using the Annunciation as an example), and translation as interpretation.
“But when it comes to the reception of Paul in the Acts of the Apostles it must be admitted that it is quite uncertain what kind of a reception one should be speaking of.” (Page 101)
“What distinguished Christians was solely the starting point of interpretation, that is, the belief that Jesus Christ was the revelation of the true meaning of Holy Writ.” (Page 1)
“Seen in its proper perspective New Testament literature can be characterized as an attempt to maintain a specific interpretation of the Old Testament.” (Page 1)
“major modern interpreters who have in some cases attached relatively little importance to the ‘Greek connection’.” (Page 36)
“The Greeks were conceptualizers. That, among other things, is what their ‘invention’ of philosophy is all about.” (Page 35)
Møgens Müller is Professor of New Testament Exegesis at the University of Copenhagen.
Henrik Tronier is Assistant Professor at the Institute for Biblical Exegesis, University of Copenhagen.