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Jesus and Other Men
Ideal Masculinities in the Synoptic Gospels
Series: - Biblical Interpretation Series, Volume: 159
Author:
Now available in Open Access thanks to the support of the University of Helsinki. In Jesus and Other Men, Susanna Asikainen explores the masculinities of Jesus and other male characters as well as the ideal femininities in the Synoptic Gospels. She studies the masculinity of Jesus vis-à-vis his opponents, disciples, and women. She also considers the impact of Jesus’ emotions and suffering on his masculinity. Arguing that there were several competing ideals of masculinity, she sets out to trace what strategies the early Christian masculinities used in relation to the hegemonic masculinities of the ancient Greco-Roman world. She shows that the Gospel of Luke is close to the ancient Greco-Roman ideal of self-controlled masculinity while the Gospels of Mark and Matthew portray Jesus and the disciples as examples of voluntarily marginalized masculinity.
Susanna Asikainen, Th.D. (2016), University of Helsinki, is a postdoctoral researcher at that university. Her current research focuses on gender and sexualities in the ancient Greek, early Christian, and early Jewish texts.
Contents
Acknowledgements
1 Introduction
Of Masculinities and Men
A Reassessment of Connell’s Theory
Theorizing Marginalized Masculinities
Outline of the Study
2 Masculinities in the Ancient Greco-Roman World
Introduction
Biological Sex in the Ancient Greco-Roman World
Ancient Greco-Roman Gender Stereotypes
Who is a Real, Hegemonically Masculine Man?
Ideal Characteristics of Masculine Men
Effeminacy and Lack of Self-Control
Marginalized Masculinities in the Ancient Greco-Roman World
Conclusions
3 Jesus and His Opponents
Introduction
The Authority of Jesus
The Opponents as Negative Examples of Unmasculine Behavior
Jesus’ Disputes with His Opponents
Challenges to the Masculinity of Jesus
Herod
Pilate
Conclusions
4 Jesus and His Male Followers
Introduction
The Portrayal of the Disciples in the Synoptic Gospels
Peter in the Synoptic Gospels
Jesus’ Teaching on Ideal Behavior in the Sermon on the Mount
Jesus and Family in the Synoptic Gospels
Service and Slavery as the Ideal Masculinity
Children as Examples for the Disciples
Matthew, Eunuchs, and Subordinated Masculinities
Conclusions
5 Jesus and Women
Introduction
Ideal Women in the Ancient Greco-Roman World
The Women Followers of Jesus
The Syrophoenician or Canaanite Woman
The Women Jesus Heals: The Hemorrhaging Woman
The Anointing Woman
The Ideal Woman in Luke
Feminine Jesus
Conclusions
6 Jesus and Emotions
Introduction
Emotions in Greco-Roman Antiquity
The Emotions of Jesus in the Synoptic Gospels
The Tears of Jesus in the Gospel of Luke
The Incident at the Temple
The Emotions of the Other Characters
Conclusions
7 Jesus and Suffering
Introduction
Death and Suffering in the Ancient Greco-Roman World
Jesus’ Teaching on Suffering
Jesus in Gethsemane
The Arrest of Jesus
The Jewish and the Roman Trials: The Silence of Jesus
The Mocking and Scourging of Jesus
The Crucifixion and Death of Jesus
Conclusions
8 Conclusions
Bibliography
Primary Sources
Secondary Literature
Index
Acknowledgements
1 Introduction
Of Masculinities and Men
A Reassessment of Connell’s Theory
Theorizing Marginalized Masculinities
Outline of the Study
2 Masculinities in the Ancient Greco-Roman World
Introduction
Biological Sex in the Ancient Greco-Roman World
Ancient Greco-Roman Gender Stereotypes
Who is a Real, Hegemonically Masculine Man?
Ideal Characteristics of Masculine Men
Effeminacy and Lack of Self-Control
Marginalized Masculinities in the Ancient Greco-Roman World
Conclusions
3 Jesus and His Opponents
Introduction
The Authority of Jesus
The Opponents as Negative Examples of Unmasculine Behavior
Jesus’ Disputes with His Opponents
Challenges to the Masculinity of Jesus
Herod
Pilate
Conclusions
4 Jesus and His Male Followers
Introduction
The Portrayal of the Disciples in the Synoptic Gospels
Peter in the Synoptic Gospels
Jesus’ Teaching on Ideal Behavior in the Sermon on the Mount
Jesus and Family in the Synoptic Gospels
Service and Slavery as the Ideal Masculinity
Children as Examples for the Disciples
Matthew, Eunuchs, and Subordinated Masculinities
Conclusions
5 Jesus and Women
Introduction
Ideal Women in the Ancient Greco-Roman World
The Women Followers of Jesus
The Syrophoenician or Canaanite Woman
The Women Jesus Heals: The Hemorrhaging Woman
The Anointing Woman
The Ideal Woman in Luke
Feminine Jesus
Conclusions
6 Jesus and Emotions
Introduction
Emotions in Greco-Roman Antiquity
The Emotions of Jesus in the Synoptic Gospels
The Tears of Jesus in the Gospel of Luke
The Incident at the Temple
The Emotions of the Other Characters
Conclusions
7 Jesus and Suffering
Introduction
Death and Suffering in the Ancient Greco-Roman World
Jesus’ Teaching on Suffering
Jesus in Gethsemane
The Arrest of Jesus
The Jewish and the Roman Trials: The Silence of Jesus
The Mocking and Scourging of Jesus
The Crucifixion and Death of Jesus
Conclusions
8 Conclusions
Bibliography
Primary Sources
Secondary Literature
Index
Anyone interested in masculinities and gender in the New Testament and in the ancient Greco-Roman world