Luke's Jesus in the Roman Empire and the Emperor in the Gospel of Luke

Luke's Jesus in the Roman Empire and the Emperor in the Gospel of Luke
Author: Pyung-Soo Seo
Publisher: James Clarke & Company
Total Pages: 208
Release: 2015-08-27
Genre: Religion
ISBN: 0227904907

Shrewd and thoughtful, Pyung-Soo Seo offers an exciting and refreshing perspective on Luke's Gospel, which provides valuable clues to a deeper understanding of the vast power of the Roman Empire through Jesus' birth and trial accounts. Seo analyses the political role the Gospel played in the decades following the Crucifixion, and presents a compelling argument: the Bible emphasises Jesus' relationships with tax collectors as a way of displaying his moral authority, seen as he confronts one of the most hated aspects of the empire: the corruption and intimidation for which the emperor was ultimately responsible. Seo suggests that Luke wants us to compare Jesus and the emperor to show us how the emperor is found wanting. Concentrating on the titles of 'benefactor' and 'saviour' his analysis of Christ's moral authority is both discerning and erudite.

Christ and Caesar

Christ and Caesar
Author: Seyoon Kim
Publisher: Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing
Total Pages: 245
Release: 2008-10-07
Genre: Bibles
ISBN: 0802860087

This title looks at what kind of responses Paul made to the Roman Empire. The author subjects the methods of current interpreters to critical scrutiny and discusses what makes an anti-imperial interpretation of Pauline writings difficult.

The Path to Salvation in Luke's Gospel

The Path to Salvation in Luke's Gospel
Author: MiJa Wi
Publisher: Bloomsbury Publishing
Total Pages: 239
Release: 2019-05-23
Genre: Religion
ISBN: 0567687384

This book investigates Luke's message of salvation in relation to socio-economic issues, and thus concerns salvation of the rich as well as the poor. With a narrative reading of Luke's Gospel built on careful examination of its socio-economic context, it demonstrates that Luke's message of salvation is best understood as: 1) Divine mercy which champions the cause of the poor and redresses the injustice of the world, 2) Its human embodiment, and 3) Divine reward promised to those who enact mercy. Wi argues that Luke's question of 'what must we do?' juxtaposes salvation with 'doing', posing interesting questions with respect to the salvation of the rich. This volume highlights good news to the poor in terms of divine mercy and justice, shows that the reception of divine mercy calls for practices, which embody it, and above all clarifies Luke's notion of salvation of the rich which will happen as participation in the salvation of the poor. Wi's conclusion challenges its readers by asking the question along with Luke's audience: What must we do?

The First Christmas

The First Christmas
Author: Marcus J. Borg
Publisher: Harper Collins
Total Pages: 200
Release: 2009-10-13
Genre: Religion
ISBN: 006174364X

“Who could argue with the message the authors draw from the Bible’s Christmas stories? Light in the darkest time of the year, hope in a period of creeping despair—these are powerful and universal themes that can give everyone a stake in Christmas.” —USA Today In The First Christmas Marcus J. Borg and John Dominic Crossan—top Jesus scholars and authors of The Last Week—help us see the real Christmas story buried in the familiar Bible accounts. Basing their interpretations on the two nativity narratives in the Gospels of Matthew and Luke, Borg and Crossan focus on the literal story—the inner truth rather than the historical facts—to offer a clear and uplifting message of hope and peace. With The First Christmas readers get a fresh, deep, and new understanding of the nativity story, enabling us to better appreciate the powerful message of the Gospels.

