OnScript Cor Bennema – Imitation in Early Christianity
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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.
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OT Seeds, Hellenization Grew Imitation
- The Old Testament contains seeds of imitation but lacks a developed imitation concept.
- Bennema argues Hellenization enabled Second Temple Judaism to adopt Greco-Roman imitation into early Christianity.
Evaluate Imitation With Clear Criteria
- Use textual criteria not assumptions to detect imitation; map imitation language across authors and contrast related concepts.
- Employ a sliding scale (weak/medium/strong) to assess imitation likelihood in passages.
Following ≠ Always Imitating In Synoptics
- The Synoptics show sparse imitation language; "following" often implies allegiance not direct imitation.
- Matthew and Luke uniquely repurpose Leviticus' holiness language into comparative imitation commands.
