Resurrection as Anti-Imperial Gospel: 1 Thessalonians 1:9b-10 in Context

by Edward Pillar (Editor)

Overview

Presuming that the heart of Pauls gospel announcement was the news that God had raised Jesus from the dead (as indicated in 1 Thessalonians 1:9b-10), Pillar explores the evidence in Pauls letter and in aspects of the Roman imperial culture in Thessalonica in order to imagine what that proclamation would have evoked for its first hearers. He argues that the gospel of resurrection would have been heard as fundamentally anti-imperial: Jesus of Nazareth was executed by means of the epitome of imperial power. The resurrection thus subverts and usurps the empires immense power. The argument is verified in aspects of the response of those living in a thoroughly imperialized metropolis.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781451465686
Publisher:	1517 Media
Publication date:	08/01/2013
Series:	Emerging Scholars
Pages:	320
Product dimensions:	8.90(w) x 5.90(h) x 0.80(d)

About the Author

Edward Pillar is minister of Evesham Baptist Church in Evesham, U.K. This is his dissertation completed at the University of Wales, Trinity St. David School of Theology, under Kathy Ehrensperger and William S. Campbell.

Table of Contents

Preface ix

Abbreviations xi

Introduction 1

1 "Whom he raised from the dead" 11

2 Turning to God 47

3 Turning to God from idols 77

4 "To serve …" 113

5 "The living and true God" 145

6 Waiting… 177

7 "The son from the heavens" 193

8 "Jesus, who rescues us from wrath" 227

9 Conclusion 253

Bibliography 267

Index of Subjects 295

Index of Authors 299

Index of Biblical and Ancient Literature References 303