In the decades after the departure of Jesus, a new Social group had developed. It was an odd union of Greek and Oriental traditions centered around the Hellenistic urban areas. Still in the process of growth, nothing was considered unessential. Reflecting this, there were elements of the reformist Jesus movements, as well as the more non- Jesus Jewish reformers such as the sect that produced the Psalms of Solomon.
With regards to their organizational style, they borrowed from both the Diaspora synagogue and Hellenistic forms of free association. Their leadership were most likely Hellenistic Jews because their teaching showed a bent toward prevailing Jewish ideas of socialization linked with deep concerns about tradition. However, past traditions, including Scripture, were no longer really considered part of their history. A new reality had replaced the old one.
A single transformative event had changed everything. It was the death of Jesus on the Cross and His Resurrection which defined the Christ Cult over against other groups. This is the foci which created a newness of life for believers. It is indeed an event, not a teaching, which tells us the story of this new people.
With a need to Justify their existence, the Christ Cult created an enormous powerful myth around Jesus' Resurrection. The event was imagined, according to theologian Burton Mack (1931-2022), to have happened in history with little said about what happened immediately before or after the event. The Christ Cults human history kicks in with the need to unite the Hebrew tradition with the new reality.
Saint Paul recognized this problem, but remained focused on the Christ event and applied it, as a formula, on all personal and social ills. The primitive Gospel of death and resurrection became the blueprint for Christian self-definition. This is the genius of the Apostle Paul, this is his gift to the Church; which was providing the Christian Church a unique sense of identity, that continues to thrive to this day.
End.
Part of the originally entitled:
Journal Three - Pauline Christianity
From a Section called
Describe The Social Context Of The Christ Cults In Northern Palestine
And Explain How
The Primitive Christian Gospel Of Death And Resurrection Enabled Them To Achieve
A Sense Of Unique Identity?
submitted to the Rev. Dr. William Cantelon
as a Master of Theological Studies course requirement
for 505E - Introduction to Christian Scriptures
St. Stephen's Theological College University of Alberta
Published on February 24th, 1999
{Revised October 23rd, 2024}
Comments