The Christian Elevation Tradition as Historical Narrative and metaphor of Power Cover Image

Algkristlik ülendamispärimus kui ajaloojutustus ja võimu metafoor
The Christian Elevation Tradition as Historical Narrative and metaphor of Power

Author(s): Ergo Naab
Subject(s): Christian Theology and Religion, Theology and Religion, Sociology of Religion
Published by: Akadeemiline Teoloogia Selts
Keywords: Biblical Studies;New Testament;

Summary/Abstract: The article addresses to the elevation motive of Christ from the viewpoint of cultural semiotics. The elevation motive is one of the most prominent constructions in the New Testament writings. It is part of the "kerygma "(proclamation) and on this notion are based all other schemes and dogmas of Christian thought. The elevation motive is presented in the royal Psalm 110:1 that is a quite often cited inauguration-oracle in the New Testament (“Sit at my right hand until I make your enemies your footstool”). This sort of the Messianic hope of Davidic kingship in the Second Temple Hebrew tradition had formed the core of the newborn Christology and constituted the basis to the "evangelium" as a historical narrative. The main hypothesis of the article states that the ideology of ruler cult had an influence on the Christian language and argumentation. This hypothesis will be affirmed from the perspective of cognitive metaphor theory, which the root concept is the presumption that a human being always constructs his picture of the world from body to mind. The somatic concept in the elevation motive is based on the universal phenomenon of space perception that is expressed by directional metaphors. From this point of view the Christ elevation motive is also observable as a metaphor of power.

  • Issue Year: 2015
  • Issue No: 1 (68)
  • Page Range: 19-34
  • Page Count: 16
  • Language: Estonian