1 Peter and Christ’s descent to the dead in its early Christian reception
1 Peter 3:19 is traditionally the major scriptural support for the doctrine of Christ’s descent to the dead (<em>descensus</em>). Present scholarship, however, tends to detach 1 Peter 3:19 from the <em>descensus</em>. The dominant interpretation assumes that the text speaks o...
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| Format: | Thesis |
| Language: | English |
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2023
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| _version_ | 1826314533623300096 |
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| author | Lei, C-K |
| author2 | Bockmuehl, M |
| author_facet | Bockmuehl, M Lei, C-K |
| author_sort | Lei, C-K |
| collection | OXFORD |
| description | 1 Peter 3:19 is traditionally the major scriptural support for the doctrine of Christ’s descent to the dead (<em>descensus</em>). Present scholarship, however, tends to detach 1 Peter 3:19 from the <em>descensus</em>. The dominant interpretation assumes that the text speaks of Christ’s ascent in proclaiming victory over the fallen angels, and that no association between 1 Peter 3:19 and the <em>descensus</em> existed before the third century. No previous study, however, has focused on how and why 1 Peter 3:19 came to be associated with the <em>descensus</em> in its early reception, nor what bearing the <em>descensus</em> could have on the text of 1 Peter 3:19 itself. Thus, this thesis fills this lacuna by studying 1 Peter’s early reception in relation to the <em>descensus</em> with Origen as the watershed. Chapter 1 introduces the state of scholarship on the relationship between 1 Peter 3:19 and the <em>descensus</em>, as well as the methodology used in this thesis. Chapter 2 begins with a brief survey of twenty early Christian sources which speak about the <em>descensus</em> from a variety of traditions outside 1 Peter, ranging retrospectively from third-century Origen to first-century Paul. Chapter 3 explores the possibility of a second-century reception of 1 Peter 3:19 in relation to the <em>descensus</em>. By analysing two second-century texts, the “Jeremiah logion” and the Gospel of Peter 41-42, I argue for a second-century reception of 1 Peter in relation to the <em>descensus</em> through an organic and dynamic memory of Peter associated with apocalyptic revelation. Chapter 4 discusses Clement’s and Origen’s receptions of 1 Peter 3:19 in relation to the <em>descensus</em>, arguing that both writers stretch 1 Peter 3:19 to the limit of its exegetical boundary. Chapter 5 explores the possible genesis of Clement’s and Origen’s interpretations of 1 Peter 3:19 in relation to the <em>descensus</em>. I argue that their interpretations of 1 Peter 3:19 are indebted to a kind of apocalyptic Petrine memory, which should be seen in line of the Enochic tradition situated within the broader Tour of Hell tradition. Chapter 6 concludes the whole thesis. |
| first_indexed | 2024-09-25T04:33:58Z |
| format | Thesis |
| id | oxford-uuid:b841d362-1608-4bd3-b406-f5354fd2576c |
| institution | University of Oxford |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-09-25T04:33:58Z |
| publishDate | 2023 |
| record_format | dspace |
| spelling | oxford-uuid:b841d362-1608-4bd3-b406-f5354fd2576c2024-09-09T17:42:25Z1 Peter and Christ’s descent to the dead in its early Christian receptionThesishttp://purl.org/coar/resource_type/c_db06uuid:b841d362-1608-4bd3-b406-f5354fd2576cApocryphal books (New Testament)Fathers of the churchTheologyBible--Criticism, interpretation, etc.--History--Early church, ca. 30-600Bible. New TestamentEnglishHyrax Deposit2023Lei, C-KBockmuehl, M1 Peter 3:19 is traditionally the major scriptural support for the doctrine of Christ’s descent to the dead (<em>descensus</em>). Present scholarship, however, tends to detach 1 Peter 3:19 from the <em>descensus</em>. The dominant interpretation assumes that the text speaks of Christ’s ascent in proclaiming victory over the fallen angels, and that no association between 1 Peter 3:19 and the <em>descensus</em> existed before the third century. No previous study, however, has focused on how and why 1 Peter 3:19 came to be associated with the <em>descensus</em> in its early reception, nor what bearing the <em>descensus</em> could have on the text of 1 Peter 3:19 itself. Thus, this thesis fills this lacuna by studying 1 Peter’s early reception in relation to the <em>descensus</em> with Origen as the watershed. Chapter 1 introduces the state of scholarship on the relationship between 1 Peter 3:19 and the <em>descensus</em>, as well as the methodology used in this thesis. Chapter 2 begins with a brief survey of twenty early Christian sources which speak about the <em>descensus</em> from a variety of traditions outside 1 Peter, ranging retrospectively from third-century Origen to first-century Paul. Chapter 3 explores the possibility of a second-century reception of 1 Peter 3:19 in relation to the <em>descensus</em>. By analysing two second-century texts, the “Jeremiah logion” and the Gospel of Peter 41-42, I argue for a second-century reception of 1 Peter in relation to the <em>descensus</em> through an organic and dynamic memory of Peter associated with apocalyptic revelation. Chapter 4 discusses Clement’s and Origen’s receptions of 1 Peter 3:19 in relation to the <em>descensus</em>, arguing that both writers stretch 1 Peter 3:19 to the limit of its exegetical boundary. Chapter 5 explores the possible genesis of Clement’s and Origen’s interpretations of 1 Peter 3:19 in relation to the <em>descensus</em>. I argue that their interpretations of 1 Peter 3:19 are indebted to a kind of apocalyptic Petrine memory, which should be seen in line of the Enochic tradition situated within the broader Tour of Hell tradition. Chapter 6 concludes the whole thesis. |
| spellingShingle | Apocryphal books (New Testament) Fathers of the church Theology Bible--Criticism, interpretation, etc.--History--Early church, ca. 30-600 Bible. New Testament Lei, C-K 1 Peter and Christ’s descent to the dead in its early Christian reception |
| title | 1 Peter and Christ’s descent to the dead in its early Christian reception |
| title_full | 1 Peter and Christ’s descent to the dead in its early Christian reception |
| title_fullStr | 1 Peter and Christ’s descent to the dead in its early Christian reception |
| title_full_unstemmed | 1 Peter and Christ’s descent to the dead in its early Christian reception |
| title_short | 1 Peter and Christ’s descent to the dead in its early Christian reception |
| title_sort | 1 peter and christ s descent to the dead in its early christian reception |
| topic | Apocryphal books (New Testament) Fathers of the church Theology Bible--Criticism, interpretation, etc.--History--Early church, ca. 30-600 Bible. New Testament |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT leick 1peterandchristsdescenttothedeadinitsearlychristianreception |