The Body Metaphor Reinforcing the Identity of the In-Group in Ephesians

Social Identity Theory is used in this article to determine the identity of the early Christians in Ephesians. The change that Christ brought to the world had radical consequences, resulting in the early Christians asking the question: Who are we? In contemporary society, the search for identity ami...

Full description

Saved in:  
Bibliographic Details
Main Author: Vrey, Alta (Author)
Contributors: Nortjé-Meyer, Lilly 1957- (Honoree)
Format: Electronic Article
Language:English
Check availability: HBZ Gateway
Journals Online & Print:
Drawer...
Fernleihe:Fernleihe für die Fachinformationsdienste
Published: NTWSA [2019]
In: Neotestamentica
Year: 2019, Volume: 53, Issue: 2, Pages: 375-393
Standardized Subjects / Keyword chains:B Ephesians / Body / Body / Metaphor / Group identity / Gender / Unity
IxTheo Classification:AD Sociology of religion; religious policy
HC New Testament
NBE Anthropology
Further subjects:B Social Identity Theory
B Nortjé-Meyer, Lilly 1957-
B Bible. Ephesians
B Ephesians
B in-group
B Group Identity
B Female
B Male
B Festschrift
B Body Metaphor
B Gender
B Identity
Online Access: Volltext (lizenzpflichtig)
Description
Summary:Social Identity Theory is used in this article to determine the identity of the early Christians in Ephesians. The change that Christ brought to the world had radical consequences, resulting in the early Christians asking the question: Who are we? In contemporary society, the search for identity amidst the uncertainty of a changing world again highlights the question: Who are we? The author of Ephesians attempts to answer this question of identity through the metaphor of the body. According to this author, the early Christians are still children in their identity formation and have to grow up and reach adulthood, which is represented as the perfect body of an adult man. The author's attempt to strengthen the identity of the in-group and determine their actions and behaviour was successful in the case of the two sub-groups of Jewish and gentile believers. However, Jesus's equalising, liberating and reconciliatory work that promised to bring unity and equality failed to reach the gender sub-groups within the Christian in-group. The author used the metaphor of the body to reinforce the unity and equality within the in-group, but the male and female sub-groups still functioned according to reigning cultural values.
ISSN:2518-4628
Contains:Enthalten in: Neotestamentica
Persistent identifiers:DOI: 10.1353/neo.2019.0023