OnScript Cor Bennema – Imitation in Early Christianity
5 snips
Sep 16, 2025 Cor Bennema, a New Testament scholar at the London School of Theology, dives into the fascinating role of imitation in early Christianity. He discusses how early Christians engaged in mimesis for personal and communal growth, highlighting its roots in Jewish and Greco-Roman traditions. Bennema examines the ethical dimensions of imitation, linking it to character formation and mentorship, while emphasizing the importance of understanding Jesus' love command as a model for discipleship. His insights reveal imitation as a transformative tool for faith and moral development.
AI Snips
Chapters
Books
Transcript
Episode notes
Imitation Began As A Johannine Puzzle
- Cor Bennema found a repeating Johannine formula: "Just as Jesus did, his disciples should also do."
- He turned a side-project on identity into a 12-year study of imitation across early Christianity.
Imitation Is A Creative Moral Process
- Bennema describes imitation as a creative hermeneutical process requiring observation, discernment, and intentional action.
- He argues imitation ethics is effective for moral formation and counters mindless cloning.
Greco-Roman Roots Shape Christian Mimesis
- Greco-Roman mimesis provided the detailed theoretical framework later adopted by Jewish and Christian writers.
- Bennema models antiquity's imitation in five stages: selection, observation, discernment, act, and transformation.
