The 'Powers' of Personification Rhetorical Purpose in the 'Book of Wisdom' and the Letter to the Romans

"Dodson's fascinating comparative study, of personification in Wisdom and Romans is a fresh and rich addition to the NT bookshelf. [...] This beautifully written book is a stimulating, original contribution to scholarship."Jane Heath in: Journal for the Study of the New Testament 5/2010 "Dodson's thoroughly researched discussion carefully examines personification in Wisdom and Romans in an effort to get at the purposes for which this device is deployed. He boldly wades into deep and complex theological waters and seeks to explain how Paul and the sage have navigated the currents. When looking at a device such as personification in a piece of literature, there is a constant struggle not to lose sight of its wider argument. This book sent me back to the primary sources to examine them again with new questions and heightened sensitivity to the way authors use personification and other literary tools. Dodson deserves our thanks for pushing us to see what the texts say and how they say it."Jim Hamilton SBTS, Louisville Despite some "inaccuracies and other weaknesses, either insignificant or attributable to scope, the book makes an important contribution to scholarship by presenting the first comprehensive analysis and comparison of the use of personification in Rom and Wis...Dodson's work is thus foundational in several respects. Others working on personification, Rom, Wis, the relationship between these texts, or various topics, such as sin, can be grateful that Dodson has either paved the way or offered important insights."Alec J. Lucas Loyola University, Chicago