Jesus And The Powers

Part 1: Israel And The Great Powers
1. The Powers Of Empire In The Biblical World
2. Political Independence And Israel’s Covenant
3. Powers In Heaven And “People Power” On Earth
Part 2: Jesus And The Power Of Rome
4. The Politics Of Jesus And The Power Of Hope
5. Healing The Wounds Of Empire: Jesus’ Actions
6. Speaking Truth To Power: Jesus’ Words
7. Power And Crucifixion: Jesus’ Death
Part 3: Drawing Consequences
8. Following Jesus Amid The Powers

Additional Info
Refuting a false dichotomy between “politics” and “religion” in Jesus’ world (and our own), Jesus and the Powers rediscovers Jesus’ response to the imperial power of his day. Richard A. Horsley describes the relevance of political realities under great empires for understanding the rise of covenantal theology and apocalyptic vision in Israel’s history. Then he explores aspects of Jesus’ activity in the context of the Roman Empire. Horsley examines Jesus as an exorcist and prophetic figure and the character of his death by crucifixion. He also shows how the community life in the early Pauline assemblies gave form to a new response to imperial powers – and stimulus to contemporary readers to re-imagine their own response to political realities in our own day.