Paul's language of Zēlos

Benjamin J. Lappenga

"In Paul's Language of [Zēlos], Benjamin Lappenga harnesses linguistic insights recently formulated within the framework of relevance theory to argue that within the letters of Paul (specifically Galatians, 1-2 Corinthians, and Romans), the [zēlos] word group is monosemic. Linking the responsible treatment of lexemes in the interpretive process with new insight into Paul's rhetorical and theological task, Lappenga demonstrates that the mental encyclopedia activated by the term [zēlos] is 'shaped' within Paul's discourse and thus transforms the meaning of [zēlos] for attentive ('model') readers. Such identity-forming strategies promote a series of practices that may be grouped under the rubric of 'rightly-directed [zēlos]'; specifically, emulation of 'weak' people and things, eager pursuit of community-building gifts, and the avoidance of jealous rivalry."--