Apocalypse as Holy War Divine Politics and Polemics in the Letters of Paul Emma Wasserman, John Collins

“This well-written study reappraises the ‘cosmic warfare’ motif in the apocalyptic literature with a view to illumining its deployment in Paul, who, Wasserman contends, holds ‘basic apocalyptic commitments” —J.P. Davies, The Journal of Theological Studies

“Emma Wasserman offers a fascinating survey of antiquity’s god-congested cosmos and a lucid analysis of the myriad and inconsistent ways that ancient Jews – and, particularly, Paul – coped with it. Brilliant and original, Apocalypse as Holy War truly puts Paul in his place.”—Paula Fredriksen, author of Paul: The Pagans’ Apostle

“By setting Paul within a vast company of ancient mythmakers who saw the cosmos as a complex political order, Wasserman enables us to read his letters in an entirely fresh way. Truly impressive.”—Wayne A. Meeks, Yale University

“A must read, Wasserman’s nuanced reappraisal of the sources and scholarship builds into a comparative contextualization of apocalyptic thought and brilliant reframing of the thought’s role in Paul’s letters.”—Stanley Stowers, Brown University

“Emma Wasserman subjects to a learned and insightful critique the common claim that the apostle Paul is deeply indebted to 'apocalyptic' thought, revealing not a widespread belief in a fundamental dualism or an expectation of cosmic war between powers of good and evil. What emerges instead is political myth making, interlaced with popular philosophy, framing the world as a complex hierarchy with various powers in tensive and sometimes unruly array. Wasserman’s carefully argued study will no doubt provoke serious debate about how to better understand the ways in which influential early Christians understood their place in the cosmos.”—Harold W. Attridge, Yale Divinity School

“It is difficult to produce a volume on a major biblical book and say something new, but Wasserman has done that. This study provides a way of understanding more precisely what ancient apocalyptic texts meant, how they functioned, and how Paul used apocalyptic themes in his letters. This book will make a very significant contribution to the field.”—Lawrence Wills, Brown University