How to Balance and Integrate Multiple Social Identities: Reading 1 Corinthians

The focus of this paper is to interpret Paul's reference to and opinion on different social identities in 1 Corinthians and to find an answer, through an interpretation of 1 Corinthians 7, to the question of how to balance and integrate multiple social identities. Relevant passages in 1 Corinth...

Full description

Saved in:  
Bibliographic Details
Main Author: Cornelius, Elma M. (Author)
Format: Electronic Article
Language:English
Check availability: HBZ Gateway
Interlibrary Loan:Interlibrary Loan for the Fachinformationsdienste (Specialized Information Services in Germany)
Published: 2024
In: Neotestamentica
Year: 2024, Volume: 58, Issue: 1, Pages: 1-22
Standardized Subjects / Keyword chains:B Bible. Corinthians 1. / Social identity / Identity development / Identity / Spirituality / Religious identity
IxTheo Classification:CB Christian life; spirituality
CH Christianity and Society
HC New Testament
Online Access: Volltext (lizenzpflichtig)
Volltext (lizenzpflichtig)
Description
Summary:The focus of this paper is to interpret Paul's reference to and opinion on different social identities in 1 Corinthians and to find an answer, through an interpretation of 1 Corinthians 7, to the question of how to balance and integrate multiple social identities. Relevant passages in 1 Corinthians are interpreted by using an interdisciplinary method, including the fruits of sociological and psychological studies of social identities, while taking the socio-historical background of the text into consideration, interpreting the structure of the letter, considering the use of persuasion strategies and stylistic devices, and undertaking word studies. It is concluded from 1 Corinthians that through God a spiritual identity is possible - an "in-Christ" identity. Paul argues in 1 Corinthians that one's spiritual identity is not supposed to replace other identities. For the sake of unity and peace, one's spiritual identity, with the implication of the transformation of the believer, should infiltrate other social identities.
ISSN:2518-4628
Contains:Enthalten in: Neotestamentica
Persistent identifiers:DOI: 10.1353/neo.2024.a947408