Humor, Resistance, and Jewish Cultural Persistence in the Book of Revelation
Roasting Rome

Positions Revelation within an ancient Jewish context and demonstrates how the author used humor to resist Roman power.

Sarah Emanuel (Author)

9781108496599, Cambridge University Press

Hardback, published 9 January 2020

246 pages, 7 b/w illus.
23.5 x 15.8 x 1.8 cm, 0.49 kg

'… this book demonstrates a rich engagement with several bodies of theoretical literature. It offers excellent introductory discussions of postcolonial theory, trauma theory, humor theory, and dialogism for readers in biblical studies … generative and engaging readings of Revelation. Emanuel's monograph is well worth the attention of readers of Revelation, as well as anyone interested in postcolonial theory, trauma theory, and humor in biblical studies.'  Olivia Stewart Lester, The Bible and Critical Theory

Empire-critical and postcolonial readings of Revelation are now commonplace, but scholars have not yet put these views into conversation with Jewish trauma and cultural survival strategies. In this book, Sarah Emanuel positions Revelation within its ancient Jewish context. Proposing a new reading of Revelation, she demonstrates how the text's author, a first century CE Jewish Christ-follower, used humor as a means of resisting Roman power. Emanuel uses multiple critical lenses, including humor, trauma, and postcolonial theory, together with historical-critical methods. These approaches enable a deeper understanding of the Jewishness of the early Christ-centered movement, and how Jews in antiquity related to their cultural and religious identity. Emanuel's volume offers new insights and fills a gap in contemporary scholarship on Revelation and biblical scholarship more broadly.

Introduction
1. Backgrounds, backdrops, and other important starting points
2. Survival of the humorist
3. The comic truth
4. The trick revealed
5. I pledge allegiance to the lamb
Conclusion.

Subject Areas: Judaism [HRJ], Bible readings, selections & meditations [HRCG9], Biblical studies & exegesis [HRCG], New Testaments [HRCF2]