Take up the cross (Mark 8 : 34 and par.) : the history and function of the cross saying in earliest Christianity
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Date
07/2008Author
Rumple, John Glenn
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Abstract
The principal contention of this thesis is that the earliest Christians viewed
the crucifixion of Jesus as paradigmatic for discipleship, confirmation of which
can be found in the history and function of a particular saying ascribed to
Jesus, namely the ‘cross saying’ (Mk 8:34 and par.). To verify this claim, I explore
both the literary tradition and material culture of early Christianity as
they relate to the cross saying, explicating the various ways that “taking up the
cross” functioned to ensure unwavering loyalty to Jesus. Taking a traditional
exegetical approach, I also engage recent work on sapiential literature (mainly
Q) and Historical Jesus studies, observing the diverse ways in which the first
several generations of Jesus’ followers adapted this saying—both as an aphorism
for inclusion in gospels, and in the development of cognate versions useful
in more theological settings (e.g., Gal 2:20). Proceeding diachronically via
a textual analysis of the cross saying in Q, the Synoptics, and then the Gospel
of Thomas, I trace the ways in which the composers of these texts addressed
the different social situations of their audiences in an effort to secure commitment
to Jesus (or, in the case of Gos. Thom., conformity to his enlightened
teachings).
Then, turning from the literature to the social and political environment of
the New Testament, I note the radical reversal, occurring early in Christian
thought, which transformed the crucifixion of Jesus from a shameful social experience
into one of honour, and worthy of emulation. Even more significant
in terms of current research, I break from the opinions of several New Testament
scholars in finding little evidence that the cross saying (presuming it was dominical) functioned as a call to political insurrection. Rather, as evidenced
in Christian material culture from the second and third centuries (symbols,
the orant prayer posture, making the ‘sign of the cross,’ and so on), the association
of crucifixion with discipleship was understood primarily in terms of
religious devotion to Jesus.