Resurrection as Anti-Imperial Gospel: 1 Thessalonians 1:9b-10 in Context
Presuming that the heart of Paul’s 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 Paul’s 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 empire’s immense power. The argument is verified in aspects of the response of those living in a thoroughly imperialized metropolis.
- Format Paperback
- ISBN 9781451465686
- eBook ISBN 9781451469684
- Pages 320
- Emerging Scholars category Bible
- Dimensions 6 x 9
- Publication Date August 1, 2013
Endorsements
"Seldom has the resurrection of Christ been given such a powerful and immediate social and political relevance in a specific first century context. Pillar shows the centrality of the resurrection for the life of Christ-followers in an imperial setting, thus challenging the contemporary reader to obedience to Christ and resistance to dominating powers from whatever source."
—William S. Campbell
University of Wales, Trinity St. David
"This well-informed study presents a stimulating analysis of the resurrection in its relevance in the context of imperial domination. Pillar highlights the subversive and liberating power of faith in the one vindicated in the resurrection, not least in its relevance also for contemporary church and society."
—Kathy Ehrensperger
University of Wales, Trinity St. David
"From the vantage point of a vista of literary, numismatic, and archeological evidence, Pillar offers us in this study a fresh look at 1 Thessalonians 1:9–10, the first literary attestation of the resurrection of Jesus from the dead. Sharing the lens of Pillar's perspective on what Paul wrote about the resurrection in the earliest of his letters helps us to understand in a new and different way just how much of an impact the announcement of the good news of the resurrection made upon those who first heard Paul's gospel. Resurrection as Anti-Imperial Gospel is a must read."
—Raymond F. Collins
Brown University
—William S. Campbell
University of Wales, Trinity St. David
"This well-informed study presents a stimulating analysis of the resurrection in its relevance in the context of imperial domination. Pillar highlights the subversive and liberating power of faith in the one vindicated in the resurrection, not least in its relevance also for contemporary church and society."
—Kathy Ehrensperger
University of Wales, Trinity St. David
"From the vantage point of a vista of literary, numismatic, and archeological evidence, Pillar offers us in this study a fresh look at 1 Thessalonians 1:9–10, the first literary attestation of the resurrection of Jesus from the dead. Sharing the lens of Pillar's perspective on what Paul wrote about the resurrection in the earliest of his letters helps us to understand in a new and different way just how much of an impact the announcement of the good news of the resurrection made upon those who first heard Paul's gospel. Resurrection as Anti-Imperial Gospel is a must read."
—Raymond F. Collins
Brown University