The Promise of Initiation: A Comparative Study of Ritual in the Pauline Communities and the Greco-Roman Mysteries Restricted; Files Only

Abstract

This dissertation compares baptism in the Pauline communities with the initiation rituals of the Greco-Roman mysteries, especially, the Dionysiac mysteries and the mysteries of Isis. In doing so, this study aims to better understand the social reality of early Christian baptism in the first century. It also seeks to articulate Paul’s theology of baptism and his self-understanding expressed through the pattern of baptism.

Following the introduction (chapter 1), the first part of chapter 2 surveys the history of scholarship on Paul and the mysteries, thereby clarifying the status quaestionis on the topic. The second half of chapter 2 sets forth the analytical framework of this dissertation, mainly drawing on the theories of two scholars, Roy Rappaport and Martin Riesebrodt. Employing this integrated analytical framework, this dissertation focuses on three research questions: 1) What benefits does each initiation ritual promise its participants? 2) What are the underlying messages or structures that guarantee the efficacy of those rituals? And 3) how and to what extent is the initiation ritual connected to the participants’ cognition and ethics beyond their initiation? Chapters 3 and 4 explore the initiation rituals of the Dionysiac mysteries and the mysteries of Isis by examining primary sources—ancient literature, inscriptions, papyri, and visual representations—through the analytical framework established in chapter 2. Chapters 5–7 then turns the attention to baptism in the Pauline communities and Paul’s interpretation of baptism.

Through this investigation, I argue that considering its ritual messages, baptism in the Pauline communities is a ritual analogous to mystery initiation. Second, I argue that Paul is an innovative interpreter of ritual who recalibrates the messages of preexisting rituals for his theological and ethical program, seeking to radically extend the implications of initiation to the embodied life of every Christ-believer. Finally, I argue that Paul recentralizes religious virtuosity by incorporating the pattern of baptismal initiation into his own existence, so that his dying body becomes almost an intermediary mysterium, through which his communities are expected to participate in the mysteries of Christ.

Table of Contents

Chapter 1. Introduction 1

Chapter 2. Paul and the Mysteries: Retrospective and Prospective 19

A. The History of Scholarship 19

B. The Analytical Framework of This Study 49

Chapter 3. Initiation into the Dionysiac Mysteries 86

A. The Self-referential Messages, or the Benefits Initiation Promises 89

B. The Canonical Messages, or the Grounds for the Efficacy of the Initiation’s Promises 109

C. Beyond Initiation 133

D. Summary 138

Chapter 4. Initiation into the Mysteries of Isis 141

A. The Self-referential Messages, or the Benefits Initiation Promises 144

B. The Canonical Messages, or the Grounds for the Efficacy of the Initiation’s Promises 168

C. Beyond Initiation 186

D. Summary 193

Chapter 5. Initiation into the Pauline Communities (I): Baptism in 1 Corinthians 196

A. Preliminary Considerations 196

B. Discussions of Key Passages 204

Chapter 6. “Baptism for the Dead” (1 Cor 15:29): Ritual Blending and Innovation 253

A. Introductory Remarks 253

B. Investigation of the Context in Roman Corinth 258

C. Ritual Blending and Innovation 285

Chapter 7. Initiation into the Pauline Communities (II): Baptism in Galatians and Romans 293

A. Discussions of Key Passages 293

B. Synthesis: Baptism in the Pauline Communities and Paul’s Interpretation of Baptism 348

Chapter 8. Conclusion 356

Appendix 361

Bibliography 368

About this Dissertation

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School	Laney Graduate School
Department	Religion
Subfield / Discipline	New Testament
Degree	Ph.D.
Submission	Dissertation
Language	English
Research Field	Religion, Biblical Studies Classical Studies Anthropology, Cultural
Palavra-chave	The Pauline letters Roy Rappaport The Greco-Roman mysteries Martin Riesebrodt Baptism Ritual studies Initiation
Committee Chair / Thesis Advisor	Steven J. Kraftchick, Emory University
Committee Members	Walter T. Wilson, Emory University Sandra Blakely, Emory University Susan E. Hylen, Emory University

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