Subversive Meals: An Analysis of the Lord's Supper under Roman Domination during the First Century

by R. Alan Streett

Overview

Subversive Meals examines the Lord's Supper within the sociopolitical context of first-century Roman domination, and concludes that it was an anti-imperial praxis. Although the Christian communal meal looked much like a typical Roman banquet in structure, with a deipnon and a symposion, it was essentially different. The Roman meal supported the empire's ideology, honored Caesar and the gods, reinforced stratification among the masses, and upheld Rome's right to rule the world. The Christian meal, on the other hand, included hymns that extolled Jesus as Lord, prophecies that challenged Rome's ideological claims, and letters--read aloud--that promoted egalitarianism and instructed believers on how to live according to kingdom of God principles. Hence, the Christian banquet was an act of nonviolent resistance, or what James C. Scott calls a "hidden transcript."

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781621897569
Publisher:	Wipf & Stock Publishers
Publication date:	06/27/2013
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
Pages:	340
File size:	3 MB

About the Author

R. Alan Streett (PhD, University of Wales) is Senior Research Professor of Biblical Exegesis and the W. A. Criswell Endowed Chair of Expository Preaching at Criswell College, Dallas, Texas.
R. Alan Streett is senior research professor of biblical theology at Criswell College, Dallas, Texas. He is author of Subversive Meals and Caesar and the Sacrament.

Table of Contents

Acknowledgments xi

1 Introduction 1

1.1 Statement of the Problem

1.2 Need for the Study

1.3 The Importance of the Study

1.4 Objectives of the Study

1.5 Limitations of the Study

1.6 Outline of the Study

2 The Roman Banquet as a Model for the Lord's Supper 7

Part 1 The Structures and Kinds of Roman Banquets

2.1 Introduction

2.2 The Roman Banquet: An Overview

2.3 The Structure of Roman Banquets

2.4 The Ethical Foundation of the Banquet

2.5 Various Types of Banquets

2.6 Christian Communal Meals

Part 2 Voluntary Associations and Anti-Imperialism

2.7 Different Bands of Associations

2.8 The Roman Banquet as the Heart of the Association Meeting

2.9 The Association as a Model for the Local Church

2.10 The Potential Anti-Imperial Threat of Associations

2.11 Scenario

2.12 Conclusion

3 The Passover as an Anti-Imperial Activity 52

3.1 Introduction

3.2 Exodus from Egypt

3.3 Excursus: The Fourfold Purpose of Memory

3.4 The Eating of the Passover and the March from Egypt

3.5 Passovers as Liturgical Enactments

3.6 Passover during the Divided Kingdom

3.7 Prophetic Pronouncements of Judgment and Restoration

3.8 Returning Exiles Reinstitute the Passover

3.9 Hellenization and Passover

3.10 Passover under Roman Imperialism

3.11 Conclusion

4 The Jesus Movement in Its First-Century CE Context 80

4.1 Introduction

4.2 The Jewish Experience of Domination

4.3 The Roman Empire as a Domination System

4.4 The Administration of Palestine

4.5 Jewish Resistance to Domination

4.6 Jesus as a Political Prophet

4.7 The Dove and the Donkey: Jesus as God's Anti-Imperial Caesar

4.8 Jesus as God's Caesar

4.9 The Church Preaches an Anti-Imperial Message

4.10 Conclusion

5 Jesus' Lukan Meals as a Venue to Proclaim His Anti-Imperial Gospel of the Kingdom 131

5.1 Introduction

5.2 Eating with Saints and Sinners: A Picture of the Kingdom

5.3 Meals in Luke: Eating with Saints and Sinners

5.4 Excursus: A Brief Word about the Other Meals in the Gospel of Luke

5.5 Conclusion

6 The Last Supper as an Anti-Imperial Banquet 171

6.1 Introduction

6.2 The Last Supper as a Passover Meal

6.3 A Pre-Supper Plot to Kill Jesus

6.4 Arranging and Preparing the Passover

6.5 Jesus' Final Passover: Opening Remarks

6.6 The First Cup

6.7 Reinterpreting the Passover Meal

6.8 Aligning with the Imperial Powers

6.9 Anti-Imperial Instructions

6.10 The Giving of a Kingdom

6.11 From Last Supper to Lord's Supper

6.12 Conclusion

7 The Anti-Imperial Nature of Christian Meals 202

7.1 An Anti-Imperial Interpretation of 1 Cor 11:23-26

7.2 Other Ways the Christian Meal can be Viewed as Anti-Imperial Praxis

7.3 Conclusion

8 Prophecy as an Anti-Imperial Meal Activity 236

8.1 Introduction

8.2 Prophecy in the Book of Acts

8.3 Prophecy in First Corinthians

8.4 First Thessalonians 5:19-22

8.5 Symposia Prophecy in the Apocalypse

8.6 Excursus: Revelation 3:20

8.7 Conclusion

9 Conclusion 286

Bibliography 289

Scripture Index 315