The British-American New Testament Academic Divide

I am currently reviewing the second edition of W. Meeks’ well-known The Writings of St. Paul (Norton & co.).  It is an amazing anthology of texts by Paul, texts closely related (apocryphal), and texts about Paul (patristic, early modern, modern).  the updated version includes modern scholarly reflections on Paul and approaches to studying his letters.  A sampling of the newly-added scholars includes: Boyarin, Segal, Fredriksen, Paul Meyer, Stowers, Bassler, Malherbe, M.M. Mitchell, Dale Martin, etc…  As Meeks was trying to offer a ‘sampler of modern apporaches to Paul and His Letters’ – where are the Brits?  I was suprised to not see folks such as N.T. Wright, James Dunn, CK Barrett, John Barclay, Francis Watson, Morna Hooker, etc…  To me, this is symptomatic of the unfortunate British-American divide in NT scholarship.

What has helped to bridge this gap, or at least begin some shuttling, is the whole ‘theological interpretation’ enterprise and the Center of Theological Inquiry which does not appear to be anti-British.  As a Durham student, I am disappointed that Prof. Meeks did not see it fit to include any of the Durham scholars who have made a huge impact on NT scholarship – not least in Pauline studies!