Ephesians and Empire: An Evaluation of the Epistle's Subversion of Roman Imperial Ideology

This study examines the relationship between Ephesians and early Roman imperial ideology, exploring how issues of disputed authorship, audience, and date impact the epistle's imperial-critical status. It examines previously underexplored elements of the Roman context, such as maiestas charges, imperial cults, and Roman imperial eschatology, and concludes that some of the epistle's speech acts can be understood as subversive of Roman imperial ideology.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 329 pages
Publication date: 18 July 2022
Publisher: JCB Mohr (Paul Siebeck)

While recent publications have delved into the interplay between New Testament texts and early Roman imperial ideology, Ephesians has been somewhat overlooked in these discussions. In this insightful study, Justin Winzenburg offers a fresh perspective to the field by examining the diverse implications of the debated authorship, audience, and date of Ephesians in terms of its imperial-critical significance. Prior to this research, certain aspects of the Roman context of Ephesians, particularly concerning maiestas [treason] charges, imperial cults, and Roman imperial eschatology, have remained under-explored. By considering the two primary theories regarding the epistle's date, the author aims to shed light on these previously underexplored elements within the Roman framework.

Concluding his analysis, the author acknowledges that there are certain limitations to interpreting Ephesians as a direct critique of Roman imperial ideology. Nevertheless, he argues that certain aspects of the epistle's speech acts can be understood as subversive of Roman imperial norms and beliefs. This study contributes significantly to our understanding of Ephesians and its place within the broader context of early Christian literature and Roman imperial history.

Weight: 504g
Dimension: 234 x 158 x 20 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9783161611834