Prototypes, antitypes and social identity in First Clement: outlining a new interpretative model

Esler, Philip F ORCID: 0000-0002-4889-4889 (2007) Prototypes, antitypes and social identity in First Clement: outlining a new interpretative model. Annali di storia dell'esegesi, 24 (1). pp. 125-146.

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Abstract

First Clement is a text replete with references to great figures from the past, either characters from Israelite tradition or heroes of the Christ-movement such as Peter and Paul. Yet it also includes reference to villains, such as Cain. This is a phenomenon going to the heart of this important text and therefore demanding an explanation. The social identity approach pioneered by social psychologist Henri Tajfel offers rich resources in this regard. It postulates “prototypes” as expressing group identity and “antitypes” as expressing the opposite of such identity. The former offer models to be imitated by Christ-followers in the acquisition and interiorization of group identity, while the latter represent models to be shunned. The former tell whom they should be and the latter whom they should not be. This paper explores such an approach to First Clement and shows that it produces significant interpretative gains. Paper presented at the annual meeting of the Society of Biblical Literature, San Antonio, Tex, N 21 2004. Bibliography: p 144-146.

Item Type:	Article
Article Type:	Article
Uncontrolled Keywords:	Clement, First Epistle of; Bible -- Quotations; Christians -- Identity; Role models; Sociology, Christian -- Study and teaching; Group identity; Greek language -- Terms -- Hypódeigma
Subjects:	B Philosophy. Psychology. Religion > BL Religion B Philosophy. Psychology. Religion > BR Christianity
Divisions:	Schools and Research Institutes > School of Creative Arts
Research Priority Areas:	Culture, Continuity, and Transformation
Depositing User:	Anne Pengelly
Date Deposited:	31 May 2017 09:46
Last Modified:	31 Aug 2023 08:56
URI:	https://eprints.glos.ac.uk/id/eprint/4567

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