THEO 7076 Apocalypse, Resistance, and Rule: Ancient Jewish and Christian Perspectives on Empire and Power

This PhD-level seminar explores the historical political and theological dimensions of the apocalyptic tradition in ancient Judaism and early Christianity. Focusing on the interconnections between apocalyptic thought, acts of resistance, and the concept of " rule" (both imperial and divine), the course will examine primary texts from the Hebrew Bible, the Apocrypha / Pseudepigrapha, the Dead Sea Scrolls, and the New Testament. While there is no language requirement for the seminar, students with ability to read ancient languages will be expected to conduct research in them and will be invited to attend regular reading sessions of Hebrew and Greek texts. The seminar is open to all graduate students and is designed to be methodologically diverse, engaging the texts through lenses relevant to various areas of academic theology. Bible students will focus on philological and historical-critical approaches to the texts within their imperial contexts, engaging texts in the ancient languages. Students in Historical Theology, Systematic Theology, Theological Ethics, and Comparative Theology will engage with the course material to address questions of political theology, non-violent and violent resistance theories, the formation of Christian identity against imperial power, and the enduring legacy of apocalyptic imagination in contemporary theological discourse. Requirements will include significant reading, a major research paper, and seminar presentations.