As part of our new series of Keene Lectures, we welcome Dr Jarred Neusch. He will be talking on Romans 13:1-7, the Divine Sword of the Empire, and the Opponent’s Voice.
“Let every person be subject to the governing authorities …. It is the agent of God to execute wrath on the wrongdoer.” Throughout history, Romans 13:1–7 has emerged as a paradigmatic locus classicus invoked by Christians in support of war. But does a reading that finds Paul to be instructing his Christian readers to defend their government’s military efforts capture his intent in this text? In this lecture we’ll critically examine this pericope, canvas popular readings, and explore the potential for a new interpretive way forward.
Jared Neusch is a Research Assistant and the Project manager for the McDonald Agape Nicaea Project at St. Mellitus College in London. He earned his PhD in New Testament from King’s College London, titled: Beyond Continuity and Discontinuity: An Apocalyptic Rereading of Key Aspects in Galatians 3:1-4:11.
He has taught in a university and local-church setting in various capacities for several years, and some of his current areas of interest in research include apocalyptic readings of Paul, hermeneutics, and Christian pacifism. He has contributed to various popular and academic writing projects, including his recent chapter, “Nonviolent Hermeneutics” in the Handbook of Postconservative Interpretation (2024).
Although a native Texan, Jared now lives in England with his wife and three rapidly-growing children.
Tickets
Adults: £15.00 / Students £7.50
Ticket includes glass of prosecco on arrival. (soft drink option).