The Construction of Paul’s Self in His Writings: Narrative Identity, Social Memory and Metaphorical Truth
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The article aims to investigate – in two autobiographical fragments of the Pauline writings (1 Cor. 15:8-10 and Gal. 1:13-24) – how the narrative mode enables the apostle to grasp the continuity and coherence of his identity, while integrating in the construction of his self disparate and discordant elements (like the Damascus event) which continually threaten the “narrative unity of a human life” (MacIntyre). Furthermore, since “collective memory” precedes and shapes the individual representation of the past (Halbwachs; Assmann), the article also examines how Paul integrates and negotiates in his construction of self-identity the “communal memories” shared by his social group, and in particular his past as persecutor of the Church. Finally, we shall describe the integration of these autobiographical fragments within their respective literary contexts and explore the “metaphorical truth” – or the “refiguration” of reality – which is produced by these different “configurations” of Pauline identity (Ricoeur).
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1
P. Ricoeur, Oneself as Another (Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 1992), esp. pp. 140-48. For an application of this Ricoeurian theory to the construction of the self-identity of the Roman believers and its results (e.g., conversion as rupture of the sameness), see now V. Nicolet, Constructing the Self (WUNT, 2.324; Tübingen: Mohr Siebeck, 2012), esp. 126-48.
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3
P. Ricœur, Time and Narrative (London: University of Chicago Press, 1984), vol. 1, p. 66.
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6
A. MacIntyre, After Virtue: A Study in Moral Theory (Notre Dame: University of Notre Dame Press, 3rd edn, 2007), p. 219; quoted in Ricoeur, Oneself as Another, p. 158.
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10
P. Ricoeur, The Rule of Metaphor: The Creation of Meaning in Language (London/New York: Routledge, 2003), pp. 184, 272.
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20
M. Halbwachs, Les cadres sociaux de la mémoire (Paris: PUF, 2nd edn, 1952); Halbwachs, La mémoire collective (Paris: PUF, 2nd edn, 1968).
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22
P. Ricoeur, “Narrative Identity,” Philosophy Today 35 (1991), pp. 73-81 (73).
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25
With H. Conzelmann, Der erste Brief an die Korinther (KEK, 5.11; Göttingen: Vandenhoeck und Ruprecht, 2nd edn, 1981), pp. 304-305, 317-18; H. Merklein, Der erste Brief an die Korinther. Kapitel 11,2-16,24 (ÖTKNT, 7.3; Gütersloh: Gütersloher Verlagshaus, 2005), p. 257; G. Sellin, Der Streit um die Auferstehung der Toten. Eine religionsgeschichtliche und exegetische Untersuchung von 1 Korinther 15 (FRLANT, 138; Göttingen: Vandenhoeck und Ruprecht, 1986), pp. 231-36; W. Schrage, Der erste Brief an die Korinther (EKK, 7.4; Zurich/Neukirchen-Vluyn: Benziger Verlag/Neukirchener Verlag, 2001), vol. 4, p. 71.
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33
See also D. Zeller, Der erste Brief an die Korinther (KEK, 5; Göttingen: Vandenhoeck und Ruprecht, 2010), p. 474.
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39
R. Bultmann, Exegetica: Aufsätze zur Erforschung des Neuen Testaments (Tübingen: Mohr Siebeck, 1967), p. 298 (our translation).
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40
U. Schnelle, Theology of the New Testament (Grand Rapids: Baker, 2009), pp. 241-42.
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50
See H.D. Betz, Galatians (Hermeneia; Philadelphia: Fortress, 1979), pp. 56-112.
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51
See J.L. Martyn, Galatians (AB, 33A; New York: Doubleday, 1997), p. 160.
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61
G. Berényi, “Gal 2,20: A Pre-pauline or a Pauline Text?,” Bib 65 (1984), pp. 490-537.
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63
See on this point M. Wolter, Paulus: Ein Grundriss seiner Theologie (Neukirchen-Vluyn: Neukirchener, 2011), pp. 446-47.
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66
Here and below, see G. Lyons, Pauline Autobiography: Toward a New Understanding (Atlanta: Scholars, 1985), pp. 136-64; Barclay, “Paul’s Story,” pp. 136-46; Martyn, Galatians, pp. 146-64. See also B. Lategan’s investigation of Gal. 2:19-20 with the same results as ours in his article, “Is Paul Defending His Apostleship in Galatians? The Function of Galatians 1. 11-12 and 2. 19-20 in the Development of Paul’s Argument,” NTS 34 (1988), pp. 411-30.
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67
Here and below, with B. Gaventa, “Galatians 1 and 2: Autobiography as Paradigm,” NT 28 (1986), pp. 309-326.
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72
With J.L. Martyn, “Apocalyptic Antinomies in Paul’s Letter to the Galatians,” NTS 31 (1985), pp. 410-24.
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76
See on this point M. Hengel, Crucifixion in the Ancient World and the Folly of the Message of the Cross (trans. J. Bowden; London: SCM, 1977).
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82
F. Mussner, Der Galaterbrief (HThK, 9; Freiburg: Herder, 1974), p. 183.
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83
C.K. Barrett, Freedom and Obligation: A Study of the Epistle to the Galatians (Philadelphia: Westminster, 1985), p. 20.
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88
F. Vouga, An die Galater (HNT, 10; Tübingen: Mohr Siebeck, 1998), p. 156.
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The Construction of Paul’s Self in His Writings: Narrative Identity, Social Memory and Metaphorical Truth
In: Biblical InterpretationSearch for other papers by Simon Butticaz in
Current site
Google Scholar
PubMed
The article aims to investigate – in two autobiographical fragments of the Pauline writings (1 Cor. 15:8-10 and Gal. 1:13-24) – how the narrative mode enables the apostle to grasp the continuity and coherence of his identity, while integrating in the construction of his self disparate and discordant elements (like the Damascus event) which continually threaten the “narrative unity of a human life” (MacIntyre). Furthermore, since “collective memory” precedes and shapes the individual representation of the past (Halbwachs; Assmann), the article also examines how Paul integrates and negotiates in his construction of self-identity the “communal memories” shared by his social group, and in particular his past as persecutor of the Church. Finally, we shall describe the integration of these autobiographical fragments within their respective literary contexts and explore the “metaphorical truth” – or the “refiguration” of reality – which is produced by these different “configurations” of Pauline identity (Ricoeur).
| All Time | Past 365 days | Past 30 Days | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Abstract Views | 481 | 58 | 2 |
| Full Text Views | 108 | 8 | 0 |
| PDF Views & Downloads | 132 | 23 | 1 |