Imitation in Early Christianity (eBook)

Mimesis and Religious-Ethical Formation

Cornelis Bennema (Autor)

eBook Download: EPUB

2025
Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Co. (Verlag)
978-1-4674-6363-8 (ISBN)

Infos

What did exhortations to "e;follow Jesus"e; or "e;imitate Christ"e; mean to early Christians? Cornelis Bennema examines mimesis as a religious-ethical concept in early Christianity the imitation of Jesus (and other exemplars) to become a better, more Christlike person. Situating appeals for imitation in the New Testament and Apostolic Fathers within the cultural and social context of the broader Greco-Roman world, Bennema shows how early Christian mimesis was not about literal replication, but instead was a creative, cognitive, and transformative means for shaping conduct and character. As part of this study, Bennema explores key questions about the historic origins of early Christian mimesis; the language that early Christian authors used to articulate the concept of mimesis; the scope, nature, and workings of mimesis in each major section of early Christian literature; and how early Christians navigated the challenges of imitating exemplars (such as Paul or Jesus) who were not physically present. Offering well-researched answers to these questions, Bennema provides readers with a nuanced and informative picture of exhortations to imitation in the New Testament and Apostolic Fathers.

Produkt-Details

• Erscheint lt. Verlag: 20.3.2025
• Vorwort: Michael J. Gorman
• Sprache: englisch
• Themenwelt: Geisteswissenschaften ► Religion / Theologie
• ISBN-10: 1-4674-6363-9 / 1467463639
• ISBN-13: 978-1-4674-6363-8 / 9781467463638