| ISBN: | 9781839739521 |
|---|---|
| Imprint: | Langham Academic |
| Format: | Paperback |
| Dimensions (mm): | 229 x 152 x 14 |
| Publication Date: | 30/04/2025 |
| Pages: | 254 |
| Series: | Studies in New Testament |
| Language: | English |
Feasting with Demons or with Christ?
An African Spiritual Reading of Ritual Meals in 1 Corinthians 8:1–11:1 and 11:17–34
£21.99
The tradition of African ritual meals is an interesting topic of discussion in the fields of religious studies and cultural anthropology. In light of Paul’s teachings in 1 Corinthians, could these practices for honouring ancestors be perceived as idolatrous? Expanding on this comparison, Dr. Samantha Chambo expertly investigates the transformative power of rituals, examining the capacity of the Lord’s Supper to impact our relationships with God and others.
Weaving together African spirituality, ritual practices, and Pauline theology, Dr. Chambo offers a unique and culturally informed perspective through the lens of Victor Turner’s ritual theory of liminality and communitas. Practical applications to ecclesiastical issues come together with an indigenous spiritual perspective to fulfil the need for a comprehensive exploration of the intersection of African ritual meals and Paul’s teachings in 1 Corinthians 8–11. This fresh and innovative work is an essential read for scholars, theologians, and individuals interested in the dynamic interplay of cultural practices and religious teachings.
Endorsements
Dr. Chambo’s work is a groundbreaking and deeply reflective study that powerfully reimagines the Lord’s Supper as a dynamic, sacred ritual capable of transforming individuals and communities. This insightful exploration of 1 Corinthians 8:1–11:1 and 11:17–34 offers an invaluable contribution to both biblical scholarship and practical theology.
J. Ayodeji Adewuya, PhD
Professor of New Testament,
Pentecostal Theological Seminary, Tennessee, USA
What if Paul’s discussion about meat offered to idols and the Lord’s Table were read through the lens of African Traditional Religions? Dr. Chambo challenges us to rethink the notion of participation in Christ, the meaning and significance of the Lord’s Table, and the shaping of communitas for the health and well-being of the ekklesia, both inside and outside of Africa. An important study that steers the path between syncretism and “theological imperialism.”
Kent Brower, PhD
Senior Research Fellow in Biblical Studies ,
Honourary Research Fellow, University of Manchester,
Nazarene Theological College, Manchester, UK
This innovative and stimulating study by Dr. Chambo brings Paul’s discussion of ritual meals in 1 Corinthians 8–11 into dialogue with the African cultural context of ritual practices and spirituality. It offers significant implications for understanding the Lord’s Supper as a transformative practice for Christian communities both in the African context and worldwide.
Svetlana Khobnya, PhD
Senior Lecturer in Biblical Studies,
Nazarene Theological College, Manchester, UK
Table of Contents
- List of Abbreviations
- Abstract
- Acknowledgements
- Chapter 1 Introduction
- Chapter 2 Turner’s Theory as a Lens to Study Ritual Meals in Corinth
- Chapter 3 Ritual Meals in the African Context
- Chapter 4 Liminality, Communitas, and Holiness in Paul
- Chapter 5 Sociohistorical Context for Ritual Meals in 1 Corinthians 8:1–11:1 and 1 Corinthians 11:17–34
- Chapter 6 Feasting with Demons in 1 Corinthians 8:1–11:1
- Chapter 7 Feasting with Christ in 1 Corinthians 11:17–34
- Chapter 8 Inculturation of the Lord’s Supper for the African Context
- Chapter 9 Summary and Conclusions
- Bibliography
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