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

While scholars have often found value in comparing Wisdom and Romans, a comparison of the use of personification in these works has not yet been made, despite the striking parallels between them. Furthermore, while scholars have studied many of these personifications in detail, no one has investigated an individual personification with respect to the general use of the trope in the work. Instead, most of this research focuses on a personification in relation to its nature as either a rhetorical device or a supernatural power. The “Powers” of Personification seeks to push beyond this debate by evaluating the evidence in a different light – that of its purpose within the overall use of personification in the respective work and in comparison with another piece of contemporaneous theological literature.

This book proposes that the authors of Wisdom and Romans employ personification to distance God from the origin of evil, to deflect attention away from the problem of righteous suffering to the positive sides of the experience, or to defer the solution for the suffering of the righteous to the future.

"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