Honor and shame in the Gospel of Matthew
Book Description
In the ancient Mediterranean world, honor and shame formed the bedrock of social interaction, shaping how individuals understood their worth and place in community. Jerome Neyrey invites modern readers into this pivotal cultural framework to unlock deeper meanings within Matthew's Gospel.
This scholarly exploration reveals how the evangelist Matthew deliberately employed the rhetorical conventions of his time, drawing from established literary forms used to bestow praise and assign blame. Neyrey demonstrates that Matthew's training in classical rhetoric profoundly influenced how he crafted his narrative, using genres and techniques that would have resonated powerfully with his original audience.
By examining the specific grounds upon which honor was awarded and shame assigned in Matthew's cultural context, readers gain fresh insight into familiar Gospel passages. The author illuminates how praise and blame functioned as social currencies, affecting everything from personal identity to community standing.
For contemporary spiritual seekers, this work offers a transformative lens through which to read one of Christianity's foundational texts. Understanding these ancient honor-shame dynamics enriches our comprehension of Jesus' teachings and Matthew's presentation of them. Rather than imposing modern sensibilities on an ancient text, Neyrey guides readers toward appreciating how the Gospel's original audience would have received its message.
This detailed analysis spans 287 pages, providing thorough examination of socio-rhetorical criticism applied to biblical interpretation.
Who Is This For?
📖 Reading Level: Medium (200-400 pages) (~8 hours)
📄 Length: 287 pages
What You'll Discover
- ✓ Explore Schaamte
- ✓ Explore RELIGION
- ✓ Explore Socio-rhetorical criticism
- ✓ Explore Shame
- ✓ Explore Eer
- ✓ Study Bible from spiritual perspective
- ✓ Explore Mattheüs (bijbelboek)
- ✓ Explore Socio-rhetorical criticism of sacred works
