Abstract
Drawing on Mikhail Bakhtin’s theory of double-voicedness and James Scott’s theory of public and hidden transcripts, this essay investigates the colonial context of Romans 13:1-7 with particular attention to the Roman imperial cult. It is my contention that Paul attempts to persuade the audience to resist the imperial cult, whilst negotiating colonial power and authority. It is assumed that colonial discourse is, by nature, a double-voiced discourse in that the public transcript of the dominant and the hidden transcript of the suppressed coexist in a continued state of internal tension and conflict. Seen in this light, Paul as a colonised subject parodies the public transcript of the elites in his own hidden transcript. However, Paul’s doubled-voiced discourse finally turns out to be subversive against the dominant culture by suggesting that ultimate honour, fear, and authority should not be due to the rulers of the Roman Empire but to God.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Journal | HTS Teologiese Studies / Theological Studies |
| Volume | 71 |
| Issue number | 1 |
| DOIs | |
| Publication status | Published - 2015 Jan 1 |
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All Science Journal Classification (ASJC) codes
- Religious studies
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A double-voiced reading of romans 13:1-7 in light of the imperial cult. / Lim, Sung Uk.
In: HTS Teologiese Studies / Theological Studies, Vol. 71, No. 1, 01.01.2015.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article
TY - JOUR
T1 - A double-voiced reading of romans 13:1-7 in light of the imperial cult
AU - Lim, Sung Uk
PY - 2015/1/1
Y1 - 2015/1/1
N2 - Drawing on Mikhail Bakhtin’s theory of double-voicedness and James Scott’s theory of public and hidden transcripts, this essay investigates the colonial context of Romans 13:1-7 with particular attention to the Roman imperial cult. It is my contention that Paul attempts to persuade the audience to resist the imperial cult, whilst negotiating colonial power and authority. It is assumed that colonial discourse is, by nature, a double-voiced discourse in that the public transcript of the dominant and the hidden transcript of the suppressed coexist in a continued state of internal tension and conflict. Seen in this light, Paul as a colonised subject parodies the public transcript of the elites in his own hidden transcript. However, Paul’s doubled-voiced discourse finally turns out to be subversive against the dominant culture by suggesting that ultimate honour, fear, and authority should not be due to the rulers of the Roman Empire but to God.
AB - Drawing on Mikhail Bakhtin’s theory of double-voicedness and James Scott’s theory of public and hidden transcripts, this essay investigates the colonial context of Romans 13:1-7 with particular attention to the Roman imperial cult. It is my contention that Paul attempts to persuade the audience to resist the imperial cult, whilst negotiating colonial power and authority. It is assumed that colonial discourse is, by nature, a double-voiced discourse in that the public transcript of the dominant and the hidden transcript of the suppressed coexist in a continued state of internal tension and conflict. Seen in this light, Paul as a colonised subject parodies the public transcript of the elites in his own hidden transcript. However, Paul’s doubled-voiced discourse finally turns out to be subversive against the dominant culture by suggesting that ultimate honour, fear, and authority should not be due to the rulers of the Roman Empire but to God.
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U2 - 10.4102/hts.v71i1.2475
DO - 10.4102/hts.v71i1.2475
M3 - Article
VL - 71
JO - HTS Teologiese Studies / Theological Studies
JF - HTS Teologiese Studies / Theological Studies
SN - 0259-9422
IS - 1
ER -