Re-Picturing the Reception of the Spirit with Ritual Experience: The Role of Baptism in 1 Corinthians 12:13

In this article, I argue that the ritual experience of water-baptism plays an essential role in Paul's metaphorical expression and rhetorical purpose in 1 Corinthians 12:13. To explore the role of baptism, I use conceptual blending theory from cognitive linguistics to define and demonstrate the metaphorical ways in which ritual functions in the human mind. In so doing, I emphasize the performance of a ritual itself and the contextual perception of its performance, arguing for a metaphorical relationship between the two. I apply conceptual blending analysis to interpret the complex interplay of three metaphors in 1 Corinthians 12:13. I argue that Paul forms a conceptual blend of three metaphors in this verse, and that baptism, the water-rite, plays a pivotal role in this blend by providing the physical pattern of immersion and the cultural understanding of this immersion as a new belonging. Using baptism, Paul achieves his purpose of re-picturing the reception of the Spirit and appealing for social union. This verse thus presents an excellent case of the role of ritual in the emergence of early Christianity and the explanatory power of ritual studies to the New Testament texts.

The Kingdom of Jesus and Atonement Theology: Friends or Foes?

Does maintaining that the Kingdom was central to Jesus’ ministry put one at odds with atonement theology? Some contemporary theologians have argued that these are mutually exclusive options, requiring one to choose between atonement theology and the Kingdom's centrality in Jesus’ ministry. Lending credence to this claim is the fact that some advocates of atonement theology have provided accounts that suggest such a dichotomy might in fact be the case. This essay investigates one such example. As a hopeful contribution to this discussion, this essay first explores how the Kingdom and atonement appear in Mark's presentation of Jesus. In addition to investigating some of the relevant Markan passages, this essay draws from the work of Schweitzer and Hengel to contend that it is indeed possible to affirm the centrality of the Kingdom in Jesus’ proclamation and still believe his death on the cross has an atoning function that serves the Kingdom's arrival.

Changes in the Centurion on Paul’s Last Journey to Rome in Acts 27

This article argues that Luke intends to delineate the changes of social distance between the character “centurion” and Paul throughout the voyage in Acts 27. The social location of the centurion consistently moves from outsiders towards the group “we” in the narrative. The story functions as a thought experiment for first readers to encourage them to establish trusting relations with Roman officials in times of trial. It conveys Luke’s commission to the first readers for gospel witness..

The Covenant with Noah in Genesis 9

God made a covenant with Noah and thus with all of humanity in Genesis 9, but so often we do not observe that this covenant was also made with the animals. We need to respect the animals as co-venanters with us. In this modern age wherein humanity has caused so much destruction to the environment and the animal realm, it is good for us to focus upon the message of these texts. Additionally, in this covenant people are given permission to eat animals. This concession to human need does not give us the privilege to kill animals without restraint, as we too often have done. Other laws in the First Testament designed to protect animals tells us that even in that ancient world when no ecological crisis existed, people still understood the need to steward and protect animal life.