Resisting Empire: Rethinking the Purpose of the Letter to "the Hebrews"

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This book offers a fresh reading about the purpose for which Hebrews was written. In this book Whitlark argues that Hebrews engages both the negative pressures (persecution) and positive attractions (honor/prosperity) of its audiences Roman imperial context. Consequently, the audience of Hebrews appears to be in danger of defecting to the pagan imperial context. Due to the imperial nature of these pressures, Hebrews obliquely critiques the imperial script according to the rhetorical expectations in the first-century Mediterranean worldnamely, through the use of figured speech. This critique is the primary focus of Whitlark's project. Whitlark examines Hebrewss figured response to the imperial hopes boasted by Rome along with Romes claim to eternal rule, to the power of life and death, and to be led by the true, victorious ruler. Whitlark also makes a case for discerning Hebrewss response to the challenges of Flavian triumph. Whitlark concludes his study by suggesting that Hebrews functions much like Revelation, that is, to resist the draw of the Christians' Roman imperial context. This is done, in part, by providing a covert opposition to Roman imperial discourse. He also offers evaluation of relapse theories for Hebrews, of Hebrewss place among early Christian martyrdom, and of the nature of the resistance that Hebrews promotes.

Reviews

Jason Whitlarks volume, a recent addition to the Library of New Testament Studies series, move[s] this debate onto new ground, particularly in seeking to uncover the anti-imperial rhetoric that the letter purportedly displays. Whitlarks familiarity with, and usage of, contemporary classical sources is impressive. Indeed, one of the strengths of the volume is the usage of such material, and the book is as much a classics text as it is an NT studies one. -- David Allen * The Expository Times *
In this new study on the background of Hebrews, Jason Whitlark, Associate Professor of New Testament at Baylor University, sets out to unravel the complexities of the letter, especially with regard to its purpose and ideological setting. Informed by the recent trend of empire studies conducted by James C. Scott, Richard A. Horsley, and others, Whitlark argues that the Letter to the Hebrews has been written to challenge the pressures and temptations of first-century Roman power. This study is a school example of scholarly work at its best: its aim is well-defined, its presuppositions are clear, and its method is lucid and sound (and its conclusions, I might add, are convincing). -- Arie W. Zwiep * RBL *

Author Bio

Jason A. Whitlark is an Associate Professor of New Testament at Baylor University, USA.