Toward a Postcolonial Reading of the Epistle of James: James 2:1-13 in its Roman Imperial Context (Biblical Interpretation Series, 119)

Toward a Postcolonial Reading of the Epistle of James: James 2:1–13 in its Roman Imperial Context 4 Contents 8 Preface 14 Acknowledgements 16 Note on Footnotes, Bibliography and Abbreviations 18 Part I: Introduction and Background 20 Introduction 22 Theoretical Perspective—A Postcolonial Optic on James 2:1–13 22 Prelude 22 Postcolonialism and Biblical Studies 24 Obstacles to Applying a Postcolonial Optic to Biblical Research 27 The Application of a Postcolonial Optic to the Interpretation of James 2:1–13 29 Methodology 31 Inner Texture 32 Intertexture 33 Social and Cultural Texture 34 Ideological Texture 35 1 The Epistle of James—Preliminary Considerations 36 Author and Time 37 Early Dating and James the Brother of the Lord as Author 38 Late Dating and a Pseudonymous Author 42 Conclusion: Date and Authorship 46 Location of the Author 47 Addressees 48 Inner Texture, Genre and Theological Background 50 Inner Texture 50 Genre 57 Theological Background 58 The Epistle of James in a Graeco-Roman Context 62 James 2:1–13 in Its Jamesian Context 63 Propositio 65 Ratio 65 Confirmatio 66 Exornatio 67 Conplexio 68 Summary 69 2 Situating the Present Investigation within Recent Jamesian Research 70 Introduction 70 Martin Dibelius 71 Poor and Rich in Jamesian Research 74 Elsa Tamez 74 Pedrito U. Maynard-Reid 78 Matthias Ahrens 79 Wesley Hiram Wachob 80 David Hutchinson Edgar 82 Martin Hengel 83 Summary 85 Interpretative Needs and Interpretative Conditions Concerning James 2:1–13 86 Part II: A Postcolonial Interpretation of James 2:1–13 90 3 Social and Cultural Texture: A Short Overview of Roman Political History and Markers of Social Affiliation 92 Introduction 92 Government of the Republic 93 The Assemblies and the Magistracies 93 The Ordines 94 Government of the Empire 95 Transition from the Republic to the Empire 95 The Equestrian Order in the Government of the Empire 98 Markers of Social Affiliation in the First-Century C.E. Roman Empire 101 Introduction 101 Centres and Margins in the Empire 102 Signs of Rank 104 A Sketch of First-Century Civic Life within the Roman Empire 113 Social Mobility? 116 προσωπολημψία in the Empire? Partiality and Social Rank 118 4 Exegesis of James 2:1–13 120 Textual Basis and Translation 120 The Textual Basis of the Epistle of James—General Considerations 120 Possible Text Critical Problems 121 Translation 122 Structure of the Exegetical Analysis of James 2:1–13 122 Verse 1—Propositio 123 Inner Texture 124 Intertexture of Sibling Terminology 124 The Intertexture of προσωπολημψία 130 The Cultural Texture of προσωπολημψία 131 Ideological Texture of προσωπολημψία 133 The Inner Texture of πίστις τοῦ κυρίου ἡμῶν Ἰησοῦ Χριστοῦ τῆς δόξης 134 The Intertexture of δόξα 136 Summary of v. 1 136 Verses 2–4—Ratio 137 Inner Texture 137 Reflections on the Conditional Sentence of vv. 2–4 138 Intertexture of συναγωγὴ ὑμῶν (v. 2) 143 Identity and Cultural Texture of the ἀνὴρ χρυσοδακτύλιος (v. 2) 145 Identity and Cultural Texture of the πτωχός (v. 2) 147 Ideological Texture 155 The Nature of the Gathering (v. 2) 155 Cultural Texture of the Assembly (v. 2) 161 Cultural Texture of the Scenario of vv. 2–4 162 Inner Texture of v. 4 164 Intertexture of διεκρίθητε ἐν ἑαυτοῖς (v. 4) 165 Intertexture of κριταὶ διαλογισμῶν πονηρῶν (v. 4) 167 Summary of vv. 2–4 169 Verses 5–7—Confirmatio 171 Inner Texture 171 Intertexture of ἐκλέγομαι and κληρονόμος τῆς βασιλείας (v. 5) 172 Intertexture of οἱ πτωχοὶ τῷ κόσμῳ (v. 5) 175 Intertexture of πλούσιοι ἐν πίστει (v. 5) 177 Cultural Texture of ἀτιμάζω (v. 6a) 181 Intertexture of ἀτιμάζω (v. 6a) 184 Ideological Texture—The Absolute Poor are not the Powerless 186 Cultural Texture of καταδυναστεύω (v. 6b) 186 Ideological Texture of καταδυναστεύω 190 Intertexture of τὸ καλὸν ὄνομα ἐπικληθὲν ἐφ' ὑμᾶς and βλασφημέω (v. 7) 190 Summary of vv. 5–7 194 Verses 8–11—Exornatio 195 Inner Texture 196 Intertexture of νόμος (v. 8) 198 Intertexture of ἁμαρτία and παραβάτης (v. 9) 207 Intertexture of the Single Commandments in vv. 10–11 211 