Pauline Baptism among the Mysteries: Ritual Messages and the Promise of Initiation

Donghyun Jeong

Published by De Gruyter 2023

Pauline Baptism among the Mysteries

Ritual Messages and the Promise of Initiation

Donghyun Jeong

Volume 257 in the series Beihefte zur Zeitschrift für die neutestamentliche Wissenschaft

https://doi.org/10.1515/9783110791389

Overview
Contents

About this book

This monograph provides an alternative model for looking at the old question about Paul and the mysteries in a new light. Specifically, this study compares rituals—baptism in the Pauline communities and the initiation rituals of the mysteries—through the lens of cultural anthropology and the sociology of religion. Three research questions lead the project: What benefits does each initiation ritual promise its participants? What are the underlying messages or structures that guarantee the efficacy of those rituals? How and to what extent is the initiation ritual connected to the participants’ cognition and ethics beyond initiation itself? Taking those questions as the analytical framework, this study substantiates two points: first, in terms of ritual messages, baptism in the Pauline communities is a ritual analogous to mystery initiation, and second, Paul is an innovative interpreter of ritual who recalibrates the messages of preexisting rituals for his theological and ethical program, seeking to radically extend the implications of initiation to the embodied life of every Christ-believer. Students and scholars of New Testament, early Christianity, classics, and ritual studies will benefit from engaging this volume.

Author / Editor information

Donghyun Jeong, Austin Presbyterian Theological Seminary, TX, USA.

Topics

Frontmatter Publicly Available Download PDF	I
Acknowledgements Publicly Available Download PDF	VII
Contents Publicly Available Download PDF	IX
List of Figures and Tables Publicly Available Download PDF	XIII
Abbreviations Publicly Available Download PDF	XIV
1 Introduction Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	1
2 Paul and the Mysteries: Retrospective and Prospective Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	11
3 Initiation into the Dionysiac Mysteries Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	66
4 Initiation into the Mysteries of Isis Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	109
5 Initiation into the Pauline Communities (I): Baptism in 1 Corinthians Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	153
6 “Baptism for the Dead” (1 Cor 15:29): Ritual Blending and Innovation Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	197
7 Initiation into the Pauline Communities (II): Baptism in Galatians and Romans Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	228
8 Conclusion Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	280
Appendix: References to Baptism in the Undisputed Pauline Letters Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	286
Bibliography Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	292
Index of Names Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	312
Index of Ancient Names Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	318
Index of Subjects Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	319
Index of Ancient Sources Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	321

(Deutsch)

Language: English
Publisher: De Gruyter
Audience: Theolog/-innen, Historiker/-innen.
Pages
- Front matter: 16
- Main content: 333
Illustrations
- Illustrations: 13
- Coloured Illustrations: 10
- Tables: 9
Keywords: Pauline letters; Dionysus (god); Isis (goddess); Ritual messages

eBook

Published: July 4, 2023
ISBN: 9783110791389

Hardcover

Published: July 4, 2023
ISBN: 9783110791013