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Martin Luther King, Jr. and Apocalyptic Thought

  • Lisa Bowens EMAIL logo
Published/Copyright: October 19, 2023

Abstract

Apocalyptic literature has been designated as “crisis literature” and as a “form of protest against society” by some interpreters. This essay explores Martin Luther King Jr.’s reception and use of apocalyptic literature and thought in his sermons and writings. In doing so, it examines how King appropriates this literature as well as apocalyptic motifs to speak about the significance of African American history and to protest racism in American society. Such an analysis provides insight into the ongoing importance of the protest and crisis features of these apocalyptic texts. Moreover, the apocalyptic facets of King’s work have never been analyzed from a biblical studies perspective and this essay highlights the significance of these dimensions for his social justice work.


Corresponding author: Lisa Bowens, Princeton Theological Seminary, 64 Mercer St, 08540, Princeton, NJ, USA, E-mail:

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Received: 2022-08-08
Accepted: 2023-06-30
Published Online: 2023-10-19
Published in Print: 2023-11-27

© 2023 Walter de Gruyter GmbH, Berlin/Boston

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