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Paul and Empire: Religion and Power in Roman Imperial Society (1997) is a volume edited by Richard A. Horsley.

Abstract

"Over the centuries, Paul has been understood as the prototypical convert from Judaism to Christianity. At the time of Paul’s conversion, however, Christianity did not yet exist. Moreover, Paul says nothing to indicate that he was abandoning Judaism or Israel. He, in fact, understood his mission as the fulfillment of the promises to Israel and of Israel’s own destiny. In brief, Paul’s gospel and mission were set over against the Roman Empire, not Judaism.This anthology brings together incisive and groundbreaking essays on: 1) "The Gospel of Imperial Salvation," revealing how the imperial cult, by its dominance in urban public space, created a pervasive presence of imperial beneficence and salvation integrated into traditional Greek religion; (2) "Patronage and Power", disclosing the networks of patronage relations that held the empire together, so as to render occupying troops and imperial bureaucracy unnecessary in urbanized areas such as Corinth and Ephesus, key centers of Paul's mission, (3) "Paul's Articulation of an Alternative Gospel", discerning how Paul borrows much of the key language of the imperial religion in preaching his own gospel of a Lord who had been crucified by imperial rulers but vindicated by God as the true universal Lord, (4) "The Assemblies of an Alternative International Society," exploring ways in which the assemblies Paul founded in Asia Minor and Greece were to embody patterns alternative to the hierarchical human relations that dominated Roman imperial society."--Publisher description.

Editions

Published in Harrisburg, PA: Trinity Press International, 1997

Translations

• Paul kwa Roma Cheguk: Roma chegukchuŭi sahoe ŭi chonggyo wa kwŏllyŏk (2007 Horsley / Hong), edited volume (Korean ed.)

Table of contents

Laus imperii / P.A. Brunt -- Who is the true prophet? / Dieter Georgi -- Rituals and power / S.R.F. Price -- The power of images / Paul Zanker -- Patronal power relations / Peter Garnsey and Richard Saller --Patronage in Roman Corinth / John K. Chow -- The veil of power / Richard Gordon -- God turned upside down / Dieter Georgi -- Imperial ideology and Paul's eschatology in 1 Thessalonians / Helmut Koester -- The anti-imperial message of the cross ; Romans 13:1-7 in the context of imperial propaganda / Neil Elliott -- The imperial cults of Thessalonica and political conflict in 1 Thessalonians / Karl P. Donfried -- The praxis of coequal discipleship / Elisabeth Schüssler Fiorenza -- 1 Corinthians : a case study of Paul's assembly as an alternative society / Richard A. Horsley

External links

• [ Google Books]