Third Race Theory and Paul’s Theology of Identity: Toward an African Christian Identity
Some Christian scholars, in their treatment of identity formation in Paul, tend to emphasise what is generally referred to as "the universalistic approach to Christian identity" or "third race theory." This approach is built on four popular New Testament texts: Galatians 3:28 and...
| Main Author: | |
|---|---|
| Format: | Electronic Article |
| Language: | English |
| Check availability: | HBZ Gateway |
| Journals Online & Print: | Drawer...
|
| Interlibrary Loan: | Interlibrary Loan for the Fachinformationsdienste (Specialized Information Services in Germany) |
| Published: |
2023
|
| In: |
Neotestamentica
Year: 2023, Volume: 57, Issue: 1, Pages: 57-89 |
| Standardized Subjects / Keyword chains: | B
Bible. Römerbrief 9-11
/ Bible. Galaterbrief 3
/ Christianity
/ Identity
/ Jewish Christian
/ Gentile Christian
/ Ethnicity
/ Racial theory
/ Human being
|
| IxTheo Classification: | HC New Testament KAB Church history 30-500; early Christianity |
| Online Access: |
Volltext (lizenzpflichtig) Volltext (lizenzpflichtig) |
| Summary: | Some Christian scholars, in their treatment of identity formation in Paul, tend to emphasise what is generally referred to as "the universalistic approach to Christian identity" or "third race theory." This approach is built on four popular New Testament texts: Galatians 3:28 and Colossians 3:11, which speak of there being "neither Jew nor Greek" in Christ; 1 Corinthians 12:13, which addresses our unity in one baptism and one Spirit; and 2 Corinthians 5:17, which says that εἴ τις ἐν Χριστῷ, καινὴ κτίσις. In its treatment of identities in Paul, third race theory mostly emphasises the discontinuity between one’s previous and present identity to the point where it ignores some of the Pauline texts that speak about the continuation of those identities (i.e., 1 Corinthians 7:17-24; Romans 11:13 and 15:27). This article argues for a reconstruction approach to identity formation in Paul. It asserts that the "in Christ" event has brought about a significant change in the identity formation of Christ’s followers, but this change does not mean a complete abandoning of one’s ethnic identity. In view of this, the article seeks to investigate how the interplay between the gentile identity and being "in Christ" may be supportive of the formation of an African Christian identity. |
|---|---|
| ISSN: | 2518-4628 |
| Contains: | Enthalten in: Neotestamentica
|
| Persistent identifiers: | DOI: 10.1353/neo.2023.a938411 |