A comparison of the function of cultic aima in the Pauline corpus with that of non-rabbinic Judaism and the Mystery cults
[Thesis]
C. D. Frazier
B. Simmons
New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary
1996
225-225 p.
Ph.D.
New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary
1996
The purpose of this dissertation was to compare Paul's use of cultic usd\alpha\iota\mu\alphausd with the use of cultic usd\alpha\iota\mu\alphausd in the Mystery cults and non-rabbinic Judaism. Each of the respective religions were analyzed in order to determine the most salient characteristics of this usage in these religions. The analysis of the function of cultic blood in Judaism supported the first hypothesis that blood was a symbol (or agent) of purification and restoration in first century Judaism. Related to these concepts was an emphasis upon forgiveness in the Jewish sacrificial system. In extra-biblical Judaism this purificatory emphasis was assigned to human blood. A salvific emphasis also appeared in connection with human blood. That cultic blood literally conferred a purified and regenerated status upon the Mystery cultist was the second hypothesis. The cult of Magna Mater and Dionysus particularly evidenced a purificatory view of cultic blood. A view that sacrificial blood was efficacious for regenerating the initiate was detected in Mithraism and Magna Mater. The third hypothesis was that Christ's usd\alpha\iota\mu\alphausd was used by Paul as a metaphorical referent to Christ's death. An examination of six passages in the Pauline corpus which contained references to Christ's usd\alpha\iota\mu\alphausd supported this position. The cultic overtones of these passages and the parallel references to Christ's death supported the hypothesis that Paul used usd\alpha\iota\mu\alphausd as a referent to the historical act of Christ's death. This examination of cultic usd\alpha\iota\mu\alphausd in the representative religions of the first century, supported the fourth hypothesis. This hypothesis was that Paul employed an image which had a common connotation in first century religious jargon. Cultic usd\alpha\iota\mu\alphausd had a common nuance in the three religions examined in this study. All three evidenced an emphasis upon cultic usd\alpha\iota\mu\alphausd as a vehicle by which soteriological benefits were procured for members of the respective religious communities. In Judaism and the Mystery cults this effect was derived from the literal manipulation of sacrificial blood. In Pauline usage Christ's usd\alpha\iota\mu\alphausd invariably occurred in a prepositional phrase which expressed instrumentality or means. By using this formulaic expression Paul communicated that Christ's usd\alpha\iota\mu\alphausd was the vehicle by which soteriological benefits have been procured for the believer. Reconciliation, justification, redemption, salvation, atonement, and forgiveness are the primary soteriological benefits which Paul associated with Christ's usd\alpha\iota\mu\alphausd.