Paul Borgman and Kelly James Clark, Written to Be Heard: Recovering the Messages of the Gospels

Abstract

Further studies of this kind should delineate often as to emperors (Caligula, Nero, Domitian being the worst in the first century, perhaps) and their attendant eras being different, also that various locations in the empire and local situations would alter attitudes toward the empire by the Christian community. Of course, Carter knows this well, but the tendency of these studies is to portray a rather static situation, rather like generalizing about Mediterranean peasants as though they were a homogeneous group. The construct in its full array fits best the book of Revelation. Carter perceptively calls attention to the empire’s economic oppression in Revelation 18, its illicit economic activity made possible by its military, the parallel to Jeremiah 50–51, and the vicious military conquest upon which the empire is founded (pp. 105–107). Would that indeed be the case for all empires? Relatively recent empires are not immune from similar critiques. Consider the German Reich, the Russian empire after WW2, and the British Empire that might have been somewhat enlightened, eventually letting India go without war, but was still imperial and racist (?) and could be drastic. Should we not also be awakened by this study to the American empire, of bases if not of colonies, and its military invasions in the twentieth century? Did the United States embark on being a colonial power after the Spanish-American war by taking possession of the Philippines, tempting the would-be Empire of Japan into the tragic bombing of Pearl Harbor? Is there not some hubris in the very idea of empire, some inherent necessity to conquer other countries and subsume them for selfish benefit? Carter is acutely aware of such potentialities. Were I to say that I am impressed with this book and recommend it would be to engage in understatement. It is invaluable for its overview, academically of high standard yet readable, informative for those needing an update about the socio-economic application to an NT set in the Roman Empire. It is actually rather exhilarating to read this essential guide. It could serve well as a primer in a college or seminary class for orientation and would function exceptionally well as a catalyst for lively discussion in a bible study group.