The Postcolonial Biblical Reader

This wide-ranging Reader provides a comprehensive survey of the interaction between postcolonial criticism and biblical studies. Examines how various empires such as the Persian and Roman affected biblical narratives. Demonstrates how different biblical writers such as Paul, Matthew and Mark handled the challenges of empire. Includes examples of the practical application of postcolonial criticism to biblical texts. Considers contemporary issues such as diaspora, race, representation and territory. Editorial commentary draws out the key points to be made and creates a coherent narrative.

Table of Contents:
List of Contributors viii Acknowledgments x Introduction 1 R. S. Sugirtharajah Part I: Theoretical Practices 3 Introduction: Theoretical Practices 5 R. S. Sugirtharajah 1 Charting the Aftermath: A Review of Postcolonial Criticism 7 R. S. Sugirtharajah 2 Biblical Criticism and Postcolonial Studies: Toward a Postcolonial Optic 33 Fernando F. Segovia 3 Making the Connections: Postcolonial Studies and Feminist Biblical Interpretation 45 Kwok Pui-lan Part II: Empires Old and New 65 Introduction: Empires Old and New 67 R. S. Sugirtharajah 4 Renewal Movements and Resistance to Empire in Ancient Judea 69 Richard A. Horsley 5 Postcolonialism and Imperial Motives for Canonization 78 Jon L. Berquist 6 Roman Imperialism and Early Christian Scribality 96 Werner H. Kelber 7 Desiring War: Apocalypse, Commodity Fetish, and the End of History 112 Erin Runions Part III: Empire and Exegesis 129 Introduction: Empire and Exegesis 131 R. S. Sugirtharajah 8 The Implications of the Text of Esther for African Women’s Struggle for Liberation in South Africa 134 Itumeleng J. Mosala 9 Rahab Says Hello to Judith: A Decolonizing Feminist Reading 142 Musa W. Dube 10 The Sign of Orpah: Reading Ruth through Native Eyes 159 Laura E. Donaldson 11 On Naming the Subject: Postcolonial Reading of Daniel 1 171 Philip Chia 12 Decolonizing Yahweh: A Postcolonial Reading of 2 Kings 24–25 186 Kari Latvus 13 Mark and Empire: ‘‘Zealot’’ and ‘‘Postcolonial’’ Readings 193 Stephen D. Moore 14 Tyranny, Boundary, and Might: Colonial Mimicry in Mark’s Gospel 206 Tat-siong Benny Liew 15 Maori ‘‘Jews’’ and a Resistant Reading of John 5.10–47 224 Mary Huie-Jolly 16 God at the Crossroads: A Postcolonial Reading of Sophia 238 Mayra Rivera Part IV: Postcolonial Concerns 255 Introduction: Postcolonial Concerns 257 R. S. Sugirtharajah 17 How Local Divine Powers were Suppressed: A Case of Mwari of the Shona 259 Dora R. Mbuwayesango 18 Cutchery Tamil versus Pure Tamil: Contesting Language Use in the Translated Bible in the Early Nineteenth-Century Protestant Tamil Community 269 Hephzibah Israel 19 Canonization and Marginalization: Mary of Magdala 284 Karen L. King 20 Exodus-toward-Egypt: Filipino-Americans’ Struggle to Realize the Promised Land in America 291 Eleazar S. Fernandez Index of Biblical References 305 Index of Names and Subjects 313

About the Author :
R. S. Sugirtharajah is Professor of Biblical Hermeneutics at the University of Birmingham. Prior to his current appointment, he was Senior Lecturer in Third World Theologies at Selly Oak Colleges, Birmingham. His previous publications include Postcolonial Reconfigurations (2003), Postcolonial Criticism and Biblical Interpretation (2002), The Bible and the Third World (2001), and The Bible and Empire: Postcolonial Explorations (2005).

Review :
"This book, edited by one of the foremost proponents of postcolonial biblical criticism, will provide a useful entrée into this important area of study and a representative and wide-ranging selection of essays with which to engage." (Journal for the Study of the New Testament)