Contest for Time and Space in the Roman Imperial Cults and 1 Peter: Reconfiguring the Universe

Wei Hsien Wan argues that the letter of 1 Peter engages in a subtle, calculated form of resistance to Rome, examining how it critiques the Roman Empire in terms of its ideology or worldview. He suggests that the imperial cults of Anatolia and 1 Peter offered distinct constructions of time and space, leading to divergent ways of conceiving the social order and generating potential for conflict. Wan argues that 1 Peter confronts Rome on a cosmic scale with its alternative construal of time and space and examines the evidence that the Petrine author consciously interrogated the imperial imagination and set forth a theocentric, Christological understanding of the world.

\n Format: Paperback / softback
\n Length: 216 pages
\n Publication date: 17 June 2021
\n Publisher: Bloomsbury Publishing PLC
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Wei Hsien Wan expands upon the research of David Horrell and Travis Williams to argue that the letter of 1 Peter employs a nuanced and strategic form of resistance against Rome, which has frequently gone unnoticed. While previous discussions on the topic have primarily centered on the letter's stance towards specific Roman institutions, such as the emperor, household structures, and the imperial cults, Wan takes the conversation beyond these boundaries and examines 1 Peter's critique of the Roman Empire in terms of its ideology or worldview. Drawing upon the work of James Scott to conceptualize ideological resistance against domination, Wan explores how the imperial cults of Anatolia and 1 Peter offered distinct constructions of time and space, envisioning reality differently. These differences resulted in divergent ways of conceiving the social order, giving rise to political power and the potential for conflict. Wan thus contends that 1 Peter confronts Rome on a cosmic scale with its alternative understanding of time and space, and examines the evidence that the Petrine author consciously, if cautiously, interrogated the imperial imagination at its most fundamental levels and presented a theocentric, Christological understanding of the world in its place.

Wei Hsien Wan builds on the work of David Horrell and Travis Williams for his argument that the letter of 1 Peter engages in a subtle, calculated form of resistance to Rome, that has often gone undetected. Whilst previous discussion of the topic has remained largely focused on the letters stance toward specific Roman institutions, such as the emperor, household structures, and the imperial cults, Wan takes the conversation beyond these confines and examines 1 Peters critique of the Roman Empire in terms of its ideology or worldview. Using the work of James Scott to conceptualize ideological resistance against domination, Wan considers how the imperial cults of Anatolia and 1 Peter offered distinct constructions of time and space—that is, how they envisioned reality differently. Insofar as these differences led to divergent ways of conceiving the social order, they acquired political power and generated potential for conflict. Wan thus argues that 1 Peter confronts Rome on a cosmic scale with its alternative construal of time and space, and examines the evidence that the Petrine author consciously, if cautiously, interrogated the imperial imagination at its most foundational levels, and set forth in its place a theocentric, Christological understanding of the world.

\n Weight: 346g\n
Dimension: 155 x 231 x 15 (mm)\n
ISBN-13: 9780567701442\n \n