Footwashing in the Context of 1 Corinthians 11:23-25: Some Theological Reflections
There is the tendency to cite Paul’s obvious silence on the rite of foot washing in 1 Corinthians 11:23-25 as evidence of not perpetuating the practice in the Christian Church. This study sought to make a case for Paul’s silence over foot washing in 1Corinthians11:23-25. The study used comparative a...
| Main Authors: | , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Noyam Journals
2022-11-01
|
| Series: | Journal of Mother-Tongue Biblical Hermeneutics and Theology |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://noyam.org/motbit2022441/ |
| _version_ | 1797710718345150464 |
|---|---|
| author | Peter Obeng Manu Kenneth Oppong |
| author_facet | Peter Obeng Manu Kenneth Oppong |
| author_sort | Peter Obeng Manu |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | There is the tendency to cite Paul’s obvious silence on the rite of foot washing in 1 Corinthians 11:23-25 as evidence of not perpetuating the practice in the Christian Church. This study sought to make a case for Paul’s silence over foot washing in 1Corinthians11:23-25. The study used comparative and analytical methodologies to arrive at an understanding of foot washing in 1 Corinthians 11:23-25. As a theological paper, this study made clear the status and role of the rite of foot washing as it relates to the Lord’s Supper, and why Paul does not address it in 1 Corinthians 11:23-25. It was observed that in 1 Corinthians 11:23-25, Paul was addressing one of the complaints and anomalies in the Corinth Church, which obviously was the Lord’s Supper and not foot washing. Again, Paul did not state foot washing in 1 Corinthians 11:23-25 because perhaps his oral source did not mention it. On the other hand, John states foot washing because of his peculiar interest in Jesus’ humility. This study, therefore, proposes that foot washing which is unique in John’s account reveals some theological understanding. Based upon Jesus’ initiative, it should be appreciated as a rite of humility, a rite of acceptance and inclusion in the church of Christ, and ultimately a cohort rite to the Lord’s Supper. Paul’s silence in 1 Corinthians 11:23-25 does not warrant the abrogation of the ordinance because he had a different purpose in mind other than discussing the rite of foot washing. Thus, the use of Paul’s silence on foot washing as evidence against its practice in the Christian Church today is a mark beside the point. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-12T06:56:18Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-996bd335f3a14f90b2e96f60bff168bd |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2676-2838 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-12T06:56:18Z |
| publishDate | 2022-11-01 |
| publisher | Noyam Journals |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Journal of Mother-Tongue Biblical Hermeneutics and Theology |
| spelling | doaj.art-996bd335f3a14f90b2e96f60bff168bd2023-09-03T00:03:18ZengNoyam JournalsJournal of Mother-Tongue Biblical Hermeneutics and Theology2676-28382022-11-01447178https://doi.org/10.38159/motbit.2022441Footwashing in the Context of 1 Corinthians 11:23-25: Some Theological ReflectionsPeter Obeng Manu 0https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3663-5206Kenneth Oppong1https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1208-2528Valley View University, Ghana.Department of Religious Studies, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, Ghana.There is the tendency to cite Paul’s obvious silence on the rite of foot washing in 1 Corinthians 11:23-25 as evidence of not perpetuating the practice in the Christian Church. This study sought to make a case for Paul’s silence over foot washing in 1Corinthians11:23-25. The study used comparative and analytical methodologies to arrive at an understanding of foot washing in 1 Corinthians 11:23-25. As a theological paper, this study made clear the status and role of the rite of foot washing as it relates to the Lord’s Supper, and why Paul does not address it in 1 Corinthians 11:23-25. It was observed that in 1 Corinthians 11:23-25, Paul was addressing one of the complaints and anomalies in the Corinth Church, which obviously was the Lord’s Supper and not foot washing. Again, Paul did not state foot washing in 1 Corinthians 11:23-25 because perhaps his oral source did not mention it. On the other hand, John states foot washing because of his peculiar interest in Jesus’ humility. This study, therefore, proposes that foot washing which is unique in John’s account reveals some theological understanding. Based upon Jesus’ initiative, it should be appreciated as a rite of humility, a rite of acceptance and inclusion in the church of Christ, and ultimately a cohort rite to the Lord’s Supper. Paul’s silence in 1 Corinthians 11:23-25 does not warrant the abrogation of the ordinance because he had a different purpose in mind other than discussing the rite of foot washing. Thus, the use of Paul’s silence on foot washing as evidence against its practice in the Christian Church today is a mark beside the point.https://noyam.org/motbit2022441/lord’s supperfootwashing1 corinthians 11:23-25theological reflections |
| spellingShingle | Peter Obeng Manu Kenneth Oppong Footwashing in the Context of 1 Corinthians 11:23-25: Some Theological Reflections Journal of Mother-Tongue Biblical Hermeneutics and Theology lord’s supper footwashing 1 corinthians 11:23-25 theological reflections |
| title | Footwashing in the Context of 1 Corinthians 11:23-25: Some Theological Reflections |
| title_full | Footwashing in the Context of 1 Corinthians 11:23-25: Some Theological Reflections |
| title_fullStr | Footwashing in the Context of 1 Corinthians 11:23-25: Some Theological Reflections |
| title_full_unstemmed | Footwashing in the Context of 1 Corinthians 11:23-25: Some Theological Reflections |
| title_short | Footwashing in the Context of 1 Corinthians 11:23-25: Some Theological Reflections |
| title_sort | footwashing in the context of 1 corinthians 11 23 25 some theological reflections |
| topic | lord’s supper footwashing 1 corinthians 11:23-25 theological reflections |
| url | https://noyam.org/motbit2022441/ |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT peterobengmanu footwashinginthecontextof1corinthians112325sometheologicalreflections AT kennethoppong footwashinginthecontextof1corinthians112325sometheologicalreflections |