This wide-ranging Reader provides a comprehensive survey of the interaction between postcolonial criticism and biblical studies. Examines how various empires such as the Persian and Roman affected biblical narratives. Demonstrates how different biblical writers such as Paul, Matthew and Mark handled the challenges of empire. Includes examples of the practical application of postcolonial criticism to biblical texts. Considers contemporary issues such as diaspora, race, representation and territory. Editorial commentary draws out the key points to be made and creates a coherent narrative.

This wide-ranging Reader provides a comprehensive survey ofthe interaction between postcolonial criticism and biblicalstudies.* * Examines how various empires such as the Persian and Romanaffected biblical narratives.* Demonstrates how different biblical writers such as PaulMatthew and Mark handled the challenges of empire.* Includes examples of the practical application of postcolonialcriticism to biblical texts.* Considers contemporary issues such as diaspora, racerepresentation and territory.* Editorial commentary draws out the key points to be made andcreates a coherent narrative.

List of Contributors viiiAcknowledgments xIntroduction 1R. S. SugirtharajahPart I: Theoretical Practices 3Introduction: Theoretical Practices 5R. S. Sugirtharajah1 Charting the Aftermath: A Review of Postcolonial Criticism 7R. S. Sugirtharajah2 Biblical Criticism and Postcolonial Studies: Toward a Postcolonial Optic 33Fernando F. Segovia3 Making the Connections: Postcolonial Studies and Feminist Biblical Interpretation 45Kwok Pui-lanPart II: Empires Old and New 65Introduction: Empires Old and New 67R. S. Sugirtharajah4 Renewal Movements and Resistance to Empire in Ancient Judea 69Richard A. Horsley5 Postcolonialism and Imperial Motives for Canonization 78Jon L. Berquist6 Roman Imperialism and Early Christian Scribality 96Werner H. Kelber7 Desiring War: Apocalypse, Commodity Fetish, and the End of History 112Erin RunionsPart III: Empire and Exegesis 129Introduction: Empire and Exegesis 131R. S. Sugirtharajah8 The Implications of the Text of Esther for African Women's Struggle for Liberation in South Africa 134Itumeleng J. Mosala9 Rahab Says Hello to Judith: A Decolonizing Feminist Reading 142Musa W. Dube10 The Sign of Orpah: Reading Ruth through Native Eyes 159Laura E. Donaldson11 On Naming the Subject: Postcolonial Reading of Daniel 1 171Philip Chia12 Decolonizing Yahweh: A Postcolonial Reading of 2 Kings 24-25 186Kari Latvus13 Mark and Empire: ''Zealot'' and ''Postcolonial'' Readings 193Stephen D. Moore14 Tyranny, Boundary, and Might: Colonial Mimicry in Mark's Gospel 206Tat-siong Benny Liew15 Maori ''Jews'' and a Resistant Reading of John 5.10-47 224Mary Huie-Jolly16 God at the Crossroads: A Postcolonial Reading of Sophia 238Mayra RiveraPart IV: Postcolonial Concerns 255Introduction: Postcolonial Concerns 257R. S. Sugirtharajah17 How Local Divine Powers were Suppressed: A Case of Mwari of the Shona 259Dora R. Mbuwayesango18 Cutchery Tamil versus Pure Tamil: Contesting Language Use in the Translated Bible in the Early Nineteenth-Century Protestant Tamil Community 269Hephzibah Israel19 Canonization and Marginalization: Mary of Magdala 284Karen L. King20 Exodus-toward-Egypt: Filipino-Americans' Struggle to Realize the Promised Land in America 291Eleazar S. FernandezIndex of Biblical References 305Index of Names and Subjects 313