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Title: | Pauline Mimesis: The Realization of an Ethic |
Authors: | Martens, Jo-Ann A. |
Advisor: | Meyer, B.F. |
Department: | Religious Sciences |
Keywords: | religious studies;Religion;Religion |
Publication Date: | 1986 |
Abstract: | <p>The Revised Standard Version of the New Testament translates the Greek cognates of mimesis with various English cognates derived from the Latin word imitatio. This thesis argues that the word imitation distorts the intent of the mimesis texts and that, in order to understand these texts, one must first understand the meaning of mimesis. A brief study of classical and hellenistic Greek literature demonstrates that mimesis is a process whereby the imitator brings into being a concrete expression of an immutable principle. The Pauline texts focus upon a particular act of mimesis. The imitator brings into being a Christian community, an expression of his baptism into the body of Christ, through conduct based upon the ethic of self-renunciation. The first two chapters argue that Paul does not draw upon an Old Testament concept of imitation. On the contrary, his usage derives from the Greek tradition. The classical Greek notion of mimesis is stil I common usage in the first century C.E. and is evident within the work of Pau 1 's contemporary, the .Jewi sh hi stori an Josephus. The third chapter offers an exegetical study of the Pauline mimesis texts which substantiates the hypothesis that the author means that the imitator engages in an act of mimesis and is not simply an imitation. that is a copy of an example. The exegesis also demonstrates that the Pauline mimesis is not an attempt on the part of the imitator to adopt the attributes of his example. This is not an imitation of Christ in the tradition of Thomas ~ Kempis. i i The fourth chapter explains the logic of Paul's decision to encourage his addressees to be imitators. Paul is attempting to remedy a problem which arises after baptism. Through baptism, man is recreated in the image of Christ, yet man's conduct does not always reflect this new ontological reality. The ethic of self-renunciation is inherent to man's new nature, his divine likeness. The process of mimesis is the means by which man brings this ethic to concrete expression and, thereby, creates harmony between his conduct and his new condition.</p> |
URI: | http://hdl.handle.net/11375/13669 |
Identifier: | opendissertations/8504 9581 4821056 |
Appears in Collections: | Open Access Dissertations and Theses |
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fulltext.pdf | 2.9 MB | Adobe PDF | View/Open |
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