Papers by Jordan Atkinson
The Bible Translator, 2021
The prepositional phrase ἐν ᾧ occurs repeatedly in 1 Peter, and scholars debate its function in e... more The prepositional phrase ἐν ᾧ occurs repeatedly in 1 Peter, and scholars debate its function in each occurrence. To determine the most likely functions of the phrase, this article analyzes each instance in the book. Based on the context of each occurrence, ἐν ᾧ is likely causal in 1 Pet 1.6 and 3.16, where it should be translated as “because of this” or “because of which.” In 1 Pet 2.12, ἐν ᾧ is both causal and concessive. In 1 Pet 3.19, however, it is likely a dative of reference, so should be translated as “in which.” Finally, in 1 Pet 4.4, ἐν ᾧ again functions causally.
Themelios, 2021
This article argues that 1 Peter 1:10-12 contains Peter's hermeneutic for interpreting Old Testam... more This article argues that 1 Peter 1:10-12 contains Peter's hermeneutic for interpreting Old Testament messianic prophecies in 1 Peter. Though the scholarly consensus is that these verses govern every use of Scripture throughout 1 Peter, an exegesis of 1 Peter 1:10-12 reveals that Peter only discusses Old Testament prophecy in these verses. In addition to quoting prophecies, though, Peter also quotes the Law and wisdom literature. The hermeneutic for the Law and wisdom literature in 1 Peter is distinct from that of prophecy and is a model for how Christians should continue to interpret biblical texts according to their genres.
Themelios, 2020
This article argues that Paul compares the day of the Lord to a thief in the night in 1 Thessalon... more This article argues that Paul compares the day of the Lord to a thief in the night in 1 Thessalonians 5:2 because of the influence of Joel 2:9. While the scholarly consensus is that the thief imagery owes to Jesus's thief imagery for his second coming in Matthew 24:42-44 or Luke 12:39-40, Joel 2:9 better fits the criteria for allusions identified in G. K. Beale's Handbook on the New Testament Use of the Old Testament. Paul's contextually faithful interpretation of Joel 2:9 is a model for how Christians should continue to interpret OT prophetic literature.
Book Reviews by Jordan Atkinson
Themelios, 2023
book review of the two-volume 1 Peter commentary by Travis B. Williams and David G. Horrell in th... more book review of the two-volume 1 Peter commentary by Travis B. Williams and David G. Horrell in the International Critical Commentary
Midwestern Journal of Theology, 2023
review of Timothy Miller, Echoes of Jesus in 1 Peter
Southern Baptist Journal of Theology, 2022
review of Karen H. Jobes, 1 Peter, 2nd edition (BECNT)
Southern Baptist Journal of Theology, 2022
review of Craig S. Keener, 1 Peter
Themelios, 2022
In this monograph based on her Durham University doctoral research, Katie Marcar contends that in... more In this monograph based on her Durham University doctoral research, Katie Marcar contends that in 1 Peter, "the ascription of believers' ethnic identity in 2:9-10 is founded on the complex metaphor of divine regeneration and its familial entailments" (p. 1). Her work especially seeks to advance Petrine scholarship past four "pitfalls" that characterized past studies of regeneration in 1 Peter: (1) being too broad in scope; (2) over-harmonizing 1 Peter with the Gospels or Pauline Epistles; (3) speculating about background influences; and (4) "not fully appreciat[ing] the gendered aspects of the Petrine imagery" (pp. 3-4). To accomplish these things, Marcar adopts "a fresh methodology" combining the sociological study of ethnicity with metaphor studies in order to apply them to 1 Peter (p. 6). The first two chapters situate this book within these two fields, respectively. Applying sociological insights on ethnicity to 1 Peter is appropriate because "within the New Testament, Christians are explicitly described as an ethnic group only in 1 Peter" (p. 7). Based on the previous work of sociologist Anthony Smith and its application to 1 Peter by David Horrell, Marcar provides a robust definition of ethnicity so that she may argue, "1 Peter casts Christian identity in terms of ethnicity, and divine descent [regeneration] is the cornerstone on which this construction rests" (p. 14). Marcar's argument, then, is two-pronged: (1) Christians are of a distinct ethnicity in 1 Peter, and (2) divine regeneration is the source of Christians' distinct ethnicity. Divine regeneration in 1 Peter is what requires Marcar to use metaphor studies, since spiritual regeneration uses physical generation metaphorically. A metaphor "transfer[s] meaning from a source domain to a target domain" (p. 30). Marcar identifies metaphors related to ethnic identity in 1 Peter by following the Pragglejaz Group's Metaphor Identification Procedure (MIP), the first step of which is to "read the entire text-discourse to establish a general understanding of the meaning" (p. 45). She thus provides her interpretation of 1 Peter in chapter 3. Then, in chapters 4-7, she interprets ethnic identity metaphors in 1 Peter "within their textual, linguistic, cultural, and theological context through a robust historical-critical study of Jewish and early Christian traditions" (p. 32). In chapter 4, Marcar first defends her thesis that divine re-begetting gives Christians a new ethnic identity, based on divine regeneration, which is prominent in 1 Peter 1:3-5. Marcar develops Paul Achtemeier's insight that "rebirth and rebegetting are different concepts; one is gendered feminine, the other masculine-1 Peter speaks of divine begetting, not divine rebirth" (p. 64). Divine begetting importantly portrays God as Christians' Father. With God as Father, Christians have an ethnicity distinct from non-Christians, who do not have God as Father. Marcar helpfully points out that divine
Southern Baptist Journal of Theology, 2021
review of Andreas Kostenberger, General Epistles and Revelation
Westminster Theological Journal, 2021
review of Dennis R. Edwards, 1 Peter (Story of God Bible Commentary)
Themelios, 2022
Review of Jude's Apocalyptic Eschatology by William Renay Wilson II
Midwestern Journal of Theology, 2021
review of Gene L. Green, Vox Petri
Themelios, 2020
review of Katherine M. Hockey, The Role of Emotion in 1 Peter
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Papers by Jordan Atkinson
Book Reviews by Jordan Atkinson