Study of the effect of the Empire on the development of the NT
Posted: Sun Nov 22, 2020 7:38 pm
Adam Winn has a few publications that focus on the relationship between the formation of the New Testament, particularly the Gospel of Mark, and the Roman Empire: contributing to the growing subfield of New Testament studies known as Empire Studies -
1 The Purpose of Mark's Gospel: An Early Christian Response to Roman Imperial Propaganda, 2008, Mohr Siebeck;
2 Tyrant or Servant? Roman Political Ideology and Mark 10.42-45, Journal for the Study of the New Testament, 2014, 36(4): pp.325-52 -
3 Reading Mark's Christology Under Caesar: Jesus the Messiah and Roman Imperial Ideology, 2018
And he edited An Introduction to Empire in the New Testament, SBL Press, 2016
1 The Purpose of Mark's Gospel: An Early Christian Response to Roman Imperial Propaganda, 2008, Mohr Siebeck;
In this book, Adam Winn addresses the long debated question of the purpose of Mark's gospel. After placing the composition of Mark in Rome at a time shortly after the destruction of the Jerusalem Temple, he seeks to reconstruct the historical situation facing both the Markan evangelist and his community. This reconstruction focuses on the rise of the new Roman Emperor Vespasian and the aftermath of the Jewish Revolt in Rome. A significant feature of this reconstruction is the propaganda used to gain and secure Vespasian's power - propaganda that included oracles and portents, divine healings, and grand triumphs. Of particular interest is the propagandistic claim that Vespasian was the true fulfillment of Jewish messianic prophecies. Winn argues that such a claim would have created a christological crisis for the fledgling church in Rome - a crisis that called for a compelling Christian response. Winn seeks to demonstrate that Mark's gospel could be read as just such a response. He demonstrates how the major features of Mark's gospel -his incipit, Christology, teaching on discipleship, and eschatology- can be read as a counter resume to the impressive resume of Vespasian. In the end, this project concludes that Mark was composed for the purpose of countering Roman imperial propaganda that had created a crisis for its author and community.
2 Tyrant or Servant? Roman Political Ideology and Mark 10.42-45, Journal for the Study of the New Testament, 2014, 36(4): pp.325-52 -
Mark 10.42-45 presents a political contrast between the rulers of the Roman world and Jesus and his disciples. Through careful analysis of the strategy of recusatio as employed by Roman emperors, this article considers the expectations of the Romans regarding their rulers as well as the political ideology that birthed those expectations. The article then seeks to offer a new reading of Mk 10.42-45 in light of this Roman political ideology and to consider how this reading (a) eases perceived tension in the Gospel’s narrative and Christology, and (b) contributes to the Gospel’s subversion of Roman imperial power.
3 Reading Mark's Christology Under Caesar: Jesus the Messiah and Roman Imperial Ideology, 2018
The Gospel of Mark has been studied from multiple angles using many methods. But often there remains a sense that something is wanting, that the full picture of Mark's Gospel lacks some background circuitry that would light up the whole. Adam Winn finds a clue in the cataclysmic destruction of Jerusalem by the Romans in AD 70. For Jews and Christians it was an apocalyptic moment. The gods of Rome seemed to have conquered the God of the Jews. Could it be that Mark wrote his Gospel in response to Roman imperial propaganda surrounding this event? Could a messiah crucified by Rome really be God’s Son appointed to rule the world? Winn considers how Mark might have been read by Christians in Rome in the aftermath of the fall of Jerusalem. He introduces us to the propaganda of the Flavian emperors and excavates the Markan text for themes that address the Roman imperial setting. We discover an intriguing first-century response to the question “Christ or Caesar? "
And he edited An Introduction to Empire in the New Testament, SBL Press, 2016
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In the last three decades, significant attention has been given to the way in which New Testament texts engage and respond to the imperial world in which they were written. The purpose of the present volume is to introduce students and non-specialists to the growing subfield of New Testament studies known as empire studies. Contributors seek to make readers aware of the significant work that has already been produced, while also pointing them to new ways in which this field is moving forward. The contributors are Bruce W. Longenecker, Richard A. Horsley, Warren Carter, Adam Winn, Eric D. Barreto, Beth M. Sheppard, Neil Elliot, James R. Harrison, Harry O. Maier, Deborah Krause, Jason A.Whitlark, Matthew R. Hauge, Kelly D. Liebengood, and Davina C. Lopez.
Features:
In the last three decades, significant attention has been given to the way in which New Testament texts engage and respond to the imperial world in which they were written. The purpose of the present volume is to introduce students and non-specialists to the growing subfield of New Testament studies known as empire studies. Contributors seek to make readers aware of the significant work that has already been produced, while also pointing them to new ways in which this field is moving forward. The contributors are Bruce W. Longenecker, Richard A. Horsley, Warren Carter, Adam Winn, Eric D. Barreto, Beth M. Sheppard, Neil Elliot, James R. Harrison, Harry O. Maier, Deborah Krause, Jason A.Whitlark, Matthew R. Hauge, Kelly D. Liebengood, and Davina C. Lopez.
Features:
- Essays from a diverse group of interpreters who at times have differing presuppositions, methods, and concerns
- Articles introduc[ing] students & non-specialists to the Roman imperial realities regularly encountered by 1st and 2nd century Christians
- Contributions [which] explore the strategies employed by early Christians to respond to the Roman empire