The Lion Against the Eagle: A Critical Appraisal of the Anti-Imperial Reading of Paul
The article presents a synthetic analysis of empire criticism in Pauline letters, beginning with the omnipresence and character of imperial cult in Paul’s time. Subsequently, the author highlights the places in Pauline letters that are usually associated with anti-imperial rhetoric. The following p...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Uniwersytet Kardynała Stefana Wyszyńskiego w Warszawie
2023-05-01
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| Series: | Collectanea Theologica |
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| Online Access: | https://czasopisma.uksw.edu.pl/index.php/ct/article/view/11278 |
| _version_ | 1797821182510104576 |
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| author | Marcin Kowalski |
| author_facet | Marcin Kowalski |
| author_sort | Marcin Kowalski |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description |
The article presents a synthetic analysis of empire criticism in Pauline letters, beginning with the omnipresence and character of imperial cult in Paul’s time. Subsequently, the author highlights the places in Pauline letters that are usually associated with anti-imperial rhetoric. The following part of the article critically appraises the arguments for the presence of an anti-imperial script in Paul’s letters. The conclusions critically assess the methodology and premises of empire criticism, which essentially ignores Paul’s argumentative context, refers to the problematic “hidden transcript,” and can be strongly informed by contemporary ideologies. According to the author, Paul does not fight with the Empire, accepting its institutions and social order and trying to change them from within. Although the apostle does not consciously use the anti-imperial script, the Good News he preached and the communities he founded possess an anti-imperial potential. In light of this, the article ultimately advocates a careful application of empire criticism to Paul, which can serve a better understanding of the New Testament background and the message of Paul.
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| first_indexed | 2024-03-13T09:50:00Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-ea83ae10eea740b3ba8376ef050e3c89 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 0137-6985 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-13T09:50:00Z |
| publishDate | 2023-05-01 |
| publisher | Uniwersytet Kardynała Stefana Wyszyńskiego w Warszawie |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Collectanea Theologica |
| spelling | doaj.art-ea83ae10eea740b3ba8376ef050e3c892023-05-24T18:15:59ZengUniwersytet Kardynała Stefana Wyszyńskiego w WarszawieCollectanea Theologica0137-69852023-05-0193210.21697/ct.2023.93.2.03The Lion Against the Eagle: A Critical Appraisal of the Anti-Imperial Reading of PaulMarcin Kowalski0The John Paul II Catholic University of Lublin The article presents a synthetic analysis of empire criticism in Pauline letters, beginning with the omnipresence and character of imperial cult in Paul’s time. Subsequently, the author highlights the places in Pauline letters that are usually associated with anti-imperial rhetoric. The following part of the article critically appraises the arguments for the presence of an anti-imperial script in Paul’s letters. The conclusions critically assess the methodology and premises of empire criticism, which essentially ignores Paul’s argumentative context, refers to the problematic “hidden transcript,” and can be strongly informed by contemporary ideologies. According to the author, Paul does not fight with the Empire, accepting its institutions and social order and trying to change them from within. Although the apostle does not consciously use the anti-imperial script, the Good News he preached and the communities he founded possess an anti-imperial potential. In light of this, the article ultimately advocates a careful application of empire criticism to Paul, which can serve a better understanding of the New Testament background and the message of Paul. https://czasopisma.uksw.edu.pl/index.php/ct/article/view/11278Pauline lettersempire criticismimperial cultanti-imperial rhetoric of Paulhidden transcript |
| spellingShingle | Marcin Kowalski The Lion Against the Eagle: A Critical Appraisal of the Anti-Imperial Reading of Paul Collectanea Theologica Pauline letters empire criticism imperial cult anti-imperial rhetoric of Paul hidden transcript |
| title | The Lion Against the Eagle: A Critical Appraisal of the Anti-Imperial Reading of Paul |
| title_full | The Lion Against the Eagle: A Critical Appraisal of the Anti-Imperial Reading of Paul |
| title_fullStr | The Lion Against the Eagle: A Critical Appraisal of the Anti-Imperial Reading of Paul |
| title_full_unstemmed | The Lion Against the Eagle: A Critical Appraisal of the Anti-Imperial Reading of Paul |
| title_short | The Lion Against the Eagle: A Critical Appraisal of the Anti-Imperial Reading of Paul |
| title_sort | lion against the eagle a critical appraisal of the anti imperial reading of paul |
| topic | Pauline letters empire criticism imperial cult anti-imperial rhetoric of Paul hidden transcript |
| url | https://czasopisma.uksw.edu.pl/index.php/ct/article/view/11278 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT marcinkowalski thelionagainsttheeagleacriticalappraisaloftheantiimperialreadingofpaul AT marcinkowalski lionagainsttheeagleacriticalappraisaloftheantiimperialreadingofpaul |