SBL Annual Meeting 2007 San Diego Paul and Scripture Seminar

The fact that Paul in a significant number of passages in his letters refers explicitly or implicitly to the Scriptures is taken as obvious evidence that he perceived Scriptures as authority not only for his own life but for the life of the Christ-followers he addresses as well. This perception of the Scriptures as the unquestioned authority at least in the life of Paul (and most likely the other apostles as well) constitutes the starting point of such excellent and divergent analyses as C. D.Stanley’s two monographs, R. Hays’ monograph and volume of essays, J.R. Wagner’s volume on Isaiah in Romans to name only a few. Although these analyses differ in their focus, methodology and conclusions they presuppose that the reference to ‘the authority of Scripture’ is self-explanatory, thus none of these approaches further investigates what ‘the authority of Scripture’ in their view actually means. Stanley seem to take it for granted that reference to the authority of Scripture is made ‘...in order to ground an argument or settle a dispute’ If the authority of Scripture is acknowledged ‘..direct quotations from the holy text would be greeted with respect and (Paul hoped) submission.’ Hays also does not further elaborate on the question of ‘authoritative text’ when he asserts that ‘Paul is seeking to ground his exposition of the gospel in Israel’s sacred texts.’