Paul's Letters and the Construction of the European Self

Even when he was a prototype of European identity, Paul transgressed the limits of Europe. It is not clear whether he was conformist or rebellious, orthodox or liberal, sexist, or egalitarian. Instead of pushing the Apostle into the arbitrary categories of modern European identity, Fatima Tofighi takes into account the challenge that Paul brings to normative conceptions of political theology (Rom 13), 'religion' (Gal 2.12-14), and women's veiling (1 Cor 11. 5-16). Alternative interpretations of these passages, with the help of postmodern theory, both solve the major problems of biblical exegesis and offer a critique of the allegedly well-defined European categories.

• Table of contents
• Acknowledgements
• Note on References
• Preface
• 1. Introduction: Paul within the Limits of Europe Alone
• 2. Paul the Pious Citizen: Romans 13 between Subjection and Subversion
• 3. Paul's Faith: Galatians 2:12-14 and the Rise and Fall of European 'Religion'
• 4. Paul, Veiling, and the Construction of European Gender in 1 Corinthians 11
• Bibliography
• Indexes