Imitation in Early Christianity: Mimesis and Religious-Ethical Formation

By: Bennema, Cornelis

What did exhortations to "follow Jesus" or "imitate Christ" mean to early Christians?

Cornelis Bennema examines mimesis as a religious-ethical concept in early Christianity--the imitation of Jesus (and other exemplars) to become a better, more Christlike person. Situating appeals for imitation in the New Testament and Apostolic Fathers within the cultural and social context of the broader Greco-Roman world, Bennema shows how early Christian mimesis was not about literal replication, but instead was a creative, cognitive, and transformative means for shaping conduct and character.

As part of this study, Bennema explores key questions about the historic origins of early Christian mimesis; the language that early Christian authors used to articulate the concept of mimesis; the scope, nature, and workings of mimesis in each major section of early Christian literature; and how early Christians navigated the challenges of imitating exemplars (such as Paul or Jesus) who were not physically present. Offering well-researched answers to these questions, Bennema provides readers with a nuanced and informative picture of exhortations to imitation in the New Testament and Apostolic Fathers.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0802879926
• ISBN13: 9780802879929
• Release Date: March 2025
• Publisher: William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company
• Length: 464 Pages
• Weight: 1.55 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.4" x 6.1" x 9.1"