Full Description
Hansen argues against prevalent views that the unity formula employed in Gal 3.28, 1 Cor 12.13 and Col 3.11 reflects either a Hellenistic anthropology of ideal androgyny or a modern liberal conception of social equality.
Rather, Hansen contends, attention to function and context demonstrates each epistle's vision of social unity. Insights from ethnic theory elucidate how epistles characterize this unity in terms of a new social identity, and the practices warranted by that identity. Furthermore, Hansen claims that because identity construction is continual, dynamic and discursive, alternate identities (e.g. ethnic, gender, religious, economic) within the new Christian communities, may be seen as influencing one another and may be termed as the collective Christian identity.
Hansen employs theories from Ethnic study as tools for assessing how such overlapping identities persist and interact with one another. His analysis thereby demonstrates that the social unity promoted by this formula opposes cultural dominance by any particular group and, conversely reinforces the persistence of marginal social identities within new communities. The issue is then not one of gender equality, but of the equality that Paul wishes to develop between competing social groups.
Contents
CONTENTS
Acknowledgements
Abbreviations
CHAPTER ONE: INTRODUCTION
I. The Formula
a. Formal Observations
II. Previous Interpretive Approaches
a. Hellenistic Philosophy
b. Gnosticism
c. Paul's Response to Judaism
III. Ethnic Unity and Paul
a. Social Unity in Paul's Churches
IV. Summary
CHAPTER TWO: READING PAUL ETHNICALLY
I. Defining Ethnicity
a. The Need for Clarity
II. Genealogy and Autochthony
a. Genealogy and Autochthony in Paul
III. Indices of the Genealogical Criteria
a. Consubstantiality: Commensality, Connubiality and Common Cult
IV. Ethnic Discourse
a. An Example from Hellenistic Judaism
V. Acculturation, Assimilation and Ethnogenesis
VI. Summary
CHAPTER THREE: GALATIANS 3.28 AND THE HOUSEHOLD OF FAITH
I. Introduction: Galatians 3.28 in Epistolary Context
II. Disunity in Jerusalem and Antioch: Galatians 2.1-14
III. Paul's Speech: Galatians 2.14c-21
IV. Urging Unity: Galatians 5-6
V. Social Identity in Apocalyptic Perspective
VI. Galatians 3-4: Identity and Unity in Christ
a. Centrality of 3.28 to Galatians 3-4
b. The Singular Identity of All in Christ
1. Heirs of Faithful Abraham
2. The Cross versus the Law
VII. Ethnic Identity
VIII. Summary
CHAPTER FOUR: 1 CORINTHIANS 12.13 AND THE BODY OF CHRIST
I. Introduction
a. 1 Corinthians in Socio-Historical Context
b. Unity as Ethnic Identity in the Letter Opening
II. Ethnicity among Images for Unity
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b. Israel
c. Building
d. The Body of Christ
1. The Body and Sexual Union
2. The Body and Common Cult
3. 'Body' in 1 Corinthians 12 and 15
e. Family and Household
f. Summary: Ethnicity and Paul's Images for Unity
III. Ethnic Identity and the Unity Formula in Paul's Parenesis: 1 Corinthians 5-14
a. 1 Corinthians 5-7 1. 1 Corinthians 5.1-13 2. 1 Corinthians 6.1-11 3. 1 Corinthians 6.12-20 4. 1 Corinthians 7
b. 1 Corinthians 8.1-11.1: Divisions over Idol Meat
c. 1 Corinthians 11.2-14.40: Divisions in Worship
1. Divisions Arising from Social Status Conflicts
2. Ethnic Concord and the Body of Christ
IV. Summary CHAPTER FIVE: COLOSSIANS 3.11 AND THE NEW HUMANITY
I. Introduction
II. Social Identity and Solidarity in Colossians 1.1-2.23
a. Colossians 1.1-23: Prayer and Thanksgiving
1. Traditional Material in 1.13-20
b. Paul's Exemplum: 1.24-2.7
c. The Polemical Core: 2.8-23
1. Apocalyptic Disruption
2. The Body of Christ
III. Seeking Unity in Christ: 3.1-4.6
IV. Unity as Ethnic Solidarity
a. Ethnic Criterion of Genealogy
b. Confirming Indices of Ethnicity
1. Boundaries
2. Kinship Norms
3. Household
V. Summary
CHAPTER SIX: CONCLUSIONS
I. The Aims and Methodology of this Study
II. Conclusions of this Study
a. Galatians 3.28 in Epistolary Context
b. 1 Corinthians 12.13 in Epistolary Context
c. Colossians 3.11 in Epistolary Context
d. Synthesis
WORKS CITED
Ancient Texts
Secondary Sources
