Yale University Library Research Guides: New Testament Studies: Postcolonial Criticism

Introduction to Postcolonial Criticism

Postcolonial Biblical Criticism: Interdisciplinary Intersections by Stephen D. Moore; Fernando F. Segovia In-depth introduction to an emerging field. Highlights key features, defines terms, explains hermeneutics. Relates postcolonial methods to other political and theoretical currents in biblical studies (feminism; racial/ethnic studies; poststructuralism; Marxism).

A Postcolonial Commentary on the New Testament Writings by Fernando F. Segovia; R. S. Sugirtharajah Puts imperial-colonial frameworks and relations at the centre. Foregrounds literary, rhetorical, and ideological marks of coloniality and postcoloniality in texts and interpretations. Reveals how postcolonial readings destabilize hegemonic biblical criticism.
Empire and Apocalypse: Postcolonialism and the New Testament by Stephen Moore Introduction to postcolonial biblical criticism. Surveys recent advances. Includes examples of the method applied to reading Mark, John, and Revelation. Historical focus. Annotated bibliography.
Exegesis in the Making: Postcolonialism and New Testament Studies by Anna Runesson Treats the theoretical location of postcolonial biblical studies and its critique of and contributions to NT exegesis. Example articles from scholars stationed around the globe.

Empire in the New Testament by Stanley E. Porter; Cynthia Long Westfall Bingham Colloquium of 2007 papers investigating NT's negotiation of God and Caesar's empires. Hebrew Bible approaches to empire read in Roman imperial context.
Paul and Empire: Religion and Power in Roman Imperial Society by Richard A. Horsley Sets Paul's mission within (and against) Roman imperial contexts and not Judaism.
The Historical Jesus: The Life of a Mediterranean Jewish Peasant by John Dominic Crossan Argues the historical Jesus was a peasant, social revolutionary, and utopian thinker.
The Roman Empire and the New Testament by Warren Carter Highlights the political, economic, societal, cultural, and religious aspects of Roman rule. Argues that NT texts negotiate this imperial context. Historical focus.