"Vengeance is Mine"

Arjan van den Os

doi:10.1628/978-3-16-200079-8

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Arjan van den Os

»Vengeance is Mine«

The Meaning and Function of Divine Vengeance in the New Testament

2026. 370 pages.

forthcoming in June 2026

Wissenschaftliche Untersuchungen zum Neuen Testament 2. Reihe (WUNT II)

DOI 10.1628/978-3-16-200079-8

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Summary

How should divine vengeance in the New Testament be understood ? Arjan van den Os offers a comprehensive analysis of its literary, theological, and historical contexts - uncovering its role as a retributive, eschatological response that was used both as warning and as consolation for early Christian communities.

Modern readers of the Bible often find it difficult to reconcile divine vengeance with God's identification as love (1 John 4:8). What does divine vengeance mean, and how does it function in the New Testament? This is the central question Arjan van den Os addresses in this first extensive monograph on the topic, analysing relevant texts and offering a comprehensive theology of divine vengeance in all its variations and uses. He draws on Greco-Roman, Old Testament, and Early Jewish literature, where vengeance is typically an emotional response to the rejection of honour, purity, or a gift (χάρις) and is enacted within the οἶκος. The Old Testament introduces divine prerogative and covenant, while Early Jewish texts often depict vengeance eschatologically. Based on this context, the author defines divine vengeance in the New Testament as the retributive, eschatological, legal, covenantal, and sometimes emotional reaction of God against those who inflict harm on him or his people, with the goal of restoring honour, purity, and justice. It serves to warn readers to persevere in faith and to comfort oppressed Christ-communities. Arjan van den Os also addresses the hermeneutical difficulties modern readers face and shows how contemporary conceptions of vengeance - often seen as illegitimate frontier justice - have been shaped by historical developments such as power centralisation, secularisation, and the rise of human rights.

Table of contents:

Introduction
(1) A Troubling Notion
(2) The Case of Jared Diamond
(3) History of Research
(4) The Goal and Method of this Study
(5) Structure of this Study

Chapter 1. Vengeance in its Greco-Roman Context
1.1 Honor in the Greco-Roman World
1.2 Reciprocity in the Greco-Roman World
1.3 Vengeance in the Greco-Roman World
1.4 Conclusion

Chapter 2. Vengeance in the Old Testament and Early Jewish Literature
2.1 The Old Testament
2.2 Early Jewish Literature
2.3 Conclusion

Chapter 3. Historical and Hermeneutical Survey of Vengeance
3.1 The Modern Understanding of Vengeance
3.2 Historical Development of Vengeance
3.3 Hermeneutical Questions Concerning Vengeance Texts
3.4 Conclusion

Chapter 4. Vengeance in Luke-Acts
4.1 Vengeance in Luke-Acts: An Overview
4.2 Specific Vengeance Texts in Luke-Acts
4.3 The Use of Vengeance in Luke-Acts
4.4 Luke's Understanding of Vengeance and Contemporary Hermeneutical Questions
4.5 Conclusion

Chapter 5. Vengeance in the Pauline Letters
5.1 Paul's Concept of Divine Retribution
5.2 Specific Vengeance Passages in Paul
5.3 Paul's Understanding of Vengeance
5.4 Paul's Understanding of Vengeance and Contemporary Hermeneutical Questions
5.5 Conclusion

Chapter 6. Vengeance in Hebrews and Revelation
6.1 Vengeance in Hebrews
6.2 Vengeance in Revelation
6.3 The Use of Vengeance in Hebrews and Revelation
6.4 Vengeance in Hebrews and Revelation and Contemporary Hermeneutical Questions
6.5 Conclusion

Conclusion
(1) The Meaning of Divine Vengeance in the New Testament
(2) The Function of Divine Vengeance in the New Testament
(3) Encountering Vengeance Texts in a Post-Modern Context
(4) Avenues for Further Research
(5) Conclusion