Understanding the social world of the New Testament / edited by Dietmar Neufeld and Richard E. DeMaris.

Format:

Book

Contributor:

Neufeld, Dietmar.

DeMaris, Richard E.

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Bible. New Testament--Social scientific criticism.

Bible.

Bible. New Testament.

Social scientific criticism of sacred works.

Israel--Social conditions.

Israel.

Social conditions.

Palestine--Social conditions.

Palestine.

Physical Description:

xv, 285 pages : illustrations ; 24 cm

Place of Publication:

London ; New York : Routledge, 2010.

Summary:

The New Testament is a book of great significance in Western culture yet is often inaccessible to students because the modern world differs so significantly from the ancient Mediterranean one in which it was written. It is imperative to develop a cross-cultural understanding of the values of the ancient Mediterranean society from which the New Testament arose in order to fully appreciate the documents and the communities that they represent.

Dietmar Neufeld and Richard E. DeMaris bring together anthropologists and social scientists to develop interpretative models for understanding such values as collectivism, kinship, memory, ethnicity, and honour, and to demonstrate how to apply these models to the New Testament texts. Kinship is illuminated by analysis of the Holy Family as well as to early Christian organisations; gender through a study of Paul's view of women; and landscape and spatiality through a discussion of Jesus of Nazareth. This book is the ideal companion to study of the New Testament.

Contents:

Part I Identity 15

1 Collectivism in Mediterranean Culture / Bruce J. Malina 17

2 Kinship and Family in the New Testament World / Margaret Y. MacDonald 29

3 Constructions of Gender in the Roman Imperial World / Carolyn Osiek, Jennifer Pouya 44

4 Memory Theory: Cultural and Cognitive Approaches to the Gospel Tradition / Alan Kirk 57

5 Ethnicity and Paul's Letter to the Romans / Dennis C. Duling 68

6 Landscape and Spatiallty: Placing Jesus / Halvor Moxnes 90

Part II Interaction and Social Engagement 107

7 Honor: Core Value in the Biblical World / Richard L. Rohrbaugh 109

8 Altered States of Consciousness: Visions, Spirit Possession, Sky Journeys / Pieter F. Craffert 126

9 Jesus's Healing Activity: Political Acts? / John J. Pilch 147

10 Social Stratification and Patronage in Ancient Mediterranean Societies / Eric C. Stewart 156

11 Brokerage: Jesus as Social Entrepreneur / Alicia Batten 167

12 Urban Structure and Patronage: Christ Followers in Corinth / Peter Oakes 178

13 Ancient Economy and the New Testament / David A. Fiensy 194

14 Purity, Dirt, Anomalies, and Abominations / Ritva H. Williams 207

15 Ritual and Christian Origins / Risto Uro 220.

Notes:

Includes bibliographical references (pages [240]-268) and indexes.

ISBN:

9780415775816

0415775817

9780415775823

0415775825

9780203865149

0203865146

OCLC:

373474682