Paul the Ancient Letter Writer: An Introduction to Epistolary Analysis

Jeffrey A.D. Weima's Paul the Ancient Letter Writer offers a clear and user-friendly introduction to the interpretive method called "epistolary analysis," demonstrating how focusing on the form and function of Paul's letters yields valuable insights into the apostle's purpose and meaning. Weima helps readers interpret Paul's letters properly by paying close attention to the apostle's use of ancient letter-writing conventions. Paul is an extremely skilled letter writer who deliberately adapts or expands traditional epistolary forms so that his persuasive purposes are enhanced.

Paul the Ancient Letter Writer is an ideal supplemental textbook for courses on Paul or the New Testament. It contains numerous analyses of key Pauline texts, including a final chapter analyzing the apostle's Letter to Philemon as a "test case" to demonstrate the benefits of this interpretive approach.