From Slaves to Sons

Released : New York: Peter Lang, 2005

This is an updated and revised version of Dr. Tsang's Ph.D. dissertation. It deals with slavery as a metaphor in Galatians by using the New Rhetoric model of metaphor. This is just an example of what the model can do for any metaphor. The book should prove to be helpful in suggesting a deeper understanding in the communication process Paul's letter writing.

Recommendations:

This study illumines Paul’s use of the slavery metaphor with rigor and freshness, intelligently marshaling Greco-Roman sources with the wealth of Pauline research into slavery in the last decade—all the while maintaining exegetical credibility with the text of Galatians. No mean feat. Much has been written on the social and rhetorical functions of slavery in Paul’s letters, but no one has combined all the relevant results into a unified metaphor as Dr. Tsang has. This study will surely open up new questions in Pauline studies for years to come. Bravo!

Sze-kar Wan
John Norris Professor of New Testament Interpretation
Andover Newton Theological School

This work is thoroughly informed both by Greco-Roman contextual study and by contemporary rhetorical/argumentative theory of metaphor. Dr Tsang offers a fine-grained analysis of the slavery metaphors in Galatians, identifying the apologetic, polemical, and didactic uses of Paul's slavery language. His close study of the rhetorical function of such language thus marks important distinctions within material otherwise run together in contemporary research. Students of Paul and Galatians, Greco-Roman social context, metaphor, and rhetoric will find this insightful book a most welcome addition to the literature.

R. Barry Matlock,
Lecturer in New Testament
University of Sheffield

I see Dr Tsang’s study as exemplifying many of the best qualities that Sheffield’s programme has now famously nurtured in its students for several decades: most notably, methodological creativity, but also hermeneutical awareness, sensitivity to the structure and communicative dynamics of texts, and ability to engage in polite but very robust debate with the best of contemporary criticism. Precisely what those results are, Dr Tsang has communicated with knowledge and clarity that cannot be improved on here. Whether readers of this fine work can improve on Dr Tsang’s interpretation of the slavery metaphors in Galatians will depend, I suspect, at least partly on their willingness to wrestle with the sophisticated contribution to that topic in the ensuing pages.

Todd Klutz
Lecturer in New Testament
University of Manchester

Several features of this book make it valuable to NT students. First, it does provide a model for students wishing to use rhetorical analysis on a text. In addition, the book utilizes several first-century sources to demonstrate the Roman mindset on slavery and its role in society. This adds to an understanding of the general culture in Galatia. Also, it seems that the book contributes to one’s understanding of Paul’s purpose of writing the book to the Galatians.

Review of Biblical Literature