Whereas the new perspective on Paul considers Paul’s writings in the context of first-century Judaism, a more recent trend in Pauline studies considers Paul’s writings in the political context of imperial Rome. This development, pioneered most notably by scholars like Richard Horsley, Neil Elliott, and more recently John Dominic Crossan, was described as a “fresh” perspective on Paul by N.T. Wright in his 2000 Manson Memorial Lecture.
Might the new perspective and this more recent aspect of Pauline studies be considered two distinct but interrelated (complementary?) aspects of what may be more accurately characterized as a quest for the historical Paul? Perhaps this is a question that will be answered only in hindsight. Bracketing that question for the moment, here are a few helpful resources exploring this latest important development in Pauline studies.
[…] Bowyer, and Paul’s Gospel and Caesar’s Empire by N.T. Wright on the Articles page of Paul and Empire. Thanks to Bruce Lai for pointing out the broken links. Category: Blog […]
[…] Out My People!”: God’s Call Out of Empire in the Bible and Beyond Paul and Empire Christ & Empire: From Paul to Postcolonial Times Christ and the Emperor God, Neighbor, […]
[…] The “apples and oranges” comment is best addressed by a monumental study entitled The Moral Vision of the New Testament: A Contemporary Introduction to New Testament Ethics by New Testament scholar Richard Hays; or a massive study by evangelical theologians Glen Stassen and David Gushee called Kingdom Ethics: Following Jesus in Contemporary Context; or yet another amazing research project by Mennonite theologian Willard Swartley, Covenant of Peace: The Missing Peace in New Testament Theology and Ethics. A great website is a section of “The Paul Page” (http://www.thepaulpage.com/), called “Paul and Empire” (http://www.thepaulpage.com/paul-and-empire/introduction-and-summary/). […]