Appalling Bodies: Queer Figures Before and After Paul's Letters

Appalling Bodies examines how the letters of Paul are used in cultural and religious disputes about gender, sexuality, and embodiment, and challenges traditional stereotypes about women, eunuchs, slaves, and barbarians. It juxtaposes these ancient figures against recent figures of gender and sexual variation to defamiliarize and reorient what can be known about both, and explores the connections between the marginalization and stigmatization of these figures and the history, ethics, and politics of biblical interpretation.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 328 pages
Publication date: 21 December 2022
Publisher: Oxford University Press Inc

The letters of Paul hold immense significance in ongoing cultural and religious debates surrounding gender, sexuality, and embodiment. In his book, "Appalling Bodies," Joseph Marchal challenges these interpretations by exploring the broader context of the letters, drawing connections with other fascinating figures who appear before, after, and within them. Marchal's approach incorporates queer theory to offer fresh perspectives on the dangers and complexities associated with these ancient stereotypes about women, eunuchs, slaves, and barbarians. By juxtaposing these historical figures with contemporary representations of gender and sexual variation, "Appalling Bodies" aims to disrupt our familiar understandings and reorient our knowledge of both. The book delves into the historical, ethical, and political implications of marginalizing and stigmatizing these figures, raising important questions about the interpretation of the Bible. Ultimately, Marchal assembles and reintroduces the concept of "Appalling Bodies" to contemporary readers, challenging the traditional study of Paul's letters and paving the way for new and innovative approaches to biblical scholarship.

Weight: 476g
Dimension: 240 x 155 x 18 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780197668962