Common Property, the Golden Age, and Empire in Acts 2:42-47 and 4:32-35

Common Property, the Golden Age, and Empire in Acts 2:42-47 and 4:32-35
Author: Joshua Noble
Publisher: Bloomsbury Publishing
Total Pages: 192
Release: 2020-10-15
Genre: Religion
ISBN: 0567695824

Joshua Noble focuses on the rapid appearance and disappearance in Acts 2 and 4 of the motif that early believers hold all their property in common, and argues that these descriptions function as allusions to the Golden Age myth. Noble suggests Luke's claims that the believers “had all things in common” and that “no one claimed private ownership of any possessions”-a motif that does not appear in any biblical source- rather calls to mind Greek and Roman traditions that the earliest humans lived in utopian conditions, when “no one ... possessed any private property, but all things were common.” By analyzing sources from Greek, Latin, Jewish, and Christian traditions, and reading Acts 2:42-47 and 4:32-35 as Golden Age allusions, Noble illustrates how Luke's use of the motif of common property is significant for understanding his attitude toward the Roman Empire. Noble suggests that Luke's appeal to this myth accomplishes two things: it characterizes the coming of the Spirit as marking the beginning of a new age, the start of a “universal restoration” that will find its completion at the Second Coming of Christ; and it creates a contrast between Christ, who has actually brought about this restoration, and the emperors of Rome, who were serially credited with inaugurating a new Golden Age.

From Jesus to Christ

From Jesus to Christ
Author: Paula Fredriksen
Publisher: Yale University Press
Total Pages: 286
Release: 2008-10-01
Genre: Religion
ISBN: 0300164106

"Magisterial. . . . A learned, brilliant and enjoyable study."—Géza Vermès, Times Literary Supplement In this exciting book, Paula Fredriksen explains the variety of New Testament images of Jesus by exploring the ways that the new Christian communities interpreted his mission and message in light of the delay of the Kingdom he had preached. This edition includes an introduction reviews the most recent scholarship on Jesus and its implications for both history and theology. "Brilliant and lucidly written, full of original and fascinating insights."—Reginald H. Fuller, Journal of the American Academy of Religion "This is a first-rate work of a first-rate historian."—James D. Tabor, Journal of Religion "Fredriksen confronts her documents—principally the writings of the New Testament—as an archaeologist would an especially rich complex site. With great care she distinguishes the literary images from historical fact. As she does so, she explains the images of Jesus in terms of the strategies and purposes of the writers Paul, Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John."—Thomas D’Evelyn, Christian Science Monitor

Luke's Gospel from Scratch

Luke's Gospel from Scratch
Author: Donald L. Griggs
Publisher: Westminster John Knox Press
Total Pages: 136
Release: 2011-08-26
Genre: Religion
ISBN: 161164125X

Building on the foundation of the popular volumes The Bible from Scratch: The Old Testament for Beginners and The New Testament for Beginners, Griggs offers a series of volumes based on the individual books of the Bible. A leader's guide and a participant section are included for each book. This new addition to the series looks at the Gospel of Luke, perhaps the most popular Gospel with its stories of the birth of Jesus, the boy Jesus conversing in the Temple, the good Samaritan, the prodigal son, the poor widow and her two copper coins, and rich Zacchaeus in a sycamore tree.

Jesus of Nazareth

Jesus of Nazareth
Author: Pope Benedict XVI
Publisher: A&C Black
Total Pages: 145
Release: 2012-12-04
Genre: Religion
ISBN: 1408194538

The greatly anticipated third volume of Pope Benedict's already internationally bestselling examination of the life of Jesus Christ and His message for people today. This renowned theologian, biblical scholar and Pastor of over a billion Roman Catholics helps us to rediscover the essence of the Christian Religion.

Matthew and the Margins

Matthew and the Margins
Author: Warren Carter
Publisher: Orbis Books
Total Pages: 841
Release: 2000
Genre: Religion
ISBN: 1570753245

A controversial take on the Gospel of Matthew applies the text to history and discusses its implications for political power and spirituality. Original.

The Acts of the Apostles

The Acts of the Apostles
Author: P.D. James
Publisher: Canongate Books
Total Pages: 93
Release: 1999-01-01
Genre: Bibles
ISBN: 0857861077

Acts is the sequel to Luke's gospel and tells the story of Jesus's followers during the 30 years after his death. It describes how the 12 apostles, formerly Jesus's disciples, spread the message of Christianity throughout the Mediterranean against a background of persecution. With an introduction by P.D. James