The Postcolonial Biblical Reader

Copyright © 2006 Blackwell Publishing Ltd

The Postcolonial Biblical Reader

Editor(s): R. S. Sugirtharajah

Published Online: 11 FEB 2008

Print ISBN: 9781405133494

Online ISBN: 9780470775080

DOI: 10.1002/9780470775080

About this Book

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About The Product

This wide-ranging Reader provides a comprehensive survey of the interaction between postcolonial criticism and biblical studies.


  • Examines how various empires such as the Persian and Roman affected biblical narratives.
  • Demonstrates how different biblical writers such as Paul, Matthew and Mark handled the challenges of empire.
  • Includes examples of the practical application of postcolonial criticism to biblical texts.
  • Considers contemporary issues such as diaspora, race, representation and territory.
  • Editorial commentary draws out the key points to be made and creates a coherent narrative.

Table of contents

    1. You have free access to this content
      Frontmatter (pages i–xii)

    1. Introduction (pages 1–2)

      R. S. Sugirtharajah

  3. Part I: Theoretical Practices

    1. You have free access to this content
      Introduction: Theoretical Practices (pages 4–6)

      R. S. Sugirtharajah

    2. Chapter 1

      Charting the Aftermath: A Review of Postcolonial Criticism (pages 7–32)

      R. S. Sugirtharajah

    3. Chapter 2

      Biblical Criticism and Postcolonial Studies: Toward a Postcolonial Optic (pages 33–44)

      Fernando F. Segovia

    4. Chapter 3

      Making the Connections: Postcolonial Studies and Feminist Biblical Interpretation (pages 45–63)

      Kwok Pui-lan

  4. Part II: Empires Old and New

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      Introduction: Empires Old and New (pages 66–68)

      R. S. Sugirtharajah

    2. Chapter 4

      Renewal Movements and Resistance to Empire in Ancient Judea (pages 69–77)

      Richard A. Horsley

    3. Chapter 5

      Postcolonialism and Imperial Motives for Canonization (pages 78–95)

      Jon L. Berquist

    4. Chapter 6

      Roman Imperialism and Earlychristian Scribality (pages 96–111)

      Werner H. Kelber

    5. Chapter 7

      Desiring War: Apocalypse, Commodity Fetish, and the End of History (pages 112–128)

      Erin Runions

  5. Part III: Empire and Exegesis

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      Introduction: Empire and Exegesis (pages 130–133)

      R. S. Sugirtharajah

    2. Chapter 8

      The Implications of the Text of Esther for African Women's Struggle for Liberation in South Africa (pages 134–141)

      Itumeleng J. Mosala

    3. Chapter 9

      Rahab Says Hello to Judith: A Decolonizing Feminist Reading (pages 142–158)

      Musa W. Dube

    4. Chapter 10

      The Sign of Orpah: Reading Ruth through Native Eyes (pages 159–170)

      Laura E. Donaldson

    5. Chapter 11

      On Naming the Subject: Postcolonial Reading of Daniel 1 (pages 171–185)

      Philip Chia

    6. Chapter 12

      Decolonizing Yahweh: A Postcolonial Reading of 2 Kings 24-25 (pages 186–192)

      Kari Latvus

    7. Chapter 13

      Markand Empire: “Zealot” and “Postcolonial” Readings (pages 193–205)

      Stephen D. Moore

    8. Chapter 14

      Tyranny, Boundary, and Might: Colonial Mimicry in Mark's Gospel (pages 206–223)

      Tat-siong Benny Liew

    9. Chapter 15

      Maori “Jews” and a Resistant Reading of John 5.10-47 (pages 224–237)

      Mary Huie-Jolly

    10. Chapter 16

      God at the Crossroads: A Postcolonial Reading of Sophia (pages 238–253)

      Mayra Rivera

  6. Part IV: Postcolonial Concerns

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      Introduction: Postcolonial Concerns (pages 256–258)

      R. S. Sugirtharajah

    2. Chapter 17

      How Local Divine Powers Were Suppressed: A Case of Mwari of the Shona (pages 259–268)

      Dora R. Mbuwayesango

    3. Chapter 18

      Cutchery Tamilversus Pure Tamil: Contesting Language Use in the Translated Bible in the Early Nineteenth-Century Protestant Tamil Community (pages 269–283)

      Hephzibah Israel

    4. Chapter 19

      Canonization and Marginalization: Mary of Magdala (pages 284–290)

      Karen L. King

    5. Chapter 20

      Exodus-Toward-Egypt: Filipino-Americans' Struggle to Realize the Promised Land in America (pages 291–304)

      Eleazar S. Fernandez

    1. You have free access to this content
      Index of Biblical References (pages 305–312)

    1. You have free access to this content
      Index of Names and Subjects (pages 313–317)

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