| Introduction | ix |
| 1. | The New World Order: The Historical Context of New Testament History and Literature | 1 |
| Imperial Domination, Client Rulers, and Popular Renewal Movements in Palestine | 1 |
| Religion and Power in the Roman Imperial Order in the Greek Cities | 8 |
| Resources for Further Study | 15 |
| 2. | Matthew's Gospel: The Disciples' Call to Justice | 16 |
| Who Is the "Matthew" of Matthew's Gospel? | 16 |
| The Setting of Matthew's Gospel | 17 |
| The Structure of Matthew's Gospel | 20 |
| What Is the Purpose of Matthew's Gospel? | 22 |
| Who Is the Model Disciple in Matthew? | 35 |
| Notes | 38 |
| Resources for Further Study | 39 |
| 3. | Mark's Gospel: Invitation to Discipleship | 40 |
| Context and Interpretation of the Gospel | 41 |
| Structure of the Gospel | 45 |
| Story Lines of Mark | 51 |
| The Gospel in an Episode: A Reading of Mark 5:21-43 | 56 |
| Resources for Further Study | 60 |
| 4. | Luke's Gospel: "Good News to the Poor" for the Non-Poor | 62 |
| Introduction | 62 |
| Structure of Luke's Gospel | 66 |
| Getting Down to Specifics | 68 |
| Conclusion | 78 |
| Resources for Further Study | 79 |
| 5. | John's Gospel's Call to Be Reborn of God | 80 |
| "In the Beginning" | 81 |
| "Authority to Become Children of God" | 83 |
| "Not Born of the Will of the Flesh," Part 1: Nicodemus | 84 |
| "Not Born of the Will of the Flesh," Part 2: The One Born Blind | 88 |
| "Not Born of the Will of a Man": Living Water in Samaria | 89 |
| "Not Born of Blood(s)": Confronting Death with the Power of Resurrection | 91 |
| The Conspiracy to Be Church | 92 |
| The Passion according to John | 96 |
| Resurrection | 98 |
| Living John's Gospel Today | 99 |
| Postscript: The Johannine Letters | 100 |
| Resources for Further Study | 102 |
| 6. | Acts of the Apostles: Also Known as Acts of the Holy Spirit | 103 |
| Acts and the Gospel of Luke | 103 |
| Reading Acts Today: Luke's Agenda and Ours | 104 |
| How Subversion Has Been Subverted | 107 |
| Subversive Humor | 108 |
| Insiders and Outsiders: The Election of Matthias | 109 |
| Insiders and Outsiders: The Outpouring of the Spirit | 111 |
| Subversive Sharing | 112 |
| A Message for the People | 112 |
| Justice beyond What Was Intended | 114 |
| A God Who Speaks at the Margins | 115 |
| The Subversion of Paul | 116 |
| Economic Subversion | 117 |
| An Imperfect Government | 119 |
| No Final Word | 120 |
| 7. | Paul's Letters: God's Justice against Empire | 122 |
| The "Gospel" of Empire | 123 |
| Negotiating the Currents of Imperialism | 124 |
| The Apocalypse of the Crucified Messiah | 126 |
| The God of the Have-Nots | 128 |
| A Political and Material Reading of Paul's Theology | 131 |
| Living in Solidarity with the Oppressed | 133 |
| Removing the Refuge of Religion | 138 |
| The Obedience of the Nations | 140 |
| Paul's Legacy | 143 |
| Resources for Further Study | 145 |
| 8. | Deutero-Pauline Letters: Colossians, Ephesians, and the Pastoral Epistles | 148 |
| Introduction to the Writings as a Group: Authorship, Dating, and Reception | 148 |
| The Letter to the Colossians | 152 |
| The Letter to the Ephesians | 156 |
| The Letters to Timothy and Titus | 161 |
| So Now What? Recommendations for Interpreting the Deutero-Pauline Epistles | 164 |
| Resources for Further Study | 166 |
| 9. | Catholic Epistles: Hebrews, James, 1 Peter, 2 Peter, Jude | 168 |
| Introduction to the Writings as a Group | 168 |
| The Letter to the Hebrews | 169 |
| The Letter of James | 176 |
| The First Letter of Peter | 179 |
| The Second Letter of Peter and the Letter of Jude | 182 |
| Resources for Further Study | 186 |
| 10. | Revelation: Claiming the Victory Jesus Won over Empire | 188 |
| Blueprint for the End? | 188 |
| What Is "Apocalyptic" Literature? | 189 |
| "John to the Seven Ekklesiai That Are in Asia..." | 193 |
| Scrolls, Seals, Trumpets, and Bowls: Revelation's "Plot" | 196 |
| Where Do You Live? Babylon or New Jerusalem? | 203 |
| Resources for Further Study | 206 |
| About the Contributors | 207 |
| Index | 209 |
