Anthony Keddie

Ancient Slavery and Its New Testament Contexts

Biblical Studies & Commentaries

“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.”

The Ancient Mediterranean Social World

Biblical Studies & Commentaries

“Social-scientific criticism of the New Testament entails the creation of models that are useful for explaining how people in the ancient Mediterranean understood and experienced their social world. This helpful sourcebook provides carefully chosen selections from the varied ancient texts that undergird the models applied in traditional and emergent areas of social-scientific criticism, from patronage and honor to space and secrecy. It is an indispensable resource for students and scholars of the social contexts of the New Testament.”