An essential resource for understanding slavery in the New Testament and early Christianity Slavery permeated society in the ancient world. The realities of slavery and its shadows pervade the New Testament and other early Christian texts. Yet enslavement remains an under-taught aspect of the context of the New Testament and early Christianity. Because of this, readers are left with numerous questions about ancient slavery. How did people become enslaved? What kinds of work did enslaved people do? Who enslaved people? How did ancient slavery compare with more contemporary enslavement eras? Did anyone in the ancient world criticize slavery? Was ancient slavery racialized? Did Christians have a different understanding of slavery than others? These are just some of the questions students ask in higher education and in Bible study classrooms alike. This volume takes on these questions, introducing students to the textures, complexities, and material realities of slavery in the Greco-Roman world. Ancient Slavery and Its New Testament Contexts draws on the expertise of scholars around the world with a focus on introductory information, accessibility, and readability. It does not attempt to dismiss or downplay the role of New Testament texts in the perpetuation of either ancient slavery or slavery in the North American context. Rather, the volume helps students and teachers alike wrestle with the ongoing historical, theological, and ethical legacies of slavery in their own faith formation and engagement with the biblical text.
Christy Cobb is associate professor of Christianity at the University of Denver. She is the author of the book Slavery, Gender, Truth, and Power and the co-editor of Sex, Violence, and Early Christian Texts. She has published multiple articles on ancient slavery and focuses especially on issues of gender and sexuality in early Christianity. Katherine A. Shaner is associate professor of New Testament at Wake Forest University School of Divinity. She is the author of Enslaved Leadership in Early Christianity. She has also edited a volume of her students' work, Shouts and Whispers, aimed at mainline church communities and individuals who struggle with injustices in biblical texts. An ordained Lutheran (ELCA) pastor, she preaches and teaches regularly in churches across the nation.
"Cobb and Shaner have brought together well-informed, qualified contributors writing on multiple topics pertaining to slavery . . . Highly recommended." --CHOICE "There is a special pleasure in reading an edited volume that comes from a fully realized and well-executed vision. Such was my experience reading Ancient Slavery and Its New Testament Contexts. . . . Any educator who teaches a class on slavery and the New Testament or the Bible (or who devote significant time to the topic) should immediately consider adopting this volume as a textbook. It is hard to imagine a book better suited for that purpose." --Christopher B. Zeichmann in Review of Biblical Literature "Ancient Slavery and Its New Testament Contexts is a crucial rejoinder to persistent trends in modern scholarship and theology of ignoring, excusing, whitewashing, and romanticizing slavery in the New Testament. The volume equips readers with interpretive strategies for centering the wholly human experiences of enslaved people while taking full account of the systemic violence of slavery in the New Testament, its ancient contexts, and some of its ancient and modern interpretations--the harsh realities of coerced labor, racism, physical brutality, sexual exploitation, dehumanization, and commodification. The editors and contributors have translated cutting-edge and ethically reflexive scholarship into an engaging and accessible format for classroom use--a truly remarkable achievement that will make this an indispensable resource for years to come." --Tony Keddie, The University of Texas at Austin "Ancient Slavery and Its New Testament Contexts is an essential resource for anyone seeking to better understand the intersections of enslavement and the New Testament. Cobb and Shaner have assembled a cohort of scholars who stand out for their ability to balance cutting-edge research with clear and accessible prose. This volume includes rich engagement with material and literary evidence alongside New Testament texts, carefully curated images that immerse the reader in the ancient context, and discussion questions designed to facilitate classroom conversations. Teachers in ecclesial, college, and graduate contexts alike will find a wealth of resources for their classrooms in this volume." --Jennifer Quigley, Candler School of Theology at Emory University "Ancient Slavery and Its New Testament Contexts represents a must-have resource for any introductory course to the New Testament. Contributors carefully demonstrate that virtually any topic in early Christianity is entangled with the harsh reality of enslavement. The captive, missing in most literary, theological, and historical introductions to the field, occupies the center stage here, urging biblical interpreters to reconsider the ethical foundations of early Christianity." --Luis Menendez-Antuna, Boston University School of Theology "Ancient Slavery and Its New Testament Contexts is an important and expertly edited collection that will be very useful to students, interested readers, and scholars. The chapters are well-written and clear, with nuggets of insight grounded in nuanced interpretation and analysis. There is a genuine pedagogical care in how each chapter presents the materials, with discussion questions to ponder at the end, and with helpful lists for further reading. This is a great accomplishment, and such a work deserves to be highly recommended." --Ronald Charles, University of Toronto "This book is an invaluable resource for understanding the complex and brutal realities of ancient slavery, particularly in relation to Jewish, New Testament, and early Christian texts and their diverse audiences. In addition to considering the many metaphors and concepts that deploy slavery motifs in early Christian writings, it examines the everyday realities of the slaves populating their pages. The authors of these essays address common misperceptions while examining how laws, institutions, socioeconomic realities, and societal attitudes regarding slavery influenced Christian teachings and aspirations that continue to this day. I highly recommend this book to students, educators, and anyone interested in exploring this challenging topic." --Harry O. Maier, Vancouver School of Theology "Confronting the legacy of slavery in the New Testament is challenging. Ancient Slavery and Its New Testament Contexts gives readers the background and tools they need to understand the impact of slavery in the world of Jesus and the early Christ followers. Each chapter addresses complex questions in clear and accessible prose, anticipating questions that readers are likely to have. High-quality illustrations bring the text to life. Outstanding scholars, the editors and contributors prove themselves to be excellent teachers--the volume is sure to generate lively conversations in classrooms and congregations." --Jennifer A. Glancy, Le Moyne College, author of Slavery in Early Christianity and Slavery as Moral Problem: In the Early Church and Today
