Violence in the New Testament : Jesus followers and other Jews under empire

While much work has been done on the role of Jews in the crucifixion of Jesus in post-Holocaust biblical scholarship, the question of violence in subsequent community formation remains largely unexamined. New Testament passages suggesting that early Christ-believers were violently persecuted--the G stone throwingG passages from John, the G persecuted from town to townG passages in Matthew, the stoning of Stephen in Acts, PaulG s hardship catalogue in II Corinthians, etc.-- are frequently read positivistically as windows onto first century persecution; at the other extreme, they are sometimes dismissed as completely a-historical. In either case, scholars up until now have provided little in the way of methodological reflection on how they have reached such conclusions. A further problematic issue in previous readings of passages suggesting such violence is that the perpetrators of violence are frequently cast as G JewsG while the violated are cast as G Christians, G in spite of the growing consensus that it is impossible to tease out these two distinct and separate religious identities, Jew and Christian, from first century texts. This volume takes up crucial methodological questions about how to read passages suggesting violence among Jews in texts that eventually became part of the New Testament canon. It situates this intra-religious violence within the violence of the Roman Imperial order. It provides new readings of these texts that move beyond the G Jew as violatorG /G Christian as violatedG binary. While Much Work Has Been Done On The Role Of Jews In The Crucifixion Of Jesus In Post-holocaust Biblical Scholarship, The Question Of Violence In Subsequent Community Formation Remains Largely Unexamined. New Testament Passages Suggesting That Early Christ-believers Were Violently Persecuted - The Stone Throwing Passages From John, The Persecuted From Town To Town Passages In Matthew, The Stoning Of Stephen In Acts, Paul's Hardship Catalogue In Ii Corinthians, Etcetera - Are Frequently Read Positivistically As Windows Onto First-century Persecution; At The Other Extreme, They Are Sometimes Dismissed As Completely Ahistorical. In Either Case, Scholars Up Until Now Have Provided Little In The Way Of Methodological Reflection On How They Have Reached Such Conclusions. This Volume Takes Up Crucial Methodological Questions About How To Read Passages Suggesting Violence Among Jews In Texts That Eventually Became Part Of The New Testament Canon. It Situates This Intra-religious Violence Within The Violence Of The Roman Imperial Order. It Provides New Readings Of These Texts That Move Beyond The Jew As Violator/christian As Violated Binary.--book Jacket. Violent Acts And Violent Language In The Apostle Paul / John G. Gager, E. Leigh Gibson -- The Blood Required Of This Generation: Interpreting Communal Blame In A Colonial Context / Melanie Johnson-debaufre -- Collateral Damage: Jesus And Jezebel In The Jewish War / John W. Marshall -- By The Finger Of God: Jesus And Imperial Violence / Richard A. Horsley -- Constructions Of Violence And Identities In Matthew's Gospel / Warren Carter -- Love, Hate, And Violence In The Gospel Of John / Adele Reinhartz -- The Need For The Stoning Of Stephen / Shelly Matthews -- Violence And Religious Formation: An Afterword / David Frankfurter. Edited By Shelly Matthews And E. Leigh Gibson. Includes Bibliographical References And Index.