Anti-Roman Cryptograms in the New Testament: Symbolic Messages of Hope and Liberation (The Westminster College Library of Biblical Symbolism) - Softcover

Macky, Peter W.

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0820427713 ISBN 13: 9780820427713

Publisher: Peter Lang Inc., International Academic Publishers, 1997

Synopsis

It is quite easy to recognize coded messages of hope for the end of Roman persecution within the Book of Revelation. «Fallen, fallen is Babylon the great, the wicked harlot who is seated upon many waters¿» clearly refers to the city of Rome. The more skillfully constructed, more subtle and effective anti-Roman cryptograms discreetly placed throughout most of the other documents of the New Testament, however, present a much more formidable challenge to modern readers. These symbolic messages of hope and liberation are the subject of the present study, the first concerted analysis of these cryptograms.

About this title

About the Author:

Norman A. Beck is the Poehlmann Professor of Theology and Classical Languages at Texas Lutheran University. He is an ELCA pastor, and in addition to teaching full-time serves as the contract pastor of St. John's Lutheran Church in Stockdale (Denhawken), Texas. He has earned degrees from Princeton Theological Seminary (Ph.D.), Trinity Lutheran Seminary (B.D.), and Capital University (B.A.). In addition, he has received an honorary D.D., also from Trinity Lutheran Seminary. He is the author of Mature Christianity in the 21st Century published by Crossword, published also in Germany as Muendiges Christentum im 21. Jahrhundert by Institut Kirke und Judentum, Anti-Roman Cryptograms in the New Testament: Hidden Transcripts of Hope and Liberation published by Peter Lang, The New Testament: A New Translation and Redaction published by Fairway Press, and Blessed to Be a Blessing to Each Other: Jews, Muslims, and Christians as Children of Abraham in the Middle East, also published by Fairway Press. He has also written a movie script about the Jesus of history titled "Jesus, the Man."

Review:

«Demonstrating once again that Norman A. Beck is among the most perceptive and best informed biblical scholars writing today, this brilliantly researched book shows how to read ancient texts with fresh insight. In prose as clear as it is compelling, Beck decodes key biblical imagery so that the New Testament's protests against political oppression, yearnings for social justice, and cries for human liberation can be heard more emphatically as applying to human life here and now.» (John K. Roth, Claremont McKenna College)
«Norman A. Beck's challenging interpretation of the New Testament in light of earlier cryptograms opens up an exciting new world of understanding the political dimensions of the gospels and epistles. If his perspective gains a foothold, as well it might, he may have finally succeeded in giving us an authentic social gospel. Both Scripture scholars and ethicists, and those who follow their thought, will need to seriously consider his perspective.» (John T.Pawlikowski, Catholic Theological Union)

About this edition

• Publisher: Peter Lang Inc., International Academic Publishers
• Publication date: 1997
• ISBN 10: 0820427713
• ISBN 13: 9780820427713
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 191