"In his nineteen page introduction, Huttunen, a researcher in NT studies as the University of Helsinki, defends applying the Stoic perspective t Paul and the Law. Then he treats the following topics: law and the core of Epictetus' philosophy (Epictetus' Stoic theory of value; Paul's Christian Stoicism in 1 Corinthians 7 and 9); the fundamentals of law (God and nature in Epictetus; Paul on God, law, and nature in Romans 1 and 2); the strong and the weak (Epictetus' law on the weaker and the strong; Paul--love between the weak and the strong); difficulties with the law (views on marriage in Epictetus and in Paul; Epictetus and Paul on divine law and state law); the anthropology and psychology of transgression (moral contradictions and anthropological dichotomy in Epictetus; contradictions of the 'I'--Stoicism in Romans 7); and fulfilling the law (Epictetus--progress after examples; Paul--deeds and Christ). Huttunen concludes that comparison between Paul and Epictetus opens a window not only on Stoic ideas but also on the intellectual landscape of the first centuries A.D."

New Testament Abstracts, Vol. 54

«While some of his readings of Paul and (the) law will probably be controversial to scholars, Huttunen has succeeded in opening up new ways of approaching this difficult topic. At the same time, he has provided a valuable presentation of Stoic theory as expressed by the Epictetus with a number of useful textual examples. One of the greatest strengths of Huttunen's study is precisely his careful and insightful analysis of Epictetus's lectures, which will undoubtedly prove helpful to Pauline scholarship, far beyond studies of Paul and (the) law.»

Journal of Religion

«Reviewed in Journal for the Study of The New Testament, Volume 33 Number 5»

«As a salutary supplement to the customary approaches of the "old" and "new" perspectives on Paul, this is an initial foray into an area that merits further study.»

Religious Studies Review