How do the New Testament documents present issues of passion, will, identity, and perception? How did the earliest followers of Jesus understand their experiences, behaviors, and suffering? These questions and more are addressed in this stimulating work by one of the most productive Continental New Testament scholars. Rather than approaching the New Testament with a Freudian, Jungian, or other modern psychological theory, Berger illuminates historically how peoples of the first century described their human experiences in relation to their encounters with God, Christ, demons, and the power of their own desires and will.
Klaus Berger is Professor of New Testament Theology at the University of Heidelberg. He is the author of a dozen scholarly works, including Hellenistic Commentary to the New Testament (1995), and The Truth under Lock and Key? Jesus and the Dead Sea Scrolls (1995). Charles Muenchow has translated numerous works in biblical and theological studies.
1. Introduction Historical Psychology Significance of the Inquiry Status of the Scholarly Discussion Posing Historical-Psychological Questions Excursus: The Resurrection of Lazarus and Tokens of Reality Methods of Historical Psychology Exegesis and the Unconscious Mind Summary and Preview 2. Identity and Person Significance of the Issue Initial Questions The Essence of a Person Can Return "Christ Lives in Me" 3. Demonic Possession The Problem Observations on the Religio-Historical Context Demonic Possession in Historical Perspective Some Hermeneutical Considerations 4. Experience of the Body The Problem Corporal Experience as Relational The Body as Transferable Property Sinning against One's Own Body The Corporeality of Both Salvation and Damnation Consequences 5. Interior and Exterior The Psychological Question Interior and Exterior: Basic Determinations Devaluing the Exterior Dimension The Path from Interior to Exterior The "Inner Person" according to Paul 6. Perceptions Perceptions of Reality (Facticity) Visions Mythic Events Journeys to Heaven Conscience Death Alienation 7. Emotions Paul on Feelings Desire Fear and Anxiety Terror Worry Disappointed Love Groaning and Longing Joy and Sorrow 8. Suffering Setting the Historical-Psychological Question Seriousness and Avoidance Interpretation of Suffering Different Sorts of Experience at the Same Time Experiencing Being Valued Splendor and Glory Suffering and Dualism Suffering as Origin of the Admonition Solidarity and Imitation Suffering and the Experience of Time Suffering as Grace Historical-Psychological Interpretation 9. Religion Faith Holy Spirit and Charisma Sin Prayer Pastoral Care 10. Behavior Mandated Hatred Necessitated Self-Love Sexuality Risking and Gaining Life Ownership Vengeance Index
