Social Fractures in the Habitus: Paul’s katártis- Language of Preventative and Responsive Care
Social Fractures in the Habitus Paul’s κατάρτισ- Language of Preventative and Responsive Care
While recent research has focused on human agency in Pauline literature, less attention is given to the forms of care portrayed by Paul’s κατάρτισ- language. In this article, I propose that Pierre Bourdieu’s theory of habitus provides fresh insight on how Paul’s letters restructure habitus and early...
| Main Author: | |
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| Format: | Electronic Article |
| Language: | English |
| Check availability: | HBZ Gateway |
| Interlibrary Loan: | Interlibrary Loan for the Fachinformationsdienste (Specialized Information Services in Germany) |
| Published: |
2025
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| In: |
Journal for the study of the New Testament
Year: 2025, Volume: 47, Issue: 4, Pages: 642-675 |
| Standardized Subjects / Keyword chains: | B
Bourdieu, Pierre 1930-2002
/ Paul Apostle
/ Habitus
/ Concern (motif)
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| RelBib Classification: | HC New Testament RG Pastoral care VB Hermeneutics; Philosophy |
| Further subjects: | B
Bourdieu
B κατάρτισ- language B Healing B social fractures B Pauline Letters B Care B Habitus |
| Online Access: |
Volltext (lizenzpflichtig) |
| Summary: | While recent research has focused on human agency in Pauline literature, less attention is given to the forms of care portrayed by Paul’s κατάρτισ- language. In this article, I propose that Pierre Bourdieu’s theory of habitus provides fresh insight on how Paul’s letters restructure habitus and early Christian praxis that generate social fractures. To develop this argument, I first describe Bourdieu’s conception of habitus, which elucidates human agents’ interactions with the social fields that shape their practices. Second, I provide conceptual contextualization by exploring κατάρτισ- language in ancient medicine, philosophy, and Jewish sources, particularly in relation to current understandings of healing in Jewish and early Christian conceptualization. Third, I apply Bourdieu’s theory of habitus to Pauline texts that use forms of καταρτίζω and κατάρτισις: 1 Thess. 3.9–10; 1 Cor. 1.10; 2 Cor. 13.9–11; Gal. 6.1; Rom. 9.22–23. In the final section, I offer reflection on a Pauline theology of care in relation to his forms of care, situating Paul more critically within a cultural and theological history of caring. Paul’s letter-writing constitutes interventionist and improvisational care for healing social fractures in early Christians’ habitus. |
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| ISSN: | 1745-5294 |
| Contains: | Enthalten in: Journal for the study of the New Testament
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| Persistent identifiers: | DOI: 10.1177/0142064X241303155 |
