Vernon K. Robbins je profesorom Nového zákona a porovnávacích posvätných textov na Emory University. V roku 1984 zahájil svojou prácou „Jesus the Teacher: A Socio-Rhetorical Interpretation of Mark“ sociálno-rétorickú kritiku v bádaniach o Novom zákone. Jeho prístup k interpretácii vnútornej, medzitextovej, sociálnej, kultúrnej, ideologickej a posvätnej textúry textov predstavuje vo svojich najnovších knihách. Robbins je tiež editorom série Emory Studies in Early Christianity a spolupredsedom seminára sociálno-rétorickej interpretácie.
The collection of essays by Vernon K. Robbins provides a foundational analysis of early Christian and New Testament rhetoric, making it a vital resource for scholars in the field. Introduced by David B. Gowler, these works stimulate critical thought and offer significant insights into the rhetorical strategies employed in early Christianity.
Focusing on the techniques of persuasion in the Gospels, this work by Mack and Robbins reinvigorates Synoptic studies by integrating insights from Greco-Roman education and rhetoric. Their detailed examination of rhetorical handbooks reveals how Gospel writers effectively employed chreiai to shape the Jesus traditions. This scholarly analysis is essential for anyone deeply engaged in the critical study of the Gospels, offering a fresh perspective on the narrative strategies utilized in these foundational texts.