Muted Voices of the New Testament: Readings in the Catholic Epistles and Hebrews (The Library of New Testament Studies, 587)

Pauline- and Gospel-centred readings have too long provided the normative understanding of Christian identity. The chapters in this volume features evidence from other, less-frequently studied texts, so as to broaden perspectives on early Christian identity. Each chapter in the collection focuses on one or more of the later New Testament epistles and answers one of the following questions: what did/do these texts uniquely contribute to Christian identity? How does the author frame or shape identity? What are the potential results of the identities constructed in these texts for early Christian communities? What are the influences of these texts on later Christian identity? Together these chapters contribute fresh insights through innovative research, furthering the discussion on the theological and historical importance of these texts within the canon. The distinguished list of contributors includes: Richard Bauckham, David G. Horrell, Francis Watson, and Robert W. Wall. Cover -- Half Title -- Series -- Title -- Copyright -- Contents -- Contributors -- Abbreviations -- Introduction -- I -- II -- III -- 1 Tradition and Innovation: Reassessing 1 Peter's Contributions to the Making of Christian Identity -- A Christological, Eschatological and Ecclesial Hermeneutic: 1 Peter 1.10-12 -- Scripturalizing the Passion: 1 Peter 2.21-25 -- Appropriating Israel's Identity as Chosen Race: 1 Peter 2.9-10 -- Articulating a Stance towards the Empire: 1 Peter 2.17 -- Conclusion -- 2 1 Peter 4.16: Shame, Emotion and Christian Self-Perception* -- Locating Shame -- Shaping Self-assessment -- Implications for the Believer -- Sociological -- Ethical -- Therapeutic -- Conclusion -- 3 Building a Holy House: Identity Formation in the Community Rule, 4QFlorilegium and 1 Peter 2.4-.10* -- 'Like Living Stones': Identity and Metaphors -- The Community as Temple in the Community Rule and 4QFlorilegium -- The Community Rule -- 4QFlorilegium -- A Priestly People: Christian Identity in 1 Peter -- Conclusion -- 4 Identity, Eschatology and Ethics in 2 Peter 2.17-22 -- Two Identities and the Role of Identity in 2 Peter -- The Discourse Analysis of 2.17-22 -- The Relationship between Identity and Action -- The Role of Identity in Eschatology -- A Concluding Implication -- 5 'From the Beginning': The Formation of an Apostolic Christian Identity in 2 Peter and 1-.3 John -- The Current Study -- The Situation of 2 Peter and 1-3 John -- Pauline Epistemology -- Reading 2 Peter and 1-3 John Together -- The Problem: False Prophets -- The Remedy: Appeal to Apostolic Authority -- Conclusion -- 6 Remember 'Jesus Saved a People Out of Egypt' -- Collective Memory, Narrative and Identity in Jude -- The Context for Collective Memory in Jude -- Narrative Shaping and Collective Memory in Jude -- The Selection of Memories -- The Shaping of Memories Textual Variants and the Shaping of Collective Memory -- Jesus Saves and Destroys -- Remember the Words Spoken to You -- Conclusion -- 7 Messianic Jewish Identity in James -- Jewish, Christian, or Both? -- The Prescript -- The Twelve Tribes in Hermas -- Two Passages that Presuppose Christian Addressees -- Jesus as Lord in James -- Conclusion -- 8 'Every Perfect Gift': James, Paul and the Created Order -- On Straw -- World and Image -- Dissonant Voices? -- Hermeneutical Postscript -- 9 'Handsome is ... ': Profiling the Children of God in 1 John* -- The Commandment 'From the Beginning' -- Johannine Parallels: The Gospel and 2 and 3 John -- The Synoptic Tradition -- Interpreting the Shema in Judaism -- Synoptic Interpretations of the Love Command -- The Love Command in Johannine Perspective -- 10 Wilderness Identity and Pentateuchal Narrative: Distinguishing between Jesus' Inauguration and Maintenance of the New Cov -- Hebrews and the Conflation of Covenant Inauguration with Covenant Maintenance -- Sacrifice and Hebrews -- Jesus' Death in Hebrews: New Passover and New Covenant Inauguration -- Hebrews' Wilderness Identity: Living between Jesus' Ascension and Return -- Conclusion -- 11 Hebrews 3.7-4.11 and the Spirit's Speech to the Community* -- Holy Spirit as Agent in Hebrews 3.7-4.11 -- 'Today' in the Wilderness Community -- Conclusion -- 12 'In' or 'Near'?: Heavenly Access and Christian Identity in Hebrews -- When do the Saints Go Marching In? -- Thou within the Veil Hast Entered -- Nearer, My God, to Thee -- Conclusion -- Epilogue: A Reflection -- Bibliography -- Primary Sources -- Compilations of More than One Ancient Author -- Secondary Sources -- Subject Index -- Scripture Index Cover Half-title Title Copyright Contents List of Contributors List of Abbreviations Introduction 1. Tradition and Innovation: Reassessing 1 Peter’s Contributions to the Making of Christian Identity 2. 1 Peter 4.16: Shame, Emotion and Christian Self-Perception 3. Building a Holy House: Identity Formation in the Community Rule, 4QFlorilegium and 1 Peter 2.4–10 4. Identity, Eschatology and Ethics in 2 Peter 2.17–22 5. ‘From the Beginning’: The Formation of an Apostolic Christian Identity in 2 Peter and 1–3 John 6. Remember ‘Jesus Saved a People Out of Egypt’ 7. Messianic Jewish Identity in James 8. ‘Every Perfect Gift ’: James, Paul and the Created Order 9. ‘Handsome is . . .’: Profiling the Children of God in 1 John 10. Wilderness Identity and Pentateuchal Narrative: Distinguishing between Jesus’ Inauguration and Maintenance of the New Covenant in Hebrews 11. Hebrews 3.7–4.11 and the Spirit’s Speech to the Community 12. ‘In’ or ‘Near’? Heavenly Access and Christian Identity in Hebrews Epilogue: A Reflection Bibliography Subject Index Scripture Index Pauline- and Gospel-centred readings have too long provided the normative understanding of Christian identity. The chapters in this volume features evidence from other, less-frequently studied texts, so as to broaden perspectives on early Christian identity. Each chapter in the collection focuses on one or more of the later New Testament epistles and answers one of the following questions: what did/do these texts uniquely contribute to Christian identity? How does the author frame or shape identity? What are the potential results of the identities constructed in these texts for early Christian communities? What are the influences of these texts on later Christian identity? Together these chapters contribute fresh insights through innovative research, furthering the discussion on the theological and historical importance of these texts within the canon. -- Publisher's description