Vernon K. Robbins è un eminente studioso di testi del Nuovo Testamento e sacri comparati, riconosciuto per aver avviato la critica socio-retorica. La sua opera fondamentale introdusse un metodo per interpretare gli intricati strati dei testi, esaminandone le dimensioni interne, intertestuali, sociali, culturali, ideologiche e sacre. Attraverso strategie programmatiche delineate nei suoi libri recenti, Robbins offre un approccio sofisticato alla comprensione della natura multiforme del significato testuale. Svolge inoltre un ruolo significativo nel discorso accademico come editore e co-presidente di un seminario.
The collection of essays by Vernon K. Robbins provides a foundational analysis of early Christian and New Testament rhetoric, making it a vital resource for scholars in the field. Introduced by David B. Gowler, these works stimulate critical thought and offer significant insights into the rhetorical strategies employed in early Christianity.
Focusing on the techniques of persuasion in the Gospels, this work by Mack and Robbins reinvigorates Synoptic studies by integrating insights from Greco-Roman education and rhetoric. Their detailed examination of rhetorical handbooks reveals how Gospel writers effectively employed chreiai to shape the Jesus traditions. This scholarly analysis is essential for anyone deeply engaged in the critical study of the Gospels, offering a fresh perspective on the narrative strategies utilized in these foundational texts.