Ideological Texture: ὰγαπήσεις τὸν πλησίον σου ὡς σεαυτόν 211 Summary of vv. 8–11 212 Verses 12–13—Conplexio 213 Inner Texture 213 Intertexture of κρίνομαι (v. 12) and κρίσις (v. 13) 215 Intertexture of ἔλεος and ἀνέλος (v. 13) 217 Ideological Texture: ἔλεος—ἀνέλος 221 Summary of vv. 12–13 221 Interpretative Results 221 5 Ideological Texture: Toward a Postcolonial Reading on James 2:1–13 224 Introduction 224 The Precondition of the Epistle of James—Diaspora 225 Imperial Presence in James 2:1–13 227 Hybrid Identities in James 2:1–13 229 Oppression in James 2:1–13 230 Binarism in James 2:1–13 231 Portrayal of ‘The Other’ in James 2:1–13 235 The Consequence of James’ Strategy in James 2:1–13 235 Part III: Conclusions 238 6 Conclusions 240 Introduction 240 The Structure and Genre of the Epistle of James 241 The Complex Issue of Rich and Poor—in Relation to Rank and Power 242 Colonial Subjects, Processes of Colonialism and Texts 243 Further Research Needs 246 Bibliography 248 Index of Modern Authors 258 Index of Subjects and Names 261 Index of Ancient Sources 263 Toward a Postcolonial Reading of the Epistle of James: James 2:1–13 in its Roman Imperial Context 4 Contents 8 Preface 14 Acknowledgements 16 Note on Footnotes, Bibliography and Abbreviations 18 Part I: Introduction and Background 20 Introduction 22 Theoretical Perspective—A Postcolonial Optic on James 2:1–13 22 Prelude 22 Postcolonialism and Biblical Studies 24 Obstacles to Applying a Postcolonial Optic to Biblical Research 27 The Application of a Postcolonial Optic to the Interpretation of James 2:1–13 29 Methodology 31 Inner Texture 32 Intertexture 33 Social and Cultural Texture 34 Ideological Texture 35 1 The Epistle of James—Preliminary Considerations 36 Author and Time 37 Early Dating and James the Brother of the Lord as Author 38 Late Dating and a Pseudonymous Author 42 Conclusion: Date and Authorship 46 Location of the Author 47 Addressees 48 Inner Texture, Genre and Theological Background 50 Inner Texture 50 Genre 57 Theological Background 58 The Epistle of James in a Graeco-Roman Context 62 James 2:1–13 in Its Jamesian Context 63 Propositio 65 Ratio 65 Confirmatio 66 Exornatio 67 Conplexio 68 Summary 69 2 Situating the Present Investigation within Recent Jamesian Research 70 Introduction 70 Martin Dibelius 71 Poor and Rich in Jamesian Research 74 Elsa Tamez 74 Pedrito U. Maynard-Reid 78 Matthias Ahrens 79 Wesley Hiram Wachob 80 David Hutchinson Edgar 82 Martin Hengel 83 Summary 85 Interpretative Needs and Interpretative Conditions Concerning James 2:1–13 86 Part II: A Postcolonial Interpretation of James 2:1–13 90 3 Social and Cultural Texture: A Short Overview of Roman Political History and Markers of Social Affiliation 92 Introduction 92 Government of the Republic 93 The Assemblies and the Magistracies 93 The Ordines 94 Government of the Empire 95 Transition from the Republic to the Empire 95 The Equestrian Order in the Government of the Empire 98 Markers of Social Affiliation in the First-Century C.E. Roman Empire 101 Introduction 101 Centres and Margins in the Empire 102 Signs of Rank 104 A Sketch of First-Century Civic Life within the Roman Empire 113 Social Mobility? 116 προσωπολημψία in the Empire? Partiality and Social Rank 118 4 Exegesis of James 2:1–13 120 Textual Basis and Translation 120 The Textual Basis of the Epistle of James—General Considerations 120 Possible Text Critical Problems 121 Translation 122 Structure of the Exegetical Analysis of James 2:1–13 122 Verse 1—Propositio 123 Inner Texture 124 Intertexture of Sibling Terminology 124 The Intertexture of προσωπολημψία 130 The Cultural Texture of προσωπολημψία 131 Ideological Texture of προσωπολημψία 133 The Inner Texture of πίστις τοῦ κυρίου ἡμῶν Ἰησοῦ Χριστοῦ τῆς δόξης 134 The Intertexture of δόξα 136 Summary of v. 1 136 Verses 2–4—Ratio 137 Inner Texture 137 Reflections on the Conditional Sentence of vv. 2–4 138 Intertexture of συναγωγὴ ὑμῶν (v. 2) 143 Identity and Cultural Texture of the ἀνὴρ χρυσοδακτύλιος (v. 2) 145 Identity and Cultural Texture of the πτωχός (v. 2) 147 Ideological Texture 155 The Nature of the Gathering (v. 2) 155 Cultural Texture of the