The Conversion of the Imagination

Paul as Interpreter of Israel's Scripture
Richard B. Hays

R. B. Hays has written a book detailing the narrative substructure of Paul's letters. He argues with convincing clarity that when Paul quotes or cites Old Testament texts, he is not just prooftexting his own arguments. Rather, he is drawing them in, often quite subtly, to the narrative context of the Old Testament quotation. He may only cite one verse, but he will continue to use vocabulary from the Old Testament narrative to situate his readers within that narrative and give his audiences both identity and exhortation on the ground of their place in Israel's story.

Hays has done a remarkable job, and reading this book ought to cause us to have our own imaginations "converted" as we read both Paul and the New Testament. Hays notes that Paul does not quote the Law to command his readers, even when those laws would seem applicable. Rather, he draws them in to Israel's story, situates them in their proper place, and exhorts them on that basis--as the people of God living on this side of the cross.

The last essay is called "hermeneutics of trust." That essay is worth the whole book. He both critiques the postmodern "hermeneutics of suspicion" and also gives us a new way of looking at the Scriptures from the basis of faith. While not decidedly evangelical, and while he comes from the so called "new perspective," this is still quite an intriguing read.