Imitation in Early Christianity
Author | : Cornelis Bennema |
Publisher | : Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing |
Total Pages | : 0 |
Release | : 2025-03-20 |
ISBN-10 | : 9781467463638 |
ISBN-13 | : 1467463639 |
Rating | : 4/5 (38 Downloads) |
Download or read book Imitation in Early Christianity written by Cornelis Bennema and published by Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing. This book was released on 2025-03-20 with total page 0 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: What did exhortations to “follow Jesus” or “imitate Christ” 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.