Abstract
The prophets of the Hebrew Bible used all sorts of unusual actions to get their message across in the public arena. Can they be an inspiration for a public theology institution nudging up against the Parliamentary Triangle in the nations capital? How can the prophets inspire our engagement in the spheres of politics and society in our day? This chapter is informed by Biblical Performance Criticism, a newly emerging discipline amongst Biblical scholars. As a method it analyses the ancient Biblical texts for inherently performative themes and features. It is especially applicable to the prophetic books of the Hebrew Bible where the prophets are who live out the drama of their message in their own bodies and experiences. This chapter introduces Biblical prophets: faithful followers of Yahweh who are nonetheless required to perform symbolic acts that render them vulnerable to mocking and scorn by those to whom the messages are directed. It then asks whether the risky performances of prophets in the public sphere reinforce or detract from their message, and whether such a model is still appropriate today.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Title of host publication | The Bible, justice and public theology |
| Editors | David J Neville |
| Place of Publication | Sheffield |
| Publisher | Sheffield Phoenix Press |
| Chapter | 7 |
| Pages | 101-113 |
| Number of pages | 13 |
| ISBN (Print) | 9781909697478 |
| Publication status | Published - 2014 |