The New Testament as Political Documents

Punt, Jeremy

doi:10.7833/116-1-1280

Cited by 3 publications

(3 citation statements)

References 3 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Order By: Relevance

“…The re-reading of Mark 6:14-29 in the context of politically motivated violence in Zimbabwe has given us the opportunity to reflect on the dynamics between power and vulnerability. This article has also shown that Mark 6:14-29 confirms the view of Punt (2017) that the New Testament texts are politically loaded documents whose political narratives need to be studied in their proper context. Mark contrasts the power that Herod and Herodias wielded with that of the 'nameless' daughter of Herodias, such that the reader sympathises with the daughter who is presented as vulnerable in the face of the royal power.…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 63%

See 1 more Smart Citation

Power and vulnerability: Re-reading Mark 6:14–29 in the light of political violence in Zimbabwe

Chibango,

Mgovo

2023

HTS Teologiese Studies / Theological Studies

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

This article examined the story of the beheading of John the Baptist according to the Gospel of Mark (6:14–29) and drew lessons for the situation of politically motivated violence perpetrated by the youth in Zimbabwe. Politically motivated violence in Zimbabwe is a well-documented problem that negatively impacts on human rights. The article used the historical-critical method in its re-reading of the text in question and the ‘youth bulge theory’ as theoretical framework. Documentary analysis was employed to solicit data from various reports, documents and the Internet. Results showed that it was mostly the poor and unemployed youth who engaged in acts of politically motivated violence and did so on behalf of political parties and leaders. Based on these findings, it is argued that just as both Herod and Herodias abused their power by manipulating the daughter of Herodias in their plot to eliminate John the Baptist, so did powerful Zimbabwean politicians and leaders manipulate economically and socially vulnerable youth for their own political expediency.Contribution: Drawing from Mark 6:14–29, this article presents an application of the New Testament text of Mark 6:14–29 to the politically motivated violence in Zimbabwe in order to promote responsible leadership for a peaceful and tolerant Zimbabwean society. It also contributes to the argument that New Testament texts are intrinsically political documents, which scholars should try to unpack.

show abstract

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 63%

“…Exousia is opposed to charisma, which refers to grace or extraordinary powers freely given by God (e.g., the power to cast out demons). The study of Mark 6:14-29 is also in view of the argument by Punt (2017)…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Power and vulnerability: Re-reading Mark 6:14–29 in the light of political violence in Zimbabwe

Chibango,

Mgovo

2023

HTS Teologiese Studies / Theological Studies

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…Furthermore, we need to dismantle the dichotomous social models for the Roman world that pervade biblical studies, especially when social analysis is tied to political exegesis directed more to modern theologizing against empire than historical reconstructions of ancient social structures, as in much postcolonial biblical scholarship (e.g., Elliott 2006; Taubes 2004; cf. Sugirtharaja 2006; Punt 2017, 2015; and, for a more qualified use of imperial language in Paul, see Harrill 2011). We need to be careful not to politicize Paul when a political perspective is not clearly present, as if we were anachronistically conflating Paul with Karl Marx or Martin Luther King, Jr – or perhaps imposing our modern postcolonial values about class conflict and political oppression onto the ancient world (cf.…”

Section: Reassessment Of Early Christian Socio-economic Analysis and mentioning

confidence: 99%

Roman Diet and Meat Consumption: Reassessing Elite Access to Meat in 1 Corinthians 8 and 10

Tite

2019

Journal for the Study of the New Testament

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

A persistent exegetical tradition exists linking the Pauline controversy over the consumption of idol meat in the Corinthian correspondence to social and economic assumptions about the Roman world. Specifically, there is the assumption that access to meat was limited to the elite within the Roman world. According to this exegetical tradition, the lower classes only had access to meat through public religious festivals or as derivative through cultic sacrifice by means of the marketplace, resulting in the view that non-elites were sustained on a diet of legumes, grains and wine. Roman access to meat along such class demarcations, furthermore, is founded upon an economic dichotomy of elite and non-elite. This article challenges these social assumptions regarding meat consumption in, especially, Corinth by engaging recent scholarship that re-evaluates Roman diet in regard to access to meat and other animal products. Specifically, methods in archaeological science (especially stable isotope analysis) are used to supplement literary reassessments. What arises is a new picture of Roman diet, wherein meat consumption was not limited to the elite, but was prevalent in nearly all levels of Roman society. With this fresh perspective on Roman dietary practices, Paul’s comments in 1 Corinthians 8 and 10 must be re-evaluated.

show abstract

A critical assessment of Church and political engagement in Zimbabwe under the new dispensation

Magezi

Tagwirei

2022

Verbum Eccles.

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Since the reign of the late Robert Gabriel Mugabe, Zimbabwe has been seized by retrogressive puppetisation of partisan gospel ministers and churches, worsened by state victimisation of those who stand against political ills. Church and state relations were compromised and fear gripped most citizens. At his inauguration, the incumbent President Emmerson Mnangagwa pledged a ‘new dispensation’ but contrarily remained similar to the preceding regime. Today, Church and state relations remain compromised as leaders appear accommodative when supported and vindictive when critiqued. The prevailing situation divided the Church, leaving some pastors dining with oppressive leaders whilst others side with the oppressed, culminating in disturbing polarisation. Ruling politicians captured some gospel ministers to sanitise the ‘new dispensation’ and vilify its critics. Although multiple researches have been carried out on Church and politics in Zimbabwe, the lack of clarity on how churches should engage with the state remains an ongoing challenge. Using a literature-based approach, this article evaluates ecclesial engagement with national politics in view of the Old Testament’s fearless prophetic involvement in politics and the New Testament’s understanding of the Church as the salt and the light of the world (Mt 5:13–16). Results of this assessment are that Church engagements with politics have been defined by economic volatility, polarisation, corruptibility, hermeneutical weaknesses and theological differences. The article concludes that the Church should contextually apply the Old Testament’s prophetic stance and the New Testament’s ‘salt and light’ engagement in Zimbabwe.Interdisciplinary and/or interdisciplinary implications: Assessing Church and political engagement in Zimbabwe under the new dispensation in light of the Old Testament’s prophetic involvement in politics and the New Testament’s conceptualisation of the Church as salt and light (Mt 5:13–16) is a contextually critical contribution that interfaces ecclesiology with Christian, biblical, public and political theologies.

show abstract

The New Testament as Political Documents

Cited by 3 publications

References 3 publications

Power and vulnerability: Re-reading Mark 6:14–29 in the light of political violence in Zimbabwe

Power and vulnerability: Re-reading Mark 6:14–29 in the light of political violence in Zimbabwe

Roman Diet and Meat Consumption: Reassessing Elite Access to Meat in 1 Corinthians 8 and 10

A critical assessment of Church and political engagement in Zimbabwe under the new dispensation

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About