The contributors to this edited volume explore creation concepts in antiquity and aspects of caring for creation in ancient Jewish and Christian texts. Moreover, they inquire about the relevance of these texts and topics to today's earth ethics and ecological crises.
The contributors to this edited volume explore creation concepts in antiquity and aspects of creation care in Jewish and Christian texts. They also ask about how these texts and topics are relevant to today's earth ethics and in particular to the climate crisis. After reflecting on how the concepts of creation, nature, and cosmos relate to each other, the focus is initially on Jewish writings, which previous research on creation has barely considered. Moreover, central canonical Christian texts and early Syrian traditions are examined. The ethical-hermeneutical section addresses how New Testament studies approach the topic of creation in current debates on the subject. The bridges to today include the reception of biblical creation motifs in film, an exemplary »Earth Bible reading« of the Apocalypse of John, and a public theological look at the question of responsibility for creation and sustainability.
Table of contents:
I. OrientationZacharias Shoukry/Mirjam Jekel/Ruben Zimmermann: Introduction -
Dirk Evers: Creation, Nature, and Cosmos: Definitions and Hermeneutical Considerations
II. Early JudaismKristin De Troyer: God and Creation in Greek Esther -
Barbara Schmitz: Creation Theology in 3 Maccabees? An Analysis of the Lexeme κτι- -
Daniel Gurtner: The Corruption of Creation in Second Baruch
III. Early ChristianityMichal Beth Dinkler: The Wild Edges of Characterization: Caring for Creation as Character in the Gospel of Luke -
Hans-Georg Gradl: Rearranged Powers: The Discourse on Creation in the Acts of the Apostles -
Mirjam Jekel: Greening John: An Eco-hermeneutical Reading of the Fourth Gospel -
Christof Landmesser: Paul's Theology of Creation -
Alison G. Salvesen: Creation, Nature, and Paradise in the Odes of Solomon and Other Early Syriac Literature
IV. Hermeneutics and EthicsDavid Horrell: Why and How Should We Speak of 'Creation'? New Testament Interpretation in an Age of Ecological Crisis -
Angela Standhartinger: Creation and Gender: Pauline Perspectives in Context -
Adele Reinhartz: The Reception of Biblical Creation Motifs in Contemporary Film Culture -
Ruben Zimmermann: The Healing Tree of Life in the Revelation of John: An Earth-Bible-Reading -
Torsten Meireis: The Garden of Life and the City of Hope: A Public Theological View on the Issue of Creation Care
