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Social Identity and the Book of Amos
What, according to the Book of Amos, does it mean to be the people of God?
In this book, Andrew M. King employs a Social Identity Approach (SIA), comprised of Social Identity Theory and Self-Categorization Theory, to explore the relationship between identity formation and the biblical text. Specifically, he examines the identity-forming strategies embedded in the Book of Amos.
King begins by outlining the Social Identity Approach, especially its use in Hebrew Bible scholarship. Turning to the Book of Amos, he analyzes group dynamics and intergroup conflicts (national and interpersonal), as well as Amos's presentation of Israel's history and Israel's future. King provides extensive insight into the rhetorical strategies in Amos that shape the trans-temporal audience's sense of self. To live as the people of God, according to Amos, readers and hearers must adopt norms defined by a proper relationship to God that results in the proper treatment of others.
In this book, Andrew M. King employs a Social Identity Approach (SIA), comprised of Social Identity Theory and Self-Categorization Theory, to explore the relationship between identity formation and the biblical text. Specifically, he examines the identity-forming strategies embedded in the Book of Amos.
King begins by outlining the Social Identity Approach, especially its use in Hebrew Bible scholarship. Turning to the Book of Amos, he analyzes group dynamics and intergroup conflicts (national and interpersonal), as well as Amos's presentation of Israel's history and Israel's future. King provides extensive insight into the rhetorical strategies in Amos that shape the trans-temporal audience's sense of self. To live as the people of God, according to Amos, readers and hearers must adopt norms defined by a proper relationship to God that results in the proper treatment of others.
176 pages, Hardcover
Published January 14, 2021
8 people want to read
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March 30, 2024
Helpful introduction to Amos as coherent whole. King gives particular attention to how Amos' prophecy serves to critique the social identity of his original audience, and also hold forth a better possible social identity.
Put more plainly, King uses social analysis to describe how the Lord through the prophet Amos rebuked Israel for foolish pride in their ethnicity as the grounds of privilege. The Lord also invited the people to true blessedness by becoming like the prophet--attentive to the Word of the Lord.
Helpful in demonstrating the way our desire to belong to a group can be both dangerous to our souls and also used to draw us to holiness. Technical work. Used in preparing to preach Amos in 2023.
Put more plainly, King uses social analysis to describe how the Lord through the prophet Amos rebuked Israel for foolish pride in their ethnicity as the grounds of privilege. The Lord also invited the people to true blessedness by becoming like the prophet--attentive to the Word of the Lord.
Helpful in demonstrating the way our desire to belong to a group can be both dangerous to our souls and also used to draw us to holiness. Technical work. Used in preparing to preach Amos in 2023.
Displaying 1 of 1 review