Within the plenitude of Pauline studies, Contested body: Metaphors of dominion in Romans 5–8 provides a cohesive scholarly investigation into metaphors of dominion employed by Paul. This book advances the understanding that the body is the specific space where forces vie in Romans 5-8.

Copyright © 2020 Anette Potgieter (Author)

In recent metaphor theory, metaphors are not considered as merely decorative devices, but are in fact pervasive to language. Humans think and speak in terms of metaphors, sometimes activating contemporary conceptual metaphors without even noting. Annette Potgieter demonstrates in this scholarly book that Paul employed in Romans5-8 myriad images to persuade his auditors. Among Pauline studies, there has not yet been a coherent investigation into the role of these metaphors of dominion within Paul’s strategy of persuasion in Romans 5–8. Potgieter fills this gap in her book. She argues that Paul drew on imagery from his time and situation in order to persuade his audience that in their bodies they have liberated from the dominion of Sin. He assured them that no force or power, not even death, can separate those who believe from the love of God. This book makes a significant contribution to the understanding of Paul’s overall argument in Romans 5-8, focussing on the chains of metaphors in the argument and utilising the intra-textual relations between different sections of the discourse. In various ways, Annette Potgieter advances our understanding of a central section of Paul’s letters and makes an important contribution to further discussion on Paul’s anthropology.

Prof. Dr Cilliers Breytenbach, Professor Emeritus for
New Testament, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin,
Berlin, Germany