Assembly (v. 2) 161 Cultural Texture of the Scenario of vv. 2–4 162 Inner Texture of v. 4 164 Intertexture of διεκρίθητε ἐν ἑαυτοῖς (v. 4) 165 Intertexture of κριταὶ διαλογισμῶν πονηρῶν (v. 4) 167 Summary of vv. 2–4 169 Verses 5–7—Confirmatio 171 Inner Texture 171 Intertexture of ἐκλέγομαι and κληρονόμος τῆς βασιλείας (v. 5) 172 Intertexture of οἱ πτωχοὶ τῷ κόσμῳ (v. 5) 175 Intertexture of πλούσιοι ἐν πίστει (v. 5) 177 Cultural Texture of ἀτιμάζω (v. 6a) 181 Intertexture of ἀτιμάζω (v. 6a) 184 Ideological Texture—The Absolute Poor are not the Powerless 186 Cultural Texture of καταδυναστεύω (v. 6b) 186 Ideological Texture of καταδυναστεύω 190 Intertexture of τὸ καλὸν ὄνομα ἐπικληθὲν ἐφ' ὑμᾶς and βλασφημέω (v. 7) 190 Summary of vv. 5–7 194 Verses 8–11—Exornatio 195 Inner Texture 196 Intertexture of νόμος (v. 8) 198 Intertexture of ἁμαρτία and παραβάτης (v. 9) 207 Intertexture of the Single Commandments in vv. 10–11 211 Ideological Texture: ὰγαπήσεις τὸν πλησίον σου ὡς σεαυτόν 211 Summary of vv. 8–11 212 Verses 12–13—Conplexio 213 Inner Texture 213 Intertexture of κρίνομαι (v. 12) and κρίσις (v. 13) 215 Intertexture of ἔλεος and ἀνέλος (v. 13) 217 Ideological Texture: ἔλεος—ἀνέλος 221 Summary of vv. 12–13 221 Interpretative Results 221 5 Ideological Texture: Toward a Postcolonial Reading on James 2:1–13 224 Introduction 224 The Precondition of the Epistle of James—Diaspora 225 Imperial Presence in James 2:1–13 227 Hybrid Identities in James 2:1–13 229 Oppression in James 2:1–13 230 Binarism in James 2:1–13 231 Portrayal of ‘The Other’ in James 2:1–13 235 The Consequence of James’ Strategy in James 2:1–13 235 Part III: Conclusions 238 6 Conclusions 240 Introduction 240 The Structure and Genre of the Epistle of James 241 The Complex Issue of Rich and Poor—in Relation to Rank and Power 242 Colonial Subjects, Processes of Colonialism and Texts 243 Further Research Needs 246 Bibliography 248 Index of Modern Authors 258 Index of Subjects and Names 261 Index of Ancient Sources 263 Toward a Postcolonial Reading of the Epistle of James offers an interpretation of Jas 2:1-13 putting the text in the midst of the Roman imperial system of rank. This study shows that the conflict of the text has more to do with differences of rank than poverty and wealth. The main problem is that the Christian assemblies are acting according to Roman cultural etiquette instead of their Jewish-Christian heritage when a Roman equestrian and a beggar visit the assembly. The members of the assemblies are accused of having become too Roman. From a postcolonialperspective, this is a typical case of hybrid identities. Additional key concepts from postcolonialism, such as diaspora, ‘othering', naming of oppressors, and binarisms such as coloniser/colonised, centre/margin, honour/shame and power/powerless, are highlighted throughout the study. Toward a Postcolonial Reading of the Epistle of James offers an interpretation of Jas 2:1-13 putting the text in the midst of the Roman imperial system of rank. This study shows that the conflict of the text has more to do with differences of rank than poverty and wealth. The main problem is that the Christian assemblies are acting according to Roman cultural etiquette instead of their Jewish-Christian heritage when a Roman equestrian and a beggar visit the assembly. The members of the assemblies are accused of having become too Roman. From a postcolonial perspective, this is a typical case of hybrid identities. Additional key concepts from postcolonialism, such as diaspora, 'othering', naming of oppressors, and binarisms such as coloniser/colonised, centre/margin, honour/shame and power/powerless, are highlighted throughout the study The Epistle Of James : Preliminary Considerations -- Situating The Present Investigation Within Recent Jamesian Research -- Social And Cultural Texture : A Short Overview Of Roman Political History And Markers Of Social Affiliation -- Exegesis Of James 2:1-13 -- Ideological Texture : Toward A Postcolonial Reading On James 2:1-13. By Ingeborg Mongstad-kvammen. Includes Bibliographical References (pages 229-237) And Indexes. Includes Text In English, Greek, And Latin.