Dealing with an area of growing of interest and importance, this volume takes into account biblical interpreters, writers, artists and composers to address the theme of the reception history of the passion narratives.There is a growing recognition of the importance of investigating the reception history (or 'afterlives') of biblical texts. How people have interpreted and been influenced by the Bible is often as interesting and historically important as what the text may have originally meant Reception history is interdisciplinary by nature, examining material from a wide variety of contexts and media, and incorporating readings outside the academy, from both church and culture. This is a distinctive feature, broadening the horizons of material traditionally classed as 'biblical interpretation'. So artists, writers and composers are included as biblical interpreters alongside the academic and the religious believer.The present volume aims to contribute to this broad field of interest by focusing on the theme of the reception history of the passion narratives.
The contributors highlight the varying cultural contexts of differing biblical interpretations of the Passion narratives, ranging from 'Christian Cannibalism and Human(e) Sacrifice: The Passion and the Conversion of the Aztecs' (Prof. Lara, Yale University) to 'Emblem and Irony: Passion Narrative in Post-Reformation Hymnody' (Prof. Watson, Durham University) to The Passion in Early Christian Art (Prof. Robin Jensen, Vanderbilt University). Significant hermeneutical questions are thereby raised about interpretation of the passion narratives."Formerly the Journal for the Study of the New Testament Supplement", a book series that explores the many aspects of New Testament study including historical perspectives, social-scientific and literary theory, and theological, cultural and contextual approaches. "The Early Christianity in Context" series, a part of JSNTS, examines the birth and development of early Christianity up to the end of the third century CE. The series places Christianity in its social, cultural, political and economic context. European Seminar on Christian Origins and Journal for the Study of the Historical Jesus Supplement are also part of JSNTS.