Additional information
by Christy Cobb (Editor), Katherine a. Shaner (Editor)
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.Author Biography
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.
Number of Pages: 288
Dimensions: 0.8 x 7.9 x 5.1 IN
Publication Date: April 10, 2025
