Render unto Caesar: The Struggle for Christ and Culture in the New Testament

This stimulating history by Crossan (The Historical Jesus), a retired religious studies professor at DePaul University, examines first-century clashes between the Christian church and Roman state. “What biblical vision best empowers contemporary American Christians to confront... the tragedy of Rome-like decline with violence at home?” asks Crossan, studying Jesus’s relationship with Rome for guidance on how Christians might respond to current crises of American democracy. The author finds the model of a vindictive relationship between church and state in Revelation’s demonization of Romans as Christian-killers. Luke-Acts promotes the alternative of assimilation, Crossan argues, through its celebration of the “Holy Spirit’s transfer of headquarters from Jerusalem to Rome.” Positing a third option, Crossan looks to the work of Jewish historian Josephus to suggest that Christianity can critique power from within non-Christian institutions. Despite some clichéd points of comparison (“Any Rome/America parallel must now focus on... when republicanism slouches toward dictatorship”), this is an illuminating exploration of how Christians might relate to broader society, written with style, panache, and accessible erudition. Specialists and general readers of history should take note. (Mar.)