Resisting Empire: Rethinking the Purpose of the Letter to "the Hebrews" (The Library of New Testament Studies) - Softcover

Whitlark, Jason A.

Softcover

ISBN 10: 056766676X ISBN 13: 9780567666765

Publisher: Bloomsbury T&T Clark, 2016

Synopsis

This book offers a fresh reading about the purpose for which Hebrews was written. In this book Whitlark argues that Hebrews engages both the negative pressures (persecution) and positive attractions (honor/prosperity) of its audience's Roman imperial context. Consequently, the audience of Hebrews appears to be in danger of defecting to the pagan imperial context. Due to the imperial nature of these pressures, Hebrews obliquely critiques the imperial script according to the rhetorical expectations in the first-century Mediterranean world-namely, through the use of figured speech. This critique is the primary focus of Whitlark's project. Whitlark examines Hebrews's figured response to the imperial hopes boasted by Rome along with Rome's claim to eternal rule, to the power of life and death, and to be led by the true, victorious ruler. Whitlark also makes a case for discerning Hebrews's response to the challenges of Flavian triumph. Whitlark concludes his study by suggesting that Hebrews functions much like Revelation, that is, to resist the draw of the Christians' Roman imperial context. This is done, in part, by providing a covert opposition to Roman imperial discourse. He also offers evaluation of relapse theories for Hebrews, of Hebrews's place among early Christian martyrdom, and of the nature of the resistance that Hebrews promotes.

About this title

About the Author

Jason A. Whitlark is an Associate Professor of New Testament at Baylor University, USA.

Edition details

• Publisher: Bloomsbury T&T Clark
• Publication date: 2016
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 056766676X
• ISBN 13: 9780567666765
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 248