Anthony Braddick-Southgate

C. Anthony Braddick-Southgate

Department: Theology and Religion
Discipline: Theology and Religion
Research Centre/Unit: Centre for Biblical Studies

Project Summary

My project looks at how Paul uses the concept of ethnicity and the slave metaphor in his letter to the Romans work to forge a sense of identity for his audience.

The relationship between ethnicity and slavery in the Roman and Jewish thinking has not been the focus of the debate around Paul’s use of the metaphor in this letter nor what his implied audience would have made of it. Rather, the focus has been on whether he is drawing on the Septuagint’s usage or his social context. This project seeks to move our understanding on from that debate.

Through exploring how the social construction of the idea of slavery would have interacted with the social constructs of ethnicity held by Jewish, Roman and Greek audiences the project will demonstrate the flexibility of Paul’s thinking. This may be of benefit to both academic and Christian communities, both in highlighting the specificity of this letter and demonstrating Paul’s creativity in finding solutions to new challenges.

The secondary aim of the project is to address claims that Romans is to be construed in an anti-imperial manner, particularly that the claims Paul makes for Jesus are exclusive of sharing in the generally accepted beliefs adhering to the Roman princeps. In a world where many people are struggling with relating holding a faith while at the same time belonging comfortably within a diverse and multicultural society it is important and topical to identify positive models in New Testament.

Supervisory Team

First Supervisor: Professor David Horrell

Second Supervisor: Dr. Louise Lawerence

Wider Research Interests

  • early Roman Imperial history (31BCE - 68CE)
  • apocalyptic language in New Testament
  • the use of the gospels in early Christianity
  • group work and biblical study
  • the interpretation of the Bible and developments in adult education.