Artemis and the Ephesian Haustafeln: An Examination of the Goddess, Marriage, and the Imago Dei

  • Joseph Brennan

Student thesis: Phd

Abstract

This thesis argues that a proper understanding of the Ephesians marital Haustafel must consider: 1) the influence of the Artemis cult upon Ephesian thought life; 2) the Ephesian believers' notion of the Imago Dei in them; 3) the rise of married and celibate traditions for the believer to manifest the Imago Dei; 4) and Paul's evangelistic intent for the marital code. Scholarship has placed too much attention on Pauline intertextuality and writer context rather than reader context. Reading local inscriptions together with the Ephesian marital Haustafel will reveal that the influence of the virgin Artemis caused believing spouses to misunderstand their new creation identity as one of independence instead of interdependence. When compared to the reception history of the revered celibate goddess as an honorary male, the reception history of married Eve makes her an unlikely candidate for Ephesian women to emulate, which Paul seeks to rectify in the text. Intent on evangelising the unbeliever, Paul appeals to spouses to love one another sacrificially as God's image bearers who represent what restored relationships in Christ can become.
Date of Award31 Dec 2023
Original languageEnglish
Awarding Institution
  • The University of Manchester
SupervisorKent Brower (Supervisor